Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

5.Current EmployeeGreatAssociate in Nashville, TNRecommendProsGood work, fast paced, learning a lot.ConsCan't think of any bad things

Improve pay structure to reward staff based on annual reviews (instead of 2% or 3% firm wide pay increases regardless of performance ratings). Also, promote qualified candidates from within instead of offering higher paying advancement opportunities to new hires. Finally, do something to discourage the petty staff reporting to HR for non-infractions (e.g., sit both the reporter/reported down to “clear the air” regarding any underlying interoffice issues to end the nonconsequential reporting).

Although one of the better paying firms with great benefits and multiple on-site Tech CLEs for staff (BARW University), there is a very distinct "us" v. "them" class structure between the attorneys/staff (even having a designated "Attorneys Only" on-site lunchroom). There is a distinct 1% v. 99% subculture with the attorneys treating staff much like the cleaning crew (and even with extremely favorable annual reviews, the pay raises barely kept up with COLA increases). Although I got along extremely well with my attorneys (they treated me more like a Jr. Associate rather than a "minion"), my co-workers were backbiting gossip hounds who would run to HR if I wore white shoes after Labor Day! I think there must have been a secret reward for snitching since I'd get a call from HR at least once a month when a crabby co-worker was having a bad day. Pros: Top of the line office equipment/legal software, on-site CLEs for all software licensed by the firm, and higher-end salary based on the market average.

Class structure and cliquish work-environment that breeds staff-on-staff resentment. And no matter how fast you work, you will still be days behind your attorneys (but if you're lucky like I was, your assigned attorneys work well with one another).

Make sure that you keep an eye on people to prevent them from burning out from all the stress that we are put under here.

The benefits that we get here are second to none and you will not be able to find any other firm that can even match it.

The stress is extremely high here and you can expect to see lots of people burning out if they aren't able to deal with that.

My advice for management is to support your employees better and work together as a more cohesive unit instead of bickering about frivolous things.

Overall, my time at this law firm has been a good experience. My co-workers are very friendly and we all work as a team.

The biggest problem I have with the company is that there isn't a lot of room for growth. Also, the management is not always on the same page.

You need to work hard along with your seniors if you want to learn interesting and new things. Gradually you will be asked take on more responsibilities. In short, great place to establish and grow your attorney career.

Good firm structure and professional work culture. Flexible work conditions and environment and I must say that work-life balance is also good. Attorneys are knowledgeable and helpful, you can learn new and interesting thing which are helpful in advancement of your career.

I had to meet tight deadlines and have to achieve job tasks in a very short period of time. The work can sometimes be meaningless and require overdoing things to make a good impression. Salary increments are slow and difficult to achieve.