Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP

Advice to law firm management: For paralegals, the training was adequate, but help them understand why they're doing certain tasks, it will make them better lawyers. Also, update your tech.

Pros: Very supportive of new grads. Great learning experience. Systems in place to help you succeed.

Cons: Authoritarian vibes at times. Mandatory 2-3 Saturdays per month is the worst and you will work 60-80 hr. workweeks at times.

Partners to Avoid and Why: Brian Danitz - tough communicator; hard to work with. Joe Cotchett - the big boss; keep it short and sweet with him and you will be fine. Anne Marie Murphy - nice but hard to work with at times.

Favorite Things About this Firm: Some really great attorneys. Find the right mentors, work hard, and you'll thrive.

Current or former employee?: Former Employee

Last Year at Employer: 2019

Job type: Full time

Length of Employment: 1-2 years

Advice to law firm management: Hire a real HR and develop a business strategy that will make the firm have a low turn over rate.

Pros: Good place to work to gain some experience because they hire even if you have little to no experience. This is useful to move up and apply at a better law firm.

Cons: The hire fresh out from college for assistant/paralegals positions yet expect you to know everything. God forbid you ask a question. They will make you feel incompetent and unintelligent. They constantly remind you that people in this firm don't last long and how easily replacable you are. Pay is below market standards. You are expected to work late and come in every Saturday due to their 200 hour per month bill requirement. They don't have a real HR team and serious issues such as sexual harassment accusations are taken lightly.

Partners to Avoid and Why: Frank Pitre and Allison Cordova. Allison Cordova is unorganized, yet will blame her assistants for her shortcomings. She doesn't even hear you out when you try to explain yourself. Imagine being a new-hire and have little to no legal experience (because that's who they hire), are not given proper directions then get head bitten off from an attorney? Yet you try to explain yourself and you're told to shut up. You try to ask questions for clarification and you're given a " you should know this already"?

Current or former employee?: Former Employee

Last Year at Employer: 2020

Job type: Full time