In case you’ve ever questioned why Biglaw associates lament their lack of work-life steadiness, it could possibly be as a result of they’re often working “grueling” shifts at their companies. What sort of hours are we speaking right here? In keeping with a brand new examine carried out by Authorized Cheek, on common, these attorneys are working greater than 11 hours per day. However which companies are working their attorneys the toughest?
To search out the reply, Authorized Cheek surveyed greater than 2,000 trainees and junior attorneys throughout the UK’s prime 100+ companies. Right here’s what they discovered:
US powerhouses nonetheless dominate the desk for the longest common working days. On the very prime, junior attorneys report clocking round 13 hours a day — usually leaving the workplace after 10:00 pm. These late nights don’t go unrewarded: newly certified salaries at these prime companies have surged to a record-breaking £180,000 [~$243,000] over the previous yr or so.
Sizzling on the heels of the Metropolis’s US gamers, the Magic Circle sees common desk time hover between 10 and 11 hours a day, with NQ salaries coming in just under their US counterparts at a nonetheless spectacular £150,000 [$~202,000].
Very like what occurs right here within the US, Biglaw associates are actually working themselves to the bone throughout the pond. “We’re consistently on name and we can not depart our telephones at residence for greater than 20 minutes,” mentioned one affiliate. “I’ve had companions calling me when I’m in mattress for redlines and have been bombarded with emails even when in poor health.”
So, with that not-so rosy image having been painted, which white-shoe companies have associates working the longest days, on common? Listed here are the highest 10, the place some associates are often leaving the workplace after 9 or 10 p.m.:
- Milbank: 13 hours 3 minutes
- Kirkland & Ellis: 12 hours 17 minutes
- Winston & Strawn: 12 hours 13 minutes
- Weil Gotshal: 12 hours 1 minute
- Paul Weiss: 12 hours 0 minutes
- Linklaters: 11 hours 57 minutes
- Fried Frank: 11 hours 51 minutes
- Clifford Probability / Jones Day: 11 hours 49 minutes
- Gibson Dunn: 11 hours 48 minutes
- Paul Hastings: 11 hours 47 minutes
Click on right here to see the total checklist.
Whereas some companies have extra manageable hours, with attorneys signing off from work round 5 or 6 p.m., the general drain on attorneys’ lives outdoors the workplace continues to be unbelievable. Fortunately, Biglaw companies are taking psychological well being considerations extra severely than they’ve previously, so we hope that with these lengthy hours, they’re doing all they’ll to stop affiliate burnout.
Unique analysis spotlights working hours of junior attorneys throughout UK’s 100+ prime regulation companies [Legal Cheek]
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Legislation, the place she’s labored since 2011. She’d love to listen to from you, so please be at liberty to e mail her with any ideas, questions, feedback, or critiques. You possibly can comply with her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or join along with her on LinkedIn.
