While persuing the Conspiracy of Volokhs, I was directed to this ranking of law firm prestige. (Favorite entry: #4 Skadden: "uppers' -- "Great training opportunities and informal mentoring . . . ."; "downers" -- "screamers." Pretty accurate description, from what I know.)
This is all mostly meaningless stuff, of course. Still, entry #25, Clifford Chance, caused me to recall the infamous, leaked 2002 Clifford Chance Associate memo that circulated a few years back. The memo is notable for it's searing indictment of the Clifford Chance partnership. A taste, for those who haven't seen it before:
The associates believe the firm's abysmal, last place ranking in the October 2002 American Lawyer "Associates Survey" (the "Am Law Survey") revealed a profound problem at Clifford Chance. . . . our research has convinced us that the Am Law Survey captured neither the breadth nor the depth of associate anger and frustration. . . . ."Being yelled at and told 'we own you' was . . . a winning moment." . . . "Another associate was invited to a partner's party, then asked by that same partner what he was doing there." . . . . "Many associates described the firm as having a terrible atmosphere in which to work - full of unhappy, hostile people, from the support staff to the partners."
And you thought your office was bad. (Note: By all reports, Clifford Chance has worked hard to improve its firm culture since this memorandum was leaked.)
For a minute, I thought your first sentence read, " . . . law film rankings," and I was going to nominate The Verdict and Anatomy of a Murder. Oh, and Inherit the Wind.
Posted by: Phil | April 02, 2004 at 05:59 PM
Hmm. My former firm falls three spots between my last year there and this year. I know they say correaltions do not show cause and effect, but hey that's what the tobacco industry said about smoking and lung cancer.
Posted by: acdammit | April 02, 2004 at 07:06 PM
While persuing...
The memo is notable for it's searing indictment...
Your deific status may have to come under question, von... ;)
Posted by: Anarch | April 03, 2004 at 04:37 AM
My former firm falls three spots between my last year there and this year.
Your former firm, if I recognize you correctly, is losing midlevel associates left and right -- including some very, very good midlevel associates, such as yourself. (Howsya doin', your B-day scotch is coming.)
Your deific status may have to come under question, von... ;)
Shhhh. . . . . . .
Posted by: von | April 03, 2004 at 12:45 PM
Yep, they're losing mid-levels fast. Thanks for the birthday greetings. Don't know why there's any question re my deific status--according to the grammar folks, I'm still in good standing.
Posted by: acdammit | April 03, 2004 at 01:06 PM
Don't know why there's any question re my deific status--according to the grammar folks, I'm still in good standing.
No, Anarch is (correctly) questioning my deific status . . . .
Posted by: von | April 03, 2004 at 06:41 PM