Founded in by a group of Jewish lawyers who were excluded by the top New York law firms, Weil has never had white-shoe culture. As one source explains: "We fight for clients, unlike other white-shoe firms who don't like getting their hands dirty." When associates are asked what kind of culture Weil has, the word on the tip of their tongues is "aggressive." As one insider says: "The people who do well here are the ones that step forward." Another source says, "It's probably not a place for people who have to have their hands held. You need to be independent." Contacts say that people at the firm tend to be very "blunt and direct" at the firm, which sets it apart from a lot of firms where communication is more discreet and indirect. Formal hierarchy is shunned at Weil -- "there is no pecking order," one associate says -- and the attitude is very much that "first-rate-quality is expected."

Insiders say that the environment is "very collegial" -- especially the relationship between partners and associates. Says a first-year associate: "I treat partners more as friends than as people who have seniority over me." In addition, associates and partners "will talk about what they are working on constantly." Another source says that an associate's firm experience will be mostly dependent on the "handful of partners that you're working with" and that at Weil "some lawyers that are fantastic and some that are pain in the asses." But, he adds, "you're not going to work in a large law firm in New York that doesn't have its share of assholes."

Pumped for Weil

Associates believe that Weil is "absolutely first tier." Says one insider: "We have incredible work with big names. I mean, Latrell Sprewell was roaming around here. Media cameras are always set outside." Although a source concedes that "a couple of other firms may be more prestigious," he adds that "there is no insecurity." Says one insider: "We're a top firm and people are pretty much psyched to work here." In terms of selectivity, the firm is described as "pretty selective" as "everyone is from a top law school or at the top of their class at law school." Insiders say the firm is generally people's top choice if they are interested in bankruptcy, litigation, or trade practices (antitrust and intellectual property matters), while it is down the list if they just want to do corporate work. Says a source: "If a person is just interested in corporate we'll lose him to firms like Sullivan & Cromwell."

Pressured hours

Associates at Weil tell Vault that the firm gets a "bad rap" as a sweatshop. Says one: "People do work hard, but not much harder than at other firms. I don't mind that people think that we work harder here than at other New York firms. I don't mind taking credit for something that's not true." Still, associates say, there "is a lot of time pressure when you're finishing a deal." Says one corporate associate: "On most days, I arrive at 9:30 a.m. and leave at 7:30 p.m. The secretaries leave at 5:30 p.m. and we're making a lot more money. Some of the days are stressful, especially if you're closing and then you may have to stay past 12:00 p.m. It goes in cycles, but there is no face time." Another source says that "you always have enough work that you can leave at 11:00 if you want to. You just have to be able to plan things. It gets easier the more senior you get because you have more control of things." We are told that with the corporate department there is "a lot of time pressure when you're finishing a deal" and the hours "tend to be concentrated," while in the litigation department "you have more set hours."

Although the firm does not have a minimum number of hours that associates have to bill, a source says that partners will give what can only be described as a billable hour pep talk. "Sometimes they'll say: 'C'mon you guys, get the billables up, but in a good-naturedly way,'" a source tells us. "There is no task master." Associates say that the emphasis is not on billable hours but on "getting your work done." However, associates are required to fill out an availability report every Monday "in which you list in detail the hours you spent last week and what you expect in the coming week." Says an insider: "If your projected billables are very low, you can be sure they'll give you an assignment." Sill, "as long as you're within the range, no one will say something."

"All over" dress

Weil attorneys take pride in the fact that "we are not a white-shoe firm, where everyone is dressed in dark blue suits." Although people wear suits Monday to Thursdays, the clothing is, in the words of one source, "all over." Says one source: "By 10 o' clock my tie is off the top of my shirt and no one cares." The firm also has a dress down Friday, which means "khakis and the like."

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