Job Title: Associate
Location: New York
Submitted on: 05-Jan-05
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Workplace
Survey |
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If you consider $5000 above street good compensation for your soul, then
McKee is the right place for you. Many of the associates you work with
are fine people, unfortunately, the partnership is so focused on making
money they do not realize that they are burning out everyone. I can't
speak for the tax associates, but securitization associates can expect to
work a minimum of 2200 hours (billable) and be given a hard time for
taking vacation unless you are one of the favored ones. The partners
have their favorite associates, mostly ones that came over when the New
York office was started, and if you aren't one of these lucky few, you
can expect to face an uphill battle. The opportunity to become a partner
is very limited as there almost as many partners as associates, with all
but one younger than 51. The partners are not going anywhere and any
expansion of the partnership will be accomplished by lateral partners.
As for diversity, the firm has done better than average in attracting
diverse candidates, but they do nothing to retain them. They don't try
to retain anyone, the bottom line is what drives the place. Over the
past year more than half of the associates have left, leaving the firm
scrambling to fill their places with laterals and new fall associates,
changing the corporate culture from cozy and collegial to a more
impersonal cold atmosphere. In sum, Mckee Nelson is a firm which works
its people hard and rewards some of them financially, people interested
in joining should be aware that in the past, associates who have met and
exceeded the minimum hours have not gotten a bonus (even though the firm
had a record year), so don't count on it when you join. Your hard work
may go unrecognized both professionally and financially. One last note,
the firm does not do pro-bono work, their idea is to donate a few bucks
and make their associates kick in money (through a pro-rated matching
program which is highly encouraged). The partnership is happy to do
probono work in areas which the firm has expertise (securitization). In
any case, with the workload that all associates have there is no time to
do any pro-bono activities. The good news is that the McKee name is
valuable on the street and has helped departing associates obtain
positions. So put your time in and get out before you physically get
sick (this has happened to one associate who took a leave of absence to
recover from exhaustion).
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