Dickinson Wright PLLC

Perhaps the best thing about Dickinson Wright, according to our contacts, is the "friendly, yet professional atmosphere." Associates enjoy working with "nice people who treat you as a professional." A litigator reports that "the work is usually interesting and challenging." But one source finds that "there has been a dramatic shift toward the importance of the billable hour, so there is less socialization and more working." In fact, it's the work opportunities (or lack thereof) that frustrate some. "The transactional work is good when it's available," says one associate, though "the firm has real difficulty finding enough transactional work for associates." Such concerns naturally color associates' attitudes toward their hours. While many insiders seem content, others claim there is "high pressure" to meet the firm's billing requirements, but not always sufficient work to do so. On the positive side, "the firm encourages all associates to work on pro bono matters" and credits up to 30 pro bono hours toward the 1,950 billable hour requirement.