Stoel Rives LLP

As one Stoel Rives associate explains, the culture at the firm "can vary depending on the practice group to which a person is assigned. Practice groups and cultures can be pretty self-contained, although not entirely so." Yet, contacts throughout the firm describe the work environment at Stoel Rives as "very comfortable" and consider it a "very open" firm where "everyone, including the staff, is treated with professionalism." One associate offers a contrasting view: "The culture of the firm has been shifting over the last one to two years in a disturbing direction. Things have become far more hours based. Partners have really started breathing down associates' necks about making hours cutoff." This contact adds, "The firm has sacrificed some of its 'quality of life' appeal in order to tighten up the bottom line."

Partners: Strange, but nice

Associates seem somewhat ambivalent regarding their opinion of the firm's partners. Comments such as, "I feel like the vast majority of partners have open doors and willing to assist associates" and "I have never been treated poorly by a partner at this law firm" are common. But other Stoel Rives attorneys warn that the partners can be a bit quirky. "Some of the partners are really strange people, with questionable social skills," shares one associate. "However, there are no tyrants or screamers." Another reveals that while overall, the partners treat associates well, "a couple have completely freaked out on me for no apparent reason." Personalities aside, "Most partners would like to believe that you intend to be a partner some day, so they treat you accordingly."

Can you spare a dime?

Compensation at Stoel Rives "appears to be quite competitive with other firms in the same markets, but not with firms in larger metropolitan areas," one associate tells us. The belief that the firm does not pay as well as it should was echoed by many contacts at the firm. One of them quips: "My compensation is 20 to 30 percent less than firms in the Portland area that specialize in my field [patent law]." Bonuses are also a sore point; some associates feel they "are not commensurate with hours worked." A colleague adds, "Stoel's compensation of associates is too complicated. When I try to describe the system to outsiders, I need charts and graphs." Even though they agree that the salary is not as high as at other firms, there are attorneys at Stoel who are pleased with what they make. "I feel that I am more than adequately compensated, particularly when the hours here are so reasonable," explains one merry lawyer.