Legal Executive Assistant - Anonymous employee Mayer Brown Employee Review

3.0
Dec 19, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great secretarial manager, monthly workshops on firm applications such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint. Different levels you can enroll such as if you want to learn more advanced Excel, you can sign up for that, or if it's just to brush up. Some of the attorneys are pleasant to work with, but like most legal environments you have those that are horrible, just plain nasty is how I will summarize it. PTO is somewhat pairing with what other law firms their size are offering and it is pro-rated. the first five years you are entitled to a yearly total of 25 days PTO which you can use however you like. Requests for vacation, days off are 90% always approved on the dates you request unless it is a popular holiday then requests for time off like memorial day weekend, Labor Day weekend, Thanksgiving, Christmas during the week of or after. There is a limited number of requests that can be approved, so the manager accepts your request early in the year, but does not approve until closer to the dates in order to see how many requests have been submitted and who should be approved. Other co-workers (Bay mates) are pleasant and good to work with. Some bays require the coverage of both secretaries, meaning one must be there to answer phones at all times. Other bay areas are not so strict and the attorneys prefer calls going into voicemail. Every Friday during the summer is "Jeans Day" casual but proper ( no holes or any other markings such as worn out, distressed, etc.) The policy recently changed to having Jeans Day every Friday throughout the year.

Cons

Very high employee contribution to health, dental plan. You are not vested in their Profit sharing until you have completed an entire 5 years. Profit sharing percentage deposited into a portfolio savings is consistent, averaging 7% to 7.5% of your base salary. As mentioned, some areas that you can be assigned to require more than others. Depends on your assignments. High turnover of attorneys in many departments which gives you an unease that many attorneys just come in gain 2-4 years of experience and move on. Offer less in salary unlike other firms their size.

Explore other reviews about Mayer Brown

5.0
Oct 5, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

very good Team and people

Cons

a lot Of work (just to full this space)

1.0
May 28, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Beautiful office space and decent perks. Provides solid industry exposure and can be a useful stepping stone early in your career to gain experience before moving to a more sustainable work environment. The benefits are good too. Parental leave options (18-weeks) which is rare nowadays.

Cons

Extremely poor work-life balance and a culture that often prioritizes billable output over employee wellbeing. Leadership and management can feel disconnected from the realities of staff workloads and operational challenges. Systems and internal processes are noticeably outdated, creating unnecessary inefficiencies and compliance concerns. Training is inconsistent, and support varies significantly by team. There is also a very noticeable hierarchy between attorneys and support staff, with accountability standards that do not always feel equitable. Many paralegals and support employees are expected to absorb unreasonable workloads with limited recognition or institutional support, contributing to high burnout and turnover. It is frustrating to see a firm generate significant revenue while continuing to rely on outdated systems and understaffed support structures instead of investing meaningfully in operational infrastructure and employee retention. Many of the day-to-day challenges staff face feel preventable with better resource allocation and modernization.

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