Work-Life Balance is a Big Challenge Here
Working at White & Case LLP as an Associate Attorney in New York, NY, was definitely a grind, especially when it came to personal time. The work is high-quality and the pay is solid, but the work-life balance is a constant challenge. It's a demanding role in a global law firm, so you know what you're getting into, but it still wears on you.
The compensation package for associate attorneys is really competitive, which helps make the long hours tolerable. You gain invaluable experience on complex corporate law cases, working with some very smart people. It's a big, global law firm with lots of resources.
Work-life balance is genuinely tough; it's common to regularly work 60+ hours a week, sometimes much more. There's not much flexibility or opportunity for remote work, as most of it is strict onsite work. It's hard to make time for personal life outside the office.
I'd suggest trying to implement better workload management and encouraging partners to respect boundaries more consistently. Some real flexibility options for associate attorneys, even a hybrid model, would go a long way in improving morale and retention.