Biglaw, Technology

Midlevel Biglaw Associates Are Pretty Mad About How Awful The Technology Is At Their Firms

It's not like these firms can't afford to make the fixes needed....

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The American Lawyer recently revealed its 2024 midlevel survey, which showed us that midlevels are frustrated by their firms’ attempt to “return to pre-pandemic norms,” because all they’ve known during their careers are pandemic norms. On top of that, they continue to be absolutely infuriated by their firms’ technical prowess — or should we say, the lack thereof.

As part of Am Law’s annual midlevel survey, associates were asked to rank their firms on all things tech, and boy oh boy, are they pissed. How mad are they? As noted by Am Law, “despite the growing cash flow, midlevel associate attorneys at some of the nation’s top firms claim their workplaces aren’t investing enough in technology.” Here’s more:

In this year’s Midlevel Associate Tech Survey, a number of associates at top firms once again told The American Lawyer they were frustrated by their firms’ lack of tech savviness and willingness to upgrade equipment. This echoes complaints from last year, and it should be noted that the survey regularly elicits similar criticisms about some of the world’s richest law firms’ technology.

Which firms are making midlevels gripe the most about their tech setups? Am Law rounded up complaints from midlevels at firms that will make you want to close your head inside your laptop. Here are some examples:

  • Covington & Burling (“The technology is still quite poor for a firm of its size,” said one associate, while another said the firm’s tech is “abysmal.”);
  • Greenberg Traurig (where one associate said they were surprised by “how bad the technology is,” and that they “frequently need laptop batteries replaced because they are ‘about to explode.’”);
  • Skadden (where an associate griped that the firm is “[n]ickel and diming associates over technology expenses”); and
  • Gibson Dunn (“When most associates bill out at more than $1,000/hour, it’s embarrassing that the firm is so unbelievably cheap on its technology,” said a midlevel).

Enough about the firms with tech that’s making midlevel associates angry — let’s get to the rankings. Which firms landed on top when it comes to their technology? Here are the top 10, courtesy of Am Law:

  1. Blank Rome
  2. O’Melveny & Myers
  3. Morgan Lewis & Bockius
  4. McDermott Will & Emery
  5. Baker & Hostetler
  6. Orrick
  7. Paul Hastings
  8. Kirkland & Ellis
  9. Snell & Wilmer
  10. Ropes & Gray

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Click here to see the full list.

Congratulations to all the firms that earned good grades on this list! Hopefully Biglaw firms that received low ratings will figure out a way provide the tech upgrades their midlevel associates need.

Lame Laptops, Batteries ‘About to Explode’: Midlevel Associates Angered by Lack of Tech Investment [American Lawyer]

Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on X/Twitter and Threads or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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