Associates comment that Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele is “a very family friendly place.” While several of the junior associates are single, some are married, and many of the married lawyers have children. Two female associates with small children reworked clients among other attorneys “and they cut their workload in half.” Associates say that “because many of the partners have young children themselves, they understand the pressures.” There is a prevailing sense that “If you ever have a sick kid with a fever, any kind of family emergency, people will help you out so that you can go,” and that “Everybody is good about it, nobody abuses anyone else’s good nature. But they definitely recognize that kids have needs, that you have a life outside of work.” One associate told a story that particularly highlights the firm’s understanding attitude toward families. “After having only been at work for two weeks following a maternity leave, my babysitter quit suddenly. I had no contingency plan for childcare, so I thought I had no choice but to resign because it quickly became apparent that childcare was going to be a continuing problem for me.” The associate continues that “I didn’t think it would be fair to ask the firm to wait for me to find a new sitter, and be burdened with an undependable employee in the meantime. However, when I spoke with my supervising partner about resigning, he talked me out of quitting and assured me that the partners expected these occasional snags. As a result, I worked from home when I could until I found a new babysitter. Once I had childcare again, I returned to work with an even greater affection and loyalty to the firm.”
“They don’t tell you to do anything, they ask you. It’s a respect thing.”
Associates say that the Moore Ingram offices fill up between 8 and 8:30 in the morning, and tend to empty out between 6 and 6:30 at night. There are “not many people in on weekends,” although the feeling is that “If I’ve got work to do, I come in and do it. If it means three or four hours on a weekend, I do it. If I don’t have anything left to do at the end of Friday, fine – I’ll leave then and come in on Monday.” Associates applaud a firm attitude towards hours, reflected in the advice to first year associates of the two partners who head the litigation department, Robert Ingram and Bill Johnson: “We don’t want you in on weekends. You’ve got so much going on during the week that you need your weekends free as a first year associate.” Associates say that “if they do need you on weekends, they ask you, they don’t tell you. It’s a respect thing.”
Associates report that when they do have to work long hours, because of a trial or a very involved case, the firm has a “cool deal” for showing its appreciation. “If there’s a month where you have to bill 200 hours, you get a gift certificate to a restaurant, or a play, or something like that – you never know what it’s going to be.” Associates point out that “It’s not designed to turn the firm into a sweatshop – it’s kind of a ‘thank you’ when the project you’re working on demands long hours.
When it comes to bringing in business, associates say that, “If you bring in clients, it’s part of the consideration for your bonus. The attitude is definitely that ”It’s good for the firm so ultimately it’s good for you.”
“It’s great relaxing in social settings with my colleagues.”
The firm makes a point of creating a social environment that the associates consider “cool.” One associate applauded the firm’s “sports-oriented nature. There are softball and basketball teams, co-ed teams. It’s fun.”
Along with holiday parties and formal social events, the partners are very sensitive to knowing when the circumstances call for an impromptu party. As one associates tells it, “We recently moved into newly-remodeled offices. During that first week, our new, upgraded computer system spent more time ‘down’ than ‘up’ and coupled with the frustrations you always have when you move, it was a week from hell. On that Friday morning, I noticed there was a universal inter-office voice mail in my mailbox. It turns out that the partners had decided to close the firm at noon and take everyone, attorneys and support staff, to Dave & Busters, a super-duper arcade/restaurant here in Marietta. The firm picked up the entire tab and we all spent the afternoon eating everything in sight, and taking our computer and moving frustrations out on various 3-D interactive racing games.”
“The firm is very involved in the community.”
Associates report that the firm is “very open to pro bono work,” and that it’s got a broad definition of pro bono. “You can bring in your own family work, that’s considered pro bono as well.” For traditional pro bono projects, “You can bring in cases on your own initiative, or get assigned by the court. The firm will almost always let you do it, unless there’s just no merit to the case at all.” Associates say that the firm “actively goes out and gets pro bono work as an issue of community involvement. They’re big on that.”
“The firm will stick its neck out for new associates.”
The thing that stands out most to associates is that they feel as though they are part of the Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele family, from day one. As one associate tells it, “I’m tickled as can be. I’m having a great time here. They treat you like part of a family.” One associate recounts his first day at Moore Ingram, which perfectly highlights why it is that the firm is so beloved. “On my very first day working as a brand new associate, I became aware of a conflict that existed between me and a long-standing client of the firm. My heart sank. The partners could have taken the easy road, and either withdrawn my offer or put it off until the conflict passed. They didn’t do either one. Instead, they explained the conflict to the client, and risked that relationship in order to let me start work right away. I thought it was remarkable that the firm would stick its neck out for a brand new associate, who had yet to bill a single hour, when they were confronted with the possibility of ruining the relationship with the client in order to keep me.” The associate marvels, “Not only did the conflict resolve itself with the client’s approval, but the firm earned my respect immediately by sticking up for the ”new guy’ when it would have been so easy not to. I’ve since found that this is the kind of support the partners here give us everyday.”
“America’s Greatest Places to Work with a Law Degree”
by Kimm Alayne Walton, J. D.: