Toxic environment, mediocre pay, and lacking competitive perks/benefits - Auxiliary Gauntlett & Associates Employee Review

David really knows insurance, and is a great person to learn from.

None that I can think of!

This is a small office in a niche practice area. It is an interesting and complex practice and as an associate you will be responsible for researching novel arguments and putting together intricate motions. The arguments (and general practice area) are very nuanced and require a lot of attention to detail, which will absolutely be expected of you. It is a good opportunity to learn a lot of substantive law and refine your motion drafting skills, which is absolutely an asset at bigger firms should you venture that way later down the line. The support staff is friendly and helpful. You may also have the opportunity to do some meaningful trial work. When I was there, I drafted a motion for summary judgment in a patent infringement case; the motion was granted and the patent on which the client was being sued invalidated. Strong intellect, working habits, and thick skin are all highly valued at this office. Due to the nature of the practice, not much discovery work (a plus in my view!). I was given a very generous letter of recommendation when I left--so much so that my subsequent employer commented that the letter was really, really complimentary.

This can be a very, very demanding job. And you do need a thick skin. If you don't have one, be prepared to work on it, or you probably won't last long. That said, I found that process to serve me very well later down the line - as an attorney you are inevitably going to have to deal with difficult people and situations, and the earlier you can learn to navigate that, the better.