Run as fast as you can from this place - Anonymous employee Wilson Elser Employee Review

1.0
Dec 31, 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I tried really, really hard but couldn't come up with any.

Cons

A very toxic work environment. Management fosters an atmosphere of tattling, back-stabbing and complaining. There is discrimination in every area - race, religion, sexual orientation, weight, age, etc. The partners dump all the work on the associates and paralegals all the while berating them about their billable hours so they'll get more money at the end of the year. The secretaries are worked to death --- 6-8 attorneys to each secretary but they are still expected to do admin/billing work. Huge turnover constantly in all areas. The good people leave and they replace them with whoever they can get cheap - little to no experience needed. They don't pay vendors or experts fees for greater than 90 days as a rule so you're constantly fending off phone calls about unpaid invoices. They don't even reimburse expenses to employees on a timely basis. Human Resources is completely ineffective - people go to them with complaints and they "sweep them under the rug" and then that person is put on a hit list to be terminated as soon as they can paper their file. There is no chance of advancement. The pay is paltry and raises are pretty much nonexistent and salaries were recently "capped."

Explore other reviews about Wilson Elser

5.0
Jul 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good coworkers and supervisors. Billable work environments tend to be the same in terms of monotony, so it helps to have a good team.

Cons

Billable hours aren't the most fun thing in the world. Huge caseload.

3.0
Jul 14, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Comp transparency, quarterly bonuses, CLE access, training videos, many practice areas

Cons

High billables, several teams without associate oversight, high volume, medical premium is employee responsibility

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