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:
-
Blank
Rome -
O’Melveny
&
Myers -
Morgan
Lewis
&
Bockius -
McDermott
Will
&
Emery -
Baker
&
Hostetler - Orrick
-
Paul
Hastings -
Kirkland
&
Ellis -
Snell
&
Wilmer -
Ropes
&
Gray
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
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
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