Miami Corporate Hours Forum

[Anonymous User]

Various threads suggest the corp groups of Miami firms such as GT, White & Case, and Bilzin are sweatshops.

Any specifics on hours? I get corporate is cyclical, but does it ever approximate New York I-banking hours / all-nighter culture?

[Anonymous User]

they sweatshops compared to other places in florida (i.e. 9am-4pm jobs). They all have wayyyyy less hours than any firm in NYC.

[Cicero76]

they sweatshops compared to other places in florida (i.e. 9am-4pm jobs). They all have wayyyyy less hours than any firm in NYC.

Literally none of this is true.

OP, the hours are about what you would expect. 9/10am until 7/8, with plenty of days being longer and a fair amount of weekend work.

[redsox550]

they sweatshops compared to other places in florida (i.e. 9am-4pm jobs). They all have wayyyyy less hours than any firm in NYC.

Literally none of this is true.

OP, the hours are about what you would expect. 9/10am until 7/8, with plenty of days being longer and a fair amount of weekend work.

I am the poster above, and yes all of it is true. 1. Most people in general in south Florida work 9-5 if not less. 2. you confirmed the other point 9/10 - 7/8 is solid for biglaw and pretty rare in nyc. The top associate in my big South Florida firm billed 2150 last year... that is a lot of hours but that is also the highest biller. Find me a Vault firm in NYC where that is true.

[redsox550]

they sweatshops compared to other places in florida (i.e. 9am-4pm jobs). They all have wayyyyy less hours than any firm in NYC.

Literally none of this is true.

OP, the hours are about what you would expect. 9/10am until 7/8, with plenty of days being longer and a fair amount of weekend work.

All of it is true. People in general in South Florida work 9-5 at the most. 9/10-7-8 is great compared to NYC biglaw. I worked both. Currently at one of the largest South Florida firms and the highest biller billed 2150 last year. Now that's a lot of hours but also the highest biller. Find me a nyc firm where that is true. The highest biller billing 2150 definitely does not = sweatshop

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thank you both - that answers 95% of it. Are all-nighters a thing though at the peak of the deal?

Have prior work experience, and what you describe generally sounds very manageable.

[1styearlateral]

Damn maybe I'll move to Fla.

[redsox550]

OP here. Thank you both - that answers 95% of it. Are all-nighters a thing though at the peak of the deal?

Have prior work experience, and what you describe generally sounds very manageable.

Midnight / 1am nights happen occasionally but rarely. All nighters once or twice a year if you are unlucky

[Anonymous User]

2150 is a lot considering how much less you’re making at even GT compared to a NY firm. white and Case is better, but, by 4th year, you’re like a solid 100k (post bonus) behind NY.

[Anonymous User]

2150 is a lot considering how much less you’re making at even GT compared to a NY firm. white and Case is better, but, by 4th year, you’re like a solid 100k (post bonus) behind NY.

OP again. Setting aside the tax- and COL-adjusted differential, are junior partners at the elite Florida firms not making more than senior associates in NYC? Thinking of the Florida-based firms with somewhat realistic partnership prospects (GT, HK, even Bilzin or Carlton Fields).

[Anonymous User]

GT and HK have PPP over $1m, so I doubt junior partners make less than NY 8th year associates. But outside of those two (and Boies and White and Case), I’d assume a junior partner at a Florida office makes like 300k.

[1styearlateral]

GT and HK have PPP over $1m, so I doubt junior partners make less than NY 8th year associates. But outside of those two (and Boies and White and Case), I’d assume a junior partner at a Florida office makes like 300k.

$300k is not bad for 9-5/6 and pretty good weather all year around.

[Anonymous User]

they sweatshops compared to other places in florida (i.e. 9am-4pm jobs). They all have wayyyyy less hours than any firm in NYC.

Literally none of this is true.

OP, the hours are about what you would expect. 9/10am until 7/8, with plenty of days being longer and a fair amount of weekend work.

All of it is true. People in general in South Florida work 9-5 at the most. 9/10-7-8 is great compared to NYC biglaw. I worked both. Currently at one of the largest South Florida firms and the highest biller billed 2150 last year. Now that's a lot of hours but also the highest biller. Find me a nyc firm where that is true. The highest biller billing 2150 definitely does not = sweatshop

I worked at one of the firms mentioned in OP, and the highest biller in transactional billed well over 2500. Litigation had better hours, but most associates still ended near 2200. It's not necessarily a sweatshop, and it's not necessarily as bad as NY, but the non-FL biglaw firms that have offices in Miami are not 9-5.

[Anonymous User]

What's the deal with Akerman? Do they only take laterals now?

Also McDermott. Heard they pay 180k, but no one ever seems to talk about them (Chambers Band 2 FL PE/M&A).

[Anonymous User]

McDermott is Band 2 in Florida for M&A... need I say more? Florida is a tiny market. Cravath scale is nice though.

And yeah I think akerman is only hiring laterals.

[redsox550]

2150 is a lot considering how much less you’re making at even GT compared to a NY firm. white and Case is better, but, by 4th year, you’re like a solid 100k (post bonus) behind NY.

One can go back and forth on whether it is a good deal to be living in Miami working biglaw hours for less than Cravath pay... there are arguments to be made on both sides. However, the idea that Miami Biglaw is a sweatshop in any way, shape or form compared to NYC biglaw is a false stereotype.

[Anonymous User]

Agreed. At my firm, most corp people are in at like 930/10 and out around 730. Some of the tax people leave at like 530 unless they’re needed for deals. Litigation people also leave around 530-6 most days.

None of these hours are even fathomable to NY lawyers.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone find cap markets/project finance work particularly exciting?

Assuming it's the main corporate practice area in Miami (not counting RE).

[Anonymous User]

Reviving this thread. how difficult is it for a bilingual v10 junior associate to move to Miami with medium ties? Just want to know if there is much hope.

[Anonymous User]

Reviving this thread. how difficult is it for a bilingual v10 junior associate to move to Miami with medium ties? Just want to know if there is much hope.

You're going to have to be more clear as to what medium ties are to be more helpful. It's definitely easier to lateral as a mid-level given that you haven't really learned much yet depending on how junior you are. That being said, I personally know of at least one V10 associate that lateraled to a big law office in Miami as a third-year and I believe his only tie was that his family lived in Puerto Rico and he wanted to be closer. Hope that helps!

[Anonymous User]

Is there a meaningful difference in exit ops between GT/HK/W&C?

[Anonymous User]

Is there a meaningful difference in exit ops between GT/HK/W&C?

Bumping as I am also curious about this--especially for those of us interested in litigation. Also, what about exit options for BSF?

[Anonymous User]

Reviving here... Can anyone provide insights as to post biglaw prospects?

[elterrible78]

Reviving here... Can anyone provide insights as to post biglaw prospects?

PM me and I can give you at least details on my firm.