legal assistant

lawyer

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP

1. A typical day at work:
Working at Davies was a daily struggle, characterized by a toxic and disorganized environment. Unpredictability added a layer of stress to the routine.

2. What you believe you learned:
My experience taught me to never work too hard; you will never be appreciated or valued for it. Unfortunately, management practices often hindered professional growth.

3. Management:
The management at Davies demonstrated a concerning lack of transparency, particularly in termination decisions, especially after the probation period. This inconsistency and lack of fairness impacted the overall work culture negatively.

4. Workplace culture:
The workplace culture at Davies was marked by a double standard, with leniency towards unprofessional behaviour and a lack of accountability for underperforming individuals. This created an atmosphere of frustration and disillusionment.

5. The hardest part of the job:
Dealing with the unpredictability of termination decisions and shouldering an unfair workload due to colleagues' unprofessional behaviour made the job extremely challenging.

6. The most enjoyable part of the job:
Unfortunately, I found no enjoyment in my time at Davies due to the negative work environment and unprofessional behaviour.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Most of the people at Davies were amazing. I loved the lawyers I worked with, and many of the assistants and clerks.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
I did not find the job stressful. I very much enjoyed the job itself, my only concern was the lack of growth opportunities.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Mostly positive and uplifting. However, if you are hired as an assistant there, do not hold out hope of ever progressing to anything more. It very rarely happens, and when it does your continued employment is often short lived.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Depends on which department you are in. Most assistants were not busy much of the time, but would say they were to avoid being given additional tasks.

I worked as a legal assistant for many years at Davies Ward and it was an overall good experience. It felt like I was part of a community of lawyers and staff that worked together for a common goal. It was typically busy but there was backup help if needed. There was always training for new programs being offered. Most co-workers who were there were fine and I ended up making friends who I also saw outside of work. The lawyers are all very competent so that there wasn't a lot for a secretary to worry about.  The legal assistants are instructed clearly on their jobs and they are not expected to have too much responsibility since the lawyers take responsibility for everything. The hardest part of the job is the pressure of working during a big closing. The most enjoyable part of the job is that frankly the lawyers are very competent so it makes an assistants job much easier. I would recommend this firm to a legal assistant. Its very professional.

Incompetent HR: Offers no assistance, lacks accountability, engages in unethical practices.
Probation Period: Exercise caution as they terminate employees arbitrarily despite diligent work.
Corporate Department: Pretentious, lazy, and prone to backstabbing.
Toxic Atmosphere: Characterized by a lack of transparency, inadequate training, and constant chaos.
False Growth Promises: Despite claims, there are no genuine opportunities for advancement.
Unpaid Overtime: Expect to work extended hours without compensation; they avoid paying overtime but demand completion of tasks.
Inadequate Compensation: Paid less than you're worth, but hey, at least you get to enjoy free food that's essentially leftovers meant for the fancy-pants lawyers and associates, which they mistakenly believe constitutes amazing compensation.

I have learned a lot at Davies, as they gave me a chance to develop my skills and allowed me to grow within the firm. The supervisors in all the departments I have worked in are very engaged and supportive.

The work load at Davies is what is the most challenging. Productivity is extremely important in the firms field and makes it a challenge. 

The people is what really makes this employer a great place to work at.

Great compensation, extremely stressful environment, did not feel comfortable being myself. Expectations are high with little to no support. The office itself is beautiful, lots of amenities. If you are not a lawyer you are not treated as well, unfortunately. Enjoyed working with my colleagues but management was not supportive and facilitated a stressful environment.

I worked there for over 20 years and got along great with my colleagues, but management kept getting worse over the years until it created a very negative environment and extremely low employee morale. If you want to work in a firm where you are NOT going to be appreciated for any of the work you produce, Davies is definitely the right place to work for!

had very good training before starting working there.
Liked working in the evening with a full staff.
There was a lot of politics in the office.
Liked paid taxi leaving work in the evening

Low morale, employees are replaceable.  No loyalty from management and reporting problems is not an easy task. No support from those in positions of power.

Legal environment, high pressure but interesting. Easy access with public transportation. Mostly English working communication language, almost nothing in French.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Legal assistant 5 salaries reported	$56,000 per year
Lawyer 3 salaries reported	$127,667 per year

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Working at Davies Ward Phillips &amp; Vineberg LLP: company overview and reviews

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP

Davies Ward Phillips &amp; Vineberg LLP ratings

Popular jobs at Davies Ward Phillips &amp; Vineberg LLP

Salary satisfaction

Working at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP: company overview and reviews

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP ratings

Popular jobs at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP