To follow up, the overall theme when looking at elite firms, is that they all require working long & difficult hours. Firm culture will vary, but as you probably know, there are varying degrees to this. Some would say it depends upon the firm’s clients & others may also include that it depends upon the partner or partners you work for. One way to ascertain information about an individual firm’s culture is to ask friends & colleagues about their experiences there. Reputations also travel & are generally based on people’s experiences collectively. While I don’t advise listening to everything you hear, I don’t think you should ignore the “word on the street.”
I’ve worked with candidates who thrive in a more collaborative & easy-going culture. I’ve also represented candidates that truly enjoy a no-nonsense, aggressive, hard-charging work environment. If culture & work/life balance is at the TOP of your list I wouldn’t recommend starting at a vault ten firm. That’s a general statement but for the most part, it’s true. To figure out firm culture on your own, you can start by examining partner profits. Typically, the higher the partners’ profits, the more hours they work. Then you can consider the level of intensity & expectation of clients at those firms.
Finally, think about the more specialized firms or boutique firms. Many of them are known for their nicer culture and lifestyle hours. Regardless of the firm you choose, you’ll be spending the majority of your time working and it’s important to figure out what you need to thrive.