The public press recently obtained a copy of an internal memo written by 6 associates of the New York office of Clifford Chance to the New York partners. Ostensibly intended only for internal consumption, the associates were reflecting on the last place finish of the firm in a recent American Lawyer survey of associates’ satisfaction, attitudes toward their work and their firm of employment.

Essentially, the associates were complaining about the billing requirement for associates (2420 hours per year), the assignment system which sometimes was a deterrent to reaching the lofty goal ("... attractive females (are n) ever out of work ..."), partner indifference and insufficient training, among others.

One of the most telling criticisms is that "the firm feels ‘like a fiefdom’ or a loose confederation of independent states." Imagine how much fun this must be ...

While this memo comes from the New York office (an acquisition rather than internal growth), the firm may have global difficulties resulting from it. For example, two Dutch MPs are asking the Netherlands Minister of Justice to investigate the impact of the firm’s billing culture on their country. And this may spread to other countries in Europe.