Culture at Baker McKenzie

The culture is a real drawcard of Baker McKenzie. Teams are small, which means that juniors work directly with partners by necessity. This provides fantastic opportunities for on the job learning. Amongst the juniors, we are very close socially and spend time together inside and outside the office. Bakers schedules out of office events pretty regularly, which present a good opportunity to socialise with people outside work. The benefit of a smaller office is that everyone knows everyone.

Our office culture is friendly and more relaxed - most people are engaged about working cooperatively together to get tasks done and eager to help you out. Aside from the various committees that plan social events, people seem to be starting up Friday night drinks again now that we are back in the office.

Overall, a company culture that promotes inclusivity and collaboration. It is not very hierarchical and teamwork is highly valued across the organisation.

Reasonable hours; excellent socialising (attempting to get out of the COVID funk); very supportive senior associates and partners.

Office culture it is friendly and there are frequent opportunities to socialise with colleagues at work functions and less formally.

We have a great social culture at the Firm and largely a cooperative attitude towards work.

Baker McKenzie's culture in the office is excellent - warm, welcoming, kind and inclusive. It was something I noticed right from the start, and which attracted me back to the Firm after my clerkship. Baker McKenzie truly does have something unique in this regard. After hours is similar - there is a strong bond, particularly between juniors who stay back (note: this is overwhelmingly of their own volition only - Baker McKenzie does not have any "face time" policy), and it is nice to feel close to each other when we are staying back working on work together. There is little formal hierarchy at Baker McKenzie. Juniors have unfettered access to partners (which, I understand, is not necessarily the same at all law firms), and can speak to them as equals - your opinion is valued. Stemming from this, and in line with the above, there is obviously a strong culture of genuine cooperation and teamwork among colleagues - this is particularly so among some of the smaller and more specialist teams at Baker McKenzie. We often socialise together, after hours. For example, a lot of the junior lawyers (not just from one year group or intake) will often get drinks together on a Friday after work. Sometimes we arrange events together on a weekend, or further away from the office as well. The friends which I have made at Baker McKenzie make it a great place to come to work every day.

I feel very collaborative with my team and do not feel competition with others at the Firm. I feel as though the team works well together to share work around and ensure no one is too busy or too quiet. We are available to assist each other and help where needed. In Melbourne, we share the same manager, who also acts as our primary work provider, but also get work from other partners and associates in both Melbourne and Sydney.

Bakers prides itself on an open door policy, which certainly rings true. Partners and senior associates are very approachable. The Social, Pride and DNA committees keep employees engaged with fun events.

Great teamwork and plenty of social events.

Social, relaxed, friendly and collaborative.

Some hierarchy, but most work is diffused through the partners to the senior associates, general associates and then to me as a grad. Different from previous rotation experience as not as much interaction directly with partners. Strong and consistent culture in the office. Less people after hours due to COVID, however, those that are around are generally in their own headspace (which I enjoy as sometimes you are in the same position). No pressure to engage, but those happy to do so can do so. Delicious after hours meal options; great to have the taxi on offer when working late. Strong teamwork in my team. Less socialising (Firm drinks) and sport (netball is coming up though) than during my clerkship, as a product of COVID times. I personally enjoy coming into the office, and really like the fact that should I want to work from home, there would be no adverse pressure not to do so.

The office hours are reasonable for law. The most important thing is that, even if you are working longer hours, your colleagues are too. The sense of teamwork and group ownership of tasks makes light work of even the largest tasks. Regarding socialising, the people, both senior and juniors, are genuinely kind, smart and 'normal'. People genuinely enjoy chatting with one another, whether it be work or personal.

Very good company culture, which provides ample flexibility to work from home and also work flexible hours. People at the company are very nice and down to earth.