Pros
• Some talented colleagues • Experience may be a resume builder • Exposure to complex matters and projects
Cons
• Toxic and politically charged culture • Favoritism and cronyism at leadership level • Managers who align themselves with leadership instead of their teams • Inequitable bonus structure • No respect for Legal compared to other functions • Frequent turnover and post-quarter terminations The Legal department is plagued by poor leadership and a culture that discourages trust and transparency. The General Counsel’s leadership style feels insular and tone-deaf, with clear favoritism and cronyism influencing decisions. Nearly all managers defer unquestioningly to the General Counsel, which reinforces the unhealthy culture and stifles open dialogue. Compensation for Legal roles is well below peer company standards — and noticeably lower than pay for Engineering at the same company. Bonuses in Legal are only available to Directors and above, while Engineering employees at all levels receive them — a stark example of how little value is placed on the department’s contributions. Frequent terminations mostly for commercial legal, often taking place the Monday after quarter-end, create a sense of instability and fear, contributing to high turnover and low morale. Managers create more problems rather than unblock.
