legal assistant

associate

lawyer

receptionist/clerk

receptionist

Bennett Jones LLP

From my experience, Bennett Jones is by far the nicest place to work. Those who have never worked anywhere else may lack the appreciation, but I have been to several other firms. I like working with both of my lawyers, the workspace for assistants is spacious which provides plenty of room to stay organized (in most other firms I was crammed into a tiny mouse hole where the lawyers just piled work on top of documents on top of files and it became impossible to stay neat and organized). This is particularly important when working with more than one lawyer. My department is quiet so it's easy to focus on my work. In my opinion and from my experience, hard work is appreciated here and is rewarded. Every good and every bad company is the way it is because of management and it all trickles down. It is clear that management is well structured and they actually care whether or not the employees are happy. This to me is new and very refreshing. It is a busy workplace and fast paced and there is always something to do, but there are helpful departments available for assistance when required, whether it be training on a program, document processing, IT help, whatever the case may be. This support system makes it a lot more efficient when getting the job done. When first starting out at the firm, there is a training program in place before you are at your desk so you are not just thrown into the middle of everything.

The only thing that would concern me is if the 4 lawyers to one assistant were to be implemented, which is apparently in the process. Two lawyers are feasible, in SOME instances three lawyers, but four lawyers to one assistant is never effective in any case, especially not in some departments. 

In terms of the culture, I have found people to be more pleasant here than any firm I have worked at. I think that is mostly due to the fact that most people are happy at their job. 

The only way I would ever leave BJ is if the 4 to 1 were implemented, or if I decided I wanted to go into a completely different field, but I would not leave for another law firm.

An individual would need to be lawyer for this place to have any benefit to their career. HR strongly suggests employees take the survey for best employer so that isn’t a way to judge their culture etc.

They have a high turnover due to a high stress environment with little to no support from management. HR is essentially useless as they do nothing when problems are  brought to their attention. There are no repercussions for poor leadership. They do not plan effectively when someone leaves and so the work is passed down and burdens others. Morale is exceedingly low.

The pay is poor and it does not keep up with cost of living. They have a 2% bonus and you may be oh so lucky to get up to a 3% salary increase dependent on if your manager likes you and you haven’t hit your band.

There is no career growth even though they like to say there is in the recruitment process.

Hybrid arrangement is a single day at home.

The health and dental benefits are pretty decent but would be better if they were like other firms and had higher payouts or the option to customize. 

Overall, culture and pay is very much in line with them being in business for over a century so if that’s what you’re looking for you’ll definitely find it there.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Great staff, Lawyer and management.  Areas of law are very interesting 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Demanding deadlines and fast paced environment 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Very professional environment and also very friendly 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Working closely with the lawyers to progress current files.  This includes:  discussions with opposing counsel, legal assistants, court house, preparing and filing court documents, draft and finalize correspondence

My direct Supervisor/Lawyer was fantastic.  I really enjoyed working for him, among the other staff in the Real Estate Department.  As a employee in good standings, my dealings with Upper Management were very limited.  

Typically, a day at work would start off by checking my emails and voicemails and responding accordingly. Checking My lawyers emails and doing any ground work in preparation for his arrival.  While he was out of the office I would do any administrative tasks that could be done without supervision, and when he was in the office I would focus my time at the tasks given.

Friendly and approachable staff, lawyers and HR, genuinely good people to work with. Overall, it’s a positive and respectful work environment. The firm offers solid flexibility, although the move from 3 days in office to 4 was a disappointment, you can work from home on any day as long as you’re in the office 4 days total, which helps with work-life balance. Benefits are better than what you’ll find at other places. 

Cons:
Compensation is on the lower end compared to similar firms, and annual raises are modest.

Overall:
A good place to work if you value a supportive environment, flexibility, and benefits over top-tier pay.

I worked in accounting and it was a very stressful job. Lots of money coming in and going out. Making sure everything was balances. Staff was very hard headed. Everything was by the book. If they didn't want you there any more they would find a way to push you out. Its a law firm that is run like a prison. There are some good people that work there but if your there long enough, it changes you or you leave.

If I could, I would work here for the rest of my life.  Once you get in the door and you show you are smart, capable, well organized, responsive to your team's needs, and avoid office drama/politics, you will be rewarded and you will feel accomplished at your job.  It's also a great place to make friends with co-workers.  The location is extremely convenient to TTC subways and Union station, but the parking costs are very high.

The training and atmosphere at Bennett Jones are great. All the resources you need are at hand.

It does tend to have a bit of a clique atmosphere, as you don't interact with other departments on a regular basis so I can be tough to get a comfortable feel at times.

But great benefits and experience all around.

Excellent place to work at.  The lawyers were great, as was the team of Human Resources.  They were accommodating, they appreciate their staff, and I have no complaints at all about working there.  When I decided I needed a change in my work life, they were so gracious and made it such an easy adjustment for me.  I miss working there and would recommend anyone to apply and work here!  Fantastic place!

Top notch Firm. Fair amount of pressure to produce top quality work but at least lawyers & management appreciate your hard work. Service departments are an amazing resource.  Benefits plan is excellent and very competitive.  If you work hard and smart, you'll be rewarded at salary review time.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Legal assistant 12 salaries reported	$66,270 per year
Associate 4 salaries reported	$157,500 per year
Lawyer 3 salaries reported	$170,000 per year
Receptionist/clerk 1 salary reported	$51,000 per year
Receptionist 1 salary reported	$52,500 per year

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