Hogan Lovells

Culture

8.2 / 10
31 reviews
How would you describe your firm’s culture both in the office and after hours?
2013 Reviews

  • The firm is not particularly hierarchical and you feel like your opinion genuinely counts. Departments are good at organising social drinks/team lunches and generally making you feel welcome even after you move to your new department. Trainees often lunch together and after work drinks are a regular occurrence although it can be a bit cliquey with trainees who know each other from law school/vacation schemes sticking together.

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  • Everyone from PAs to partners are very approachable in the department where I am currently sitting. There is always someone to ask if you get stuck! There is lots of socialising amongst the trainees and drinks on Friday every week.

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  • This is what drew me to Hogan Lovells. We have a great office culture where we work hard, but have fun doing it. There are lots of social office activities. I have made lots of lifetime friends at HL.

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  • The firm has a fantastic culture - a City firm without the same smugness you get elsewhere.

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  • I put in some pretty long hours and had an all-nighter during my second seat and no one ever thanked me. I would have minded a lot less if I'd felt appreciated. There were times when I felt pretty stepped on by associates who were unable to manage their own stress and seemed to have forgotten what being a trainee is like. The Christmas and summer parties are excellent and trainees tend to stick together. I haven't seen any sign of the internal competition or backstabbing that seem to go on at other firms. There's very little sense of hierarchy and I wouldn't think twice about approaching a partner (provided I had a good reason!).

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2012 Reviews

  • The firm generally lives up to its reputation of friendliness and approachability. The partners and senior associates are accessible. "Works well with others" applies to most of the people I've worked with here. There's also a lot of camaraderie among solicitors and a decent amount of out-of-office socialising.

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  • The firm is genuinely friendly and approachable. Although out of hours culture varies from team to team, the trainees have Friday drinks every week and most teams have semi-regular casual drinks events.

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  • There is a clear hierarchy that is more rigid in some teams than in others. My department is generally cooperative with members of the team always willing to help when help is needed but this also depends on whether people have time to assist or provide extra support. The main criticism I have in relation to teamwork is the lack of open communication within small teams. Sometimes on transactions, junior members of the team are, (inadvertently), not included in useful or key meetings.

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  • The firm's culture is its best selling point. Everyone is friendly and approachable, there is no strict hierarchy whereby you would feel uncomfortable approaching senior people. Cooperation and teamwork are very strong here as people are always willing to help out and offer some advice when needed. Hours are reasonable compared to most City firms and while there are times where we will be doing long hours these are only where the work truly requires it, not because there is a face-time culture or a system of unrealistic deadlines and pressure like you would find at many other firms.

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  • There is a decent trainee social scene - the trainees tend to sit together in the staff restaurant every lunchtime and there are trainee drinks every Friday. I have been out with people from my department (from trainees to partners) several times, both to formally arranged outings and to impromptu drinks. The people are generally genuinely friendly, supportive and down to earth.

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  • Socialising amongst trainees is good. There are some departments that do not invite trainees to social events, which is unfortunate, but not all the departments are like this.

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  • There is no avoiding that the hours are long in some departments. However I rarely ate dinner alone in the staff restaurant - teams would go down to get dinner together. There is socialising amongst trainees - although a higher trainee budget would be greatly appreciated. More impressive has been the extent to which I have been incorporated into departments whilst I have been sitting there - I have nearly always felt like one of the team. Partners are approachable and friendly and I have come across several that go out of their way to assist with the development of your career.

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  • This is one of the best aspects of working at Hogan Lovells. The structure is definitely non-hierarchical and everyone (including partners) makes you feel as though you are a valued member of the team and appreciate your opinions/solutions to issues (even though you are a trainee). There are also lots of social and extracurricular activities. I have made lots of friends that I am sure will be friends for life while working here.

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  • Generally speaking the team is great to work with, even when things get stressful in the early hours of the morning. People are friendly, open and approachable. The emphasis on charity and pro-bono work I feel enhances the culture of the firm.

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  • The firm's culture is quite heavily focussed on pro bono and sports. We do not have any group skiing trips or retreats like other firms, and the level of socialising differs hugely between groups; some are very social and organise events every few months, whereas others don't bother at all. Trainee socialising tends to be limited to those in your intake or in your current group. I think our trainee introduction weeks were a missed opportunity to get both the new intake and the trainee population as a whole to mix and get to know one another better.

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  • The trainees are extremely sociable and we make sure we socialise outside the office at least once a week. My team is extremely co-operative and although there is inevitably a sense of hierarchy it is never abused in any way. The team work very well together and everyone enjoys their job.

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  • There is an emphasis on team-work and involving people at all levels. There are strong relationships between the lawyers and the support staff, and the senior team members are approachable and supportive.

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  • Like any law firm, Hogan Lovells is very hierarchical and quite traditional. However, the people are friendly - at all levels - and most appreciate the importance of having a good work-life balance. Having said that, the hours and pressure can be difficult. There is definitely a sense of camaraderie among the trainees and most of us get on well, although it gets a bit competitive when qualification nears. Trainees organise drinks most weeks and there are always 'trainee tables' in the staff restaurant at lunchtime.

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  • Vast fluctuations between teams and individuals. My current department is quite relaxed - the hierarchy exists but loosely. We wouldn't tend to socialise outside office hours except at certain events, but when these do happen they are very enjoyable and the whole team interacts.

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  • The trainees are extremely sociable - we go for drinks after work every Friday and in the middle and at the end of each seat we have a social. Different departments have different attitudes towards socialising after work but generally, people at the firm are very sociable. There is a distinct hierarchy with partners firmly at the top and trainees firmly at the bottom - however I think it is the same at every firm. The TC definitely feels like a two year interview and as a trainee you are under constant pressure to impress.

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  • Mixed bag: the culture in our department is great, I count some of my colleagues among my closest friends and we socialise regularly (often organised and paid for by the firm). However, there is much less socialising with colleagues in other departments. My particular department is not at all hierarchical, though others are not like this.

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  • The firm doesn't feel very hierarchical. I find myself forgetting that partners are very senior and saying things that, in retrospect, maybe I shouldn't! However, if the team goes for drinks, partners pay (so hierarchy can be good!). Trainees often go for Friday drinks and when you go to lunch there's always a few knocking about that you can sit and talk to.

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2011 Reviews

  • The firm has a good social life and departments often go for drinks together. I have always found it to be a very friendly working environment with an open door atmosphere at all levels. Trainees socialise together a lot there is almost always a group of us out for drinks on a Friday!

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  • The induction fortnight gave a lot of support and training, and allowed the new trainees a chance to get to know one another. The atmosphere between the trainees is very supportive. There is no sense of direct competition and people are happy to help each other out when need be. The social life is pretty good. Trainees meet through sports teams, or having drinks together. In fact we are having a night out tonight!

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  • The firm has a reputation for being friendlier than most of its competitors in the City and this is certainly borne out by the close relationships among the trainees. Trainees will typically get together once a week and there is a strong culture of helping each other while at work.

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  • The working environment is relaxed, but professional and most people I have encountered are friendly. There are also a lot of support staff from PAs to the library whose advice and help is often invaluable to a trainee. There isn't a culture of working late just to put in 'face-time' and most supervisors will tell you to go home at a reasonable hour if you don't have any urgent work to do.

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  • The culture is very good. The firm is friendly, partners are approachable and trainees are not expected to stay late merely to 'show face'. Support networks are available and other trainees often help each other out. Trainee intakes are very sociable and often socialise together outside work in a non-formal atmosphere.

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  • The working environment is fairly relaxed and there is an open-door policy. Trainees are not made to feel inferior in terms of the structure of the teams we work in, our opinions and contributions seem to be valued. Trainees support each other a lot and regularly socialise together. Many of the departments also socialise on a weekly basis and invite trainees along too although there are those that don't.

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  • Trainees all support each other; there is very little competitiveness. People are willing to help each other out with work and the vast majority of trainees are keen to arrange a pub session for after work on a Friday – one pub will be chosen for all the different seaters. Trainees from different intakes will have lunch together too; it's very social.

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  • This depends on the department in which you sit and on the work they have at the time... There is a diverse mix of trainees at the firm. At work (as in life) some are friendly and supportive, others are not. My current department makes an effort to ensure workloads are spread evenly which I think is a very positive thing. Trainees do socialise together although this tends to be in smaller groups rather than en masse as the firm does not make any budgetary provision for trainee social events.

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  • The firm culture is amazing, especially compared to what I've heard about the other firms. People here understand that it is not normal to be stuck at work for 36 hours straight and to work weekends. This does not mean that you won't have to work for 36 hours straight or do weekends (as all busy City firms will need you to do at some point), but it does make it more bearable in the sense that people are apologetic when asking you to do so and are genuinely grateful for your help. Team spirit, particularly in my last department, was strong and you never really felt like you were alone or out at sea at all, as everyone else would be working just as hard and had a positive mental attitude. After hours most departments also like to get a bit of a tipple in, usually on a Friday.

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  • We eat lunch together most days and go out for drinks on a Friday night – we socialise all the time. Trainees do support each other – if anyone sends a group email around then it is answered quickly by another trainee. Firm's culture is friendly and welcoming – great atmosphere in which to learn.

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  • On the whole, most people at every level of the firm are approachable and helpful when you are a trainee. There is a great formal and informal network of support amongst the trainees, and this is true both at work and outside.

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  • Trainees go out together at least once a week. There are 40 of us in each intake so there's always someone up for a drink post work.

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  • The firm really lives up to the label: friendly, but intelligent; high-end stuff but not too much boasting about it. Trainees are really supportive of each other and individual intakes tend to socialise together. (Though this may change a little once the final seat and the qualification round starts. Things tend to be a little more individualistic then.).

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  • Trainees as a body are very sociable with each other. Regular Friday night drinks, etc. The trainee body as a whole is supportive and this is highly encouraged. I often find that some of my fellow trainees make my life considerably easier. The firm prides itself on a friendly culture and this largely seems to be the case, with more senior people being generally approachable and sociable. I feel that I am treated in a respectful manner and that senior people make an effort to be welcoming and positive. That said, it is a large corporate law firm and not always as warm and cuddly as all that.

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  • I feel very much at home at Hogan Lovells and I support the values and ethos that the firm promotes. There is, of course, a hierarchy to the firm, and to my department, but I find that this gives a helpful structure to the way we put together a team for a particular piece of work, and I like the fact that I know where I fit in. Senior lawyers are generally very approachable, supportive and keen to pass on their knowledge and expertise. My department is friendly, with lots of different personalities and also a good mix of male/female members. I enjoy socialising with my fellow solicitors and the PAs as well and I have made some very good friends across the firm." – Junior solicitor, Litigation

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  • Hogan Lovells is a friendly and sociable place to work. Although there is a hierarchy, as there is in any law firm, most practice areas operate an open door policy and staff at all levels are friendly and approachable. Solicitors work well together and provide support to each other, as required. If one associate is very busy, another associate will assist with tasks if possible. Team work is key at Hogan Lovells, both for work and socialising. Many groups arrange drinks or other events after work and everyone is generally encouraged to attend.

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  • Pretty traditional to be honest, but the merger has introduced some more modern ideas (like dress down Friday). Generally a nice place to work, I still go out regularly on nights out with my intake (even after one year of qualification).

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  • In real estate, each team is centred around one partner. Teams can vary in size but often contain a Counsel, a couple of senior associates, a few juniors and a trainee. The rest of the team and other associates/partners are often happy to assist and offer guidance when required. Friday evening drinks are quite common and good fun, be it department-based or with your intake.

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  • Within my team there are three partners, five senior associates and two associates. All are very approachable and support each other. More widely, I believe the firm's culture and ethos is akin to this approachable/friendly environment. I regularly socialise outside of work with former trainees from my intake and other members of my team.

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2010 Reviews

  • People are nice and approachable and increasingly determined to succeed in the very competitive business environment. Trainees meet at lunch time for a gossip and generally go for drinks on a Friday night.

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  • Very collegiate, very friendly working environment, relatively informal for a law firm. The firm's sports teams are also active and well funded by the firm.

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  • Trainees generally socialise well-although it can be fairly difficult throughout the week, we often try to meet up on a Friday evening. There are various events organised by the firm, which are good fun and pretty informal.

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  • The firm's culture is definitely friendlier than I hear of other big city firms being. There's a good camaraderie, people go out for lunch and after hours when they can. Trainees socialise together, it happens both formally (grad recruitment events, trainee training sessions) and informally

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  • Trainees often socialise together through the trainee summer and winter parties or more frequently for lunch or after-work drinks. The firm deserves its reputation for being a friendly and enjoyable place to work.

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  • There are the usual formal events over summer and at Xmas etc. The team I’m in at the moment are very social within office hours, but less so outside them. I think the general consensus is that we spend a lot of time together during the day, so family and friends get priority at night!

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  • Working environment feels more hierarchical than I'd expected, although it seems to depend on your team. Some partners can be very approachable and have had a lot of time for me (my allocated 'Contact Partner' has been a particularly good source of encouragement).

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  • Hogan Lovells has a very collegiate culture, in which colleagues become more than simply the people that you work with during office hours. Trainees socialise together as well as with other colleagues in the firm both formally and informally; rightly, there is no arbitrary divide between members of the firm on the basis on job title.

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  • The culture is generally sociable with each department hosting leaver/joiner drinks for trainees as well as their own individual events. Trainees generally are sociable especially in my intake although much like university, groups tend to form after the first few weeks. This is not divisive in anyway, just people gravitating to those they have more in common with

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