associate attorney

legal secretary

litigation attorney

receptionist

legal assistant

Bremer Whyte Brown & OMeara LLP

While the staff and associates are nice to work with, the partners at this office make it a miserable place to be.  People are constantly quitting and they fail to take any responsibility for their behavior.  They treat the associates like they are disposable.  One of the partners is constantly yelling at the associates and makes degrading comments behind their backs to other associates.  He believes himself to be demanding, except he fails to see that his conduct is rude, degrading and unacceptable.  He has very little respect for the attorneys.  He incessantly sends long drawn out emails and expects an immediate response.  You end up wasting most of your day responding to his emails instead of getting your work done.  He leaves things until the last minute and then expects everyone to drop everything for him. 

You are expected to and often encouraged to work nights and weekends.  The work load is very high and demanding.  There are no paralegals and the assistance are only their for minimal tasks such as calendaring and filings.  They hire new law clerks every 3-4 months, but by the time the law clerks are trained, they hire a new set.  The law clerks have to bill for their work. 

The other partner who is rarely ever in the office is always "too busy" to provide any guidance or help on the cases.  If you're a new associate you are expected to know how to handle a case, then get reprimanded for making a decision that is different than what they would do.  Even if it is a simple judgement call that doesn't effect the case. 

You cannot make changes to your billing, so if you make a mistake you have to email accounting and the partner and have them delete or fix the mistake.  Then you get reprimanded for making mistakes on your billing.  You're required to have all of your billing in daily and if you don't you get a nasty email that is sent to HR about how you're violating firm policy.  

The attorneys are expected to save all documents that are emailed or mailed to the firm, immediately .  If a partner sends out an email, you are expected to save it for him.  The saving process is not quick, so you spend a lot of time saving emails everyday.  You are micromanaged and must copy the partners on all emails that you send out, they claim it is so they can be updated in the event a client asks them questions.  But, when a client asks them a question, they expect the handling attorney to answer it, so its really a function of micromanagement.  

They have calendar meetings every Friday at random times with 5-30 minutes notice and they expect you to be there or you get reprimanded.  During the calendar meetings, the partner takes the opportunity to tear the associates apart for their work.  

By the time you receive a new file, the partner has already billed for reviewing all of the documents, drafting an answer and discovery requests.  This work is done hastily and often riddled with mistakes that you later have to clean up.  

They are also very gossipy and try get dirt on their associates.  The partners' assistant tells them everything that goes on in the office.

Good experience learning litigation and handling your own cases.  You will probably get to handle nearly all aspects of a case, from filing an answer, or demurrer, to handling discovery and discovery disputes, court appearances, depositions, expert discovery, and occasionally trial prep.  Unfortunately you can go several years at this firm and never touch a trial, however.
- Generally laid back work environment, but this is heavily dependent on the attorney for whom you work.  I can't stress enough the importance of, if you receive a job offer, asking who you will work for, and then finding other attorneys who have worked for this person in the past.  This is critical as a small handful of the partners in this firm bear blame for the majority of turnover.
- the firm offers 401k (no matching), and a health plan.  However, depending on your needs you may very well be better off shopping the private marketplace given the employee contribution required.  However, the premiums are tax deductible.

Negatives are:
- Fairly low pay
- Bonus system is a joke.   The bonuses are extremely small.  Even if you earn one, you will have to work so many hours to get it, you're better off working a side gig, McDonald's, or just enjoying your time off.  BWBO did what a lot of insurance defense firms are doing.  They've moved to a quarterly bonus system based on billing (net of their cuts of your hours) in excess of 180 hours/month average.  It sounds good when you say it fast, but it's designed to maximize billable hours from the associates, while minimizing the odds they actually have to pay out any bonus.  Given the ebbs and flow of case load, you have to bill well over 180 hours a month to both survive cutting, and to ensure that a slow time/case lull doesn't torpedo your average.  You don't have these issues in a yearly bonus system - which is why they like the quarterly system.  The firm starts benefiting from your output the minute you bill a .1 beyond your requirement.  But, the attorney must bill a TON of hours, and have all stars align to actually qualify - but qualify or not, the already firm benefited from your extra work.  And then if the attorney does qualify, the attorney gets a whopping $1k bonus.  Attorneys can and do bill at 100+ hours a year over their requirement, and still have failed to get even one bonus the entire year, or only get maybe one quarterly bonus.
- Little upward mobility, and even if become partner, it's pretty low pay (virtually zero chance of equity partnership).  Definitely NOT the holy grail of legal positions. 
- Extraordinarily high attorney turnover (50%+ per year).  It's atrocious.  Expect to work there no more than 6mo. to 3 years.  As to that, ensure that when you leave you are ready to start work at your new place immediately, or that you plan to take time off.  The firm is notorious for throwing the courtesy of a two-week notice in your face, and having you leave right away and WITHOUT paying you for that two weeks.

As a paralegal, you bill 7 to 8 hours a day. That's tough to do since the billing language they use must worded in such a way that the accounting department tends to kick back your billing entries, so you can spend from 30 minutes to 2 hours trying to re-word your billing entries so that they will be accepted. That significantly cuts into your high billing quota. I found myself staying late and coming in early to compensate for time lost, but as an entry-level paralegal, I could only stay 30 minutes late or come in 30 minutes early since I did not have access to the door locks. If you need to use the bathroom, take a break, talk to an attorney or another paralegal, that also cuts into your billing time. As a result, paralegals tend to find ways to bill to make up for that time that are questionable or take home work that they are not authorized to do. It's a bill or perish environment. 

The junior attorneys I worked for were extremely stressed out and obsessed with meeting their billing quota. For example, I had my 30-minute weekly meeting with one of my attorney's, and she flipped out on me since our meeting lasted 39 minutes instead of 30. She told me that we both lost 39 minutes of billing and that she would have to stay late to complete a brief that she still had not yet started. We were discussing a complicated case, so this meeting was crucial for us so that I could do my job properly. This is just one example from many. I was treated unfairly and poorly by a few of the attorneys I worked for. I was not able to receive the help I needed from other paralegals since they didn't have time to help me thanks to the billing quota and high workload.

The paralegal who trained me didn't know that area of law that I was assigned to, so it was difficult to fully understand what and how to do my job other than asking other paralegals who worked in that area. She gave me bad templates from a former paralegal who incorrectly created them, so I received angry words from attorneys as a result. I spent most of my time learning the billing language than actually training for the work I was supposed to do to bill. 

There was little enjoyable about my days, unfortunately. A few of the staff were nice but visibly stressed out.

Amazing views and location, large office. Pay was pretty decent. Insurance litigation is easy to understand once you get the hang of the work load and don’t have people sending you huge projects at the last minute. Some of the associates are pretty cool.

Very high turnover, churn and burn like. The atmosphere in the office at first gives off a vibe that screams professionalism until everyone takes off their masks and decides whether you “fit in” or not. Some staff are very unprofessional and exhibit “high school drama” behaviors. There is a click like environment between associate attorneys and legal support staff that causes friction and discomfort among other staff. Don’t dare to work here and ask questions after your second week. Some folks here will pretend to have some type of understanding of how to train and manage yet, when it comes to training and or asking questions, you will be looked at as if you’re incompetent. Instructions are hardly ever clear and if they are, it’s something so simple like calendaring a deadline. The tasks that are required for receptionists are not even close to being compensated. Legal secretaries are asked to do work that should be done by associates, at least give adequate training to be able to do so. Management doesn’t have the slightest clue on how to manage or resolve conflict and relies heavily on outside help to resolve in-office related issues. The managers in the office do not take responsibility nor accountability for the lack of support and direction in the office and essentially reward rude and arrogant employees. All in all, this place is not a long-term type of firm if you have morals, respect and consideration for others. If you are looking for something to settle within your career, this is not the place. Do not let the image and the pretty views fool you. This place is what I’d call “a full on monet….. from far away it’s okay but up close its a big old mess” (Clueless, 1995)

Take courses on proper management, conflict resolution, and critical thinking skills that require you to think outside of your own perception.

I enjoyed the vast majority of my time with Bremer Whyte. I met some phenomenal people and made some solid connections in the legal field. Sure, it had the hazards and dramas of any office environment, but in general, everything balanced out--and under any normal circumstance, I'm sure this would have continued. However, during crisis scenarios, companies really do show their true colors. Within a week of the widespread American outbreak of the COVID19 virus, myself and several dozen others were let go. Our positions were eliminated. 

I absolutely understand that harsh times and dire circumstances require severe action.  Nonetheless, this doesn't warrant the wholesale termination of entire departments of the company. There was no offer of leave (unpaid or otherwise). There was no discussion of potential options or other paths forward. It was a simple, calculated massacre of the company's staff (many of whom had dedicated significant quantities of time and energy to the firm's success and well-being). To preserve the financial well-being of the equity partners and executive staff.

All of this occurred with the backdrop of a lackluster, laissez-faire response to the virus itself. Not only was there denial and misinformation regarding the dangers, but most staff members were also required to work from the office--even when work could have been easily completed from home.

Do not mistake my current disappointment for an all-encompassing negative review. Bremer Whyte was good to myself and others when times were good. However, the company--and its leadership--exhibit an incredibly fickle and short-sighted mindset. They would rather gut their offices stem to stern, hanging attorneys and support staff out to dry, than develop thorough and humane plans to guide their (so-called) "family" through the toughest of times. I'm uncertain as to whether this is merely a side-effect of the fear we all feel or a symptom of greater issues surrounding the firm's ability to manage its budget. 

All of my positive experiences are, unfortunately, sullied by Bremer Whyte's handling of this situation. Tread carefully.

I worked at the San Diego office of Bremer Whyte Brown & O'Meara ("BW") as both a law clerk and senior associate.  During my time as a law clerk, the partners and attorneys provided guidance and mentorship that many of my classmates were missing at their clerkships.  BW provided me with opportunity to work closely with the attorneys so that I could learn the practice of law.  This experience laid the foundation for me as an attorney.  

Following law school, BW hired me as an associate attorney.  BW offered me the autonomy to develop and grow as an attorney while being closely mentored by all of the partners and attorneys.  At the onset, I was taking and defending depositions, drafting motions, and attending court hearings and mediations.  Throughout this time, the partners and attorneys made sure I was prepared for everything and were available 24/7 to answer any questions and to offer assistance.  The partners and attorneys wanted me to feel ownership over my cases and made it clear to any counsel, mediators, clients, or judges that the cases were under my control and that despite my youth I excelled at my work.  BW's focus was my development and growth as an attorney.  

The partners and attorneys also provided me with the opportunity to interact closely with clients and develop long lasting relationships with the clients.  Based on the lessons taught by the partners and attorneys, I learned to develop friendships with the clients which resulted in clients turning to BW for any legal issues.  I was also introduced to marketing potential clients to develop my own book of business.  As any attorney knows, you cannot practice law if you do not have clients.    

I now work at a firm where BW is opposing counsel in some of my cases.  I know that in every case with BW that I will be dealing with competent counsel who will advocate for his/her client.  I continue to turn to the partners and attorneys at BW to discuss novel and complex legal issues. 
 I built life long friendships at BW and would not be in the position I am now without the guidance, mentorship, and development opportunities provided by the partners and attorneys at BW.

I worked at BWB&O in the San Diego office for 7 years. I started as a law clerk and after I passed the bar, was hired as an associate attorney. I have nothing but positive things to say about the firm and in particular the people I worked with in the San Diego office.

First, as a new associate I was given the opportunity to handle my cases as I saw fit, obviously with input from the partners in the office. I was not micromanaged. Early on, I was conducting depositions, performing motion practice, and first chairing mediations. I benefited from having these opportunities as a young attorney and based on my discussions with others in the industry, that is not always the case.

The firm had an open door policy and I routinely took advantage of it. Anytime I had a question the partners would take time out of their day to discuss it and come up with creative solutions. I truly felt supported in my role. I appreciate the feedback I received both positive and constructive from the management in the San Diego office. The firm and its clients have high standards and expectations, and the feedback I was provided with helped achieve better results for the firm's clients, and made me a better lawyer.

The support staff I worked with during my time at the firm was also for the most part excellent.

I built lasting relationships with many of the employees I worked with in the San Diego office. BWB&O was like a family for me and I still feel that way. That was probably the most valuable aspect about working there. Civil litigation is stressful enough as it is. Having the opportunity to work with good people that took a personal interest in my professional development and my personal life like they did at BWB&O made my experience that much better.

BWB&O really is a great place to work.

I have worked here for over a year, and although opinions may differ from past employees, I absolutely love it here and plan on never leaving.  I've worked in many law firms throughout my career, and Bremer Whyte is by far the best firm to work for in Las Vegas.  Of course the job is stressful, but working in the legal profession is always stressful.  Yes, insurance defense requires billing everyday in any firm and here my required billable's are 6 hours a day, which is typical for defense firms.  We are not required to bill 7 to 8 hours a day.  The health insurance is great, and the firm provides employees with an HSA account with loaded money to pay for co-pays, can't beat that!  Any time off I need, including vacations are on average 16 to 21 days a year of PTO, and as you work you acquire the time, instead of waiting for your yearly vacation time or sick days.  All the attorneys, including the partners treat you with respect and listen to everyone, and truly care about their employees.  The atmosphere here is wonderful.  Everyone is friendly and get along great, which in turn creates a positive atmosphere to work, especially when you work in one of the most stressful jobs anywhere.  This in itself is difficult to find in law firms.  All in all the firm is a well oiled machine. Is it perfect?  No law firm is, but as far management is concerned I've never had to worry about anything i.e. computer issues, PTO,  invoices being paid on time and managerial issues are resolved immediately.  All and all Bremer Whyte is happy and healthy law firm where I don't have to worry about anything else, but doing a great job for the firm.

Bremer Whyte is a great learning environment, as well as a great place for growth. The workload is manageable, with a diverse caseload that  allows associates to work on a wide variety of matters within the realm of civil litigation. Keeps the day to day work interesting/entertaining! The managing partners offer great advice, and take the time to carefully review work and provide beneficial feedback. Other associates in the office are helpful, and often provide tips and templates in firm wide emails to assist others working on similarly situated cases. The work culture is great as all partners and other associates are willing to put in the time to manage as they want to see everyone succeed. 

The firm emphasizes a work-life balance, and promotes a healthy lifestyle for its employees by encouraging everyone to be active and get out of the office throughout the week. Employees are also able to work remotely, either permanently, part time, or on an as needed basis. 

The firm often provides breakfasts, and lunches, and celebrates birthdays for all employees. There are great benefits and an achievable bonus program which shows the firm's continued appreciation for its employee's hard work. Overall, great culture - Bremer Whyte is a place where you actually like showing up for work!


I have spent 3 months here and cannot find anything to complain about as a law clerk at Bremer Whyte. The entire firm was so welcoming and helpful from the start, they made me feel at home right away which is very important when you're the new person in an office. The compensation is fair, we receive great health benefits, paid time off for holidays, and the firm always puts together fun events for the employees. 

I began working here with very little litigation experience and have learned so much in so little time. The attorneys and the partners show a genuine interest in helping you develop your legal skills and assign you important tasks for each case in order to gain hands-on experience. I feel like I've already learned so much about being a litigator and yet everyday I learn to do something new. 

I absolutely love working here. I have learned so much about myself and continue to learn so much from the other attorneys and partners at our firm. I feel as though I am valued as an employee and that the work that I do is appreciated.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Associate attorney 72 salaries reported	$131,597 per year
Legal secretary 7 salaries reported	$70,429 per year
Litigation attorney 33 salaries reported	$150,303 per year
Receptionist 7 salaries reported	$20.29 per hour
Legal assistant 5 salaries reported	$23.40 per hour

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