associate attorney

litigation paralegal

professional liability attorney

legal assistant

attorney

Marshall Dennehey

I don’t know where to start, because I’m still processing the trauma of my time at MDWCG. But I’ll try, because anyone considering working here needs to know the truth, even if it’s buried under layers of corporate gloss and empty platitudes. Spoiler alert: this is a toxic, soul-crushing place that will make you question your worth, your sanity, and whether you ever made the right decision in your career.

Let’s begin with the one positive: The team lunch on your first day. It’s a nice gesture, I’ll give them that. But it’s the only high point you’ll experience, and frankly, it’s downhill from there. Once the novelty wears off, you’re faced with an environment that feels less like a professional workplace and more like a pressure cooker designed to strip away your sense of self-worth.

Promotions? Don't even bother hoping for one. They don't exist here. Professional development? That's a laugh. You're given minimal, if any, training, and any hope of growth or advancement is a pipe dream. You're essentially a cog in a wheel that never turns for you. You can be the hardest worker in the room, but unless you’re one of the "favorites" or part of the good old boys’ club, you're invisible.

And let's talk about the so-called salary position at a lucrative law firm: you’re expected to clock in and out, and your lunch break is unpaid. That’s right, no paid time for a basic human need, in an industry that’s supposedly elite. Worse, you’re told to bill for every single second of your day, making it clear that your time is only as valuable as the hours you can charge.

If you’re lucky enough to not be a parent, prepare for absolutely zero flexibility or empathy. If you are a parent, though, they’ll act like they care—because flexibility only seems to exist for those with kids.

The attorneys might love you one day and then tear you to shreds the next, leaving you in a state of emotional whiplash. The moment you’re unsure about something, be prepared for a condescending, almost punitive response. If you don’t already know everything, you're treated like you're incompetent—never mind that you were hired with some expectation that you'd learn on the job.

There’s also a bullying culture that is pervasive and deeply damaging. They won’t fire you—they can’t afford to—but they’ll break you down piece by piece. Expect daily meetings designed to make you feel like you’re underperforming, even if you're working yourself into the ground. The micromanagement is suffocating, but the worst part is the total lack of support. Constructive feedback? Forget it. Criticism is served up on a platter, but guidance on how to improve is non-existent. It’s a workplace designed to make you question your every move, until you eventually feel like you're doing something wrong, even when you're not.

The divide between attorneys (the "haves") and support staff (the "have-nots") is staggering. Attorneys waltz in with their inflated egos while the paralegals—who are the backbone of the firm—are treated like expendable drones. And let’s not even get started on the legal secretaries, who seem to have a higher standing than the paralegals, despite the latter carrying the crushing caseloads. It’s a ridiculous hierarchy where the workhorse staff are expected to toil in the shadows, while the entitled few sit comfortably at the top.

Speaking of caseloads, good luck—they’re beyond insane. You’ll be tasked with more work than is humanly possible, while trying to juggle a steady stream of impossible expectations. And don’t even think about raising concerns about the ethical implications of your work. If you happen to work in the MedMal department, brace yourself: it’s defense, and you’ll be asked to do morally questionable things, like smearing someone's character to win a case. It’s made clear to you that “it’s just our job,” but it’s hard to reconcile your personal morals with the actions they expect from you. The end justifies the means, and your personal integrity? Not their concern.

One of the most glaring red flags at our office is the staggering turnover rate. Before I took the job,  paralegals had come and gone from my same office. Eight. How can any firm possibly expect consistency or quality when the staff can't even last a full year? It’s no surprise that since I left, they’ve had no one last longer than me—despite the fact that I stuck it out longer than most people would have under such conditions. This isn’t a coincidence. It’s a direct reflection of the toxic environment, the lack of support, and the sheer pressure to conform to unreasonable expectations. People don't leave jobs like this—they escape them.

I spent a decade in the legal field, and I was seriously considering law school—because I genuinely wanted to help people. But after my time here, I can say with certainty that this place broke me. It’s the reason I walked away from a career I had poured my heart and soul into. And that’s saying something. This is not a place where people thrive, grow, or even feel human. It’s a soul-sucking machine that will leave you burnt out, broken, and questioning your entire professional existence.

If you value your mental health, personal well-being, and professional development, RUN. There are countless other law firms that don’t operate like this—where you're treated as more than just a billable hour. Do yourself a favor and avoid this firm at all costs. It’s not just a bad job; it’s an abusive one.

Verdict:
This job made me leave the legal profession for good. Avoid it at all costs unless you’re prepared to give up everything—your dignity, your happiness, your sanity—and don’t say I didn’t warn you.

I worked at the Roseland Office in New Jersey and have nothing but good things to say about the people and supervisors with whom I worked.  I learned a lot working with an extraordinary group of professionals.  The billable hour requirement is relatively high.  If you enjoy going to court, arguing your own motions, and taking your own depositions, however, the hours are not too difficult to make.  While the partners encourage and expect associates to ask for help if they need it,  do not expect to be micromanaged or have your hand held.  The firm is almost exclusively insurance defense work, which means a lot of litigation that the associates are expected to handle as independently as possible under the supervision of the partner for whom they work.  I do not know that this law firm is the best fit for a new attorney right out of law school; no matter how they did in their mock trials or on law review.  I am sure there are exceptions, and hopefully anyone who works here will have as great an experience as I did regardless of their employment background.  I had five years of litigation experience before coming to work here.  I knew the substantive areas of law, relevant court rules, motion practice, and had argued my own cases in court.  There was still a learning curve moving over to insurance defense work and generating the billable hours required.  I was very fortunate I worked for a partner who helped me to adjust rather quickly on these issues.  

The people are very supportive and there was a lot of comradery among the associates when I worked here.  I enjoyed my time at Marshall, Dennehey, and still keep in touch with the partner, associates and support staff with whom I worked.  We often go out for a meal together when I return to New Jersey.  I do not know too many large law firms who foster such relationships that have nothing to do with networking or business.  I hope this review is helpful.             

A typical day at work felt monotonous, with little variation or opportunity for creativity or professional growth, as much of the work was repetitive and lacked meaningful challenges. While I gained some understanding of the procedural aspects of litigation, the role didn’t provide opportunities to broaden my expertise or take on substantive legal tasks that aligned with my long-term career goals. The management style was not particularly supportive or collaborative, often feeling top-down with limited room for feedback or flexibility. The workplace culture was impersonal and didn’t foster a strong sense of community or engagement, focusing more on maintaining the status quo than encouraging innovation. The most challenging part of the job was the lack of autonomy and meaningful responsibilities, which made it difficult to stay motivated. Although there were occasional moments of accomplishment, such as completing a complex project or meeting a deadline, they were rare, and I found it hard to derive consistent enjoyment from the work.

This is a firm that prioritizes a friendly and welcoming environment. Everyone is extremely kind and we're all always willing to help each other if and when we can. When I first began working here, everyone was extremely patient with me and took the time to explain things to me when I asked for help. Management is very hands on and helpful if you go to them with a problem. One of the most important things to consider is how the entire firm handled the COVID-19 crisis. The firm has been operating on a remote basis and the transition was handled expertly by our office management team. The firm has been extremely transparent with its employees on both a large and small scale. On top of regular emails, my office's managing partner has called and checked in with all employees multiple times in the four weeks we've been working remotely, just to chat and make sure we and our families are safe. This is a wonderful firm that really cares about the employees and treats you like you're part of a family.

Friendly faces and the willingness to assist one another are all part of a typical workday at Marshall Dennehey.  It all begins with the Management's willingness to stay involved in the day-to-day routines and operations of the firm and its employees, searching out anyone who needs an extra hand with a busy workload and finding that extra hand to assist with the work necessary to satisfy and even please the clients. There is a real sense of team work, beginning with the leaders of Marshall Dennehey and reaching out to all members of the firm, acknowledging everyone's efforts. We can all work together with the confidence that all administrative staff and attorneys involved in each case will reach the best result for the Client because we are a strong team with strong leadership.

Marshall Dennehey has been my law firm for the past 46 years. It has given me the opportunity to grow and use my talents in a friendly, supportive environment. Unlike many firms, it rewards production and individual efforts, compensation not being tied to ownership points or shares. From the standpoint of being a trial attorney, it gives newer o attorneys an opportunity to engage in tasks at a relatively early stage (for instance, arguing motions, taking depositions, etc.) , the goal ultimately to get the attorney into the courtroom, appropriately mentored and prepared but not overly delayed. Management is hands-on, supportive, providing appropriate oversight and encouragement. I have been very pleased with my career at Marshall, Dennehey and would strongly encourage interested parties to consider joining us.

I was with this firm for a very long time. It was once a very good place to work. The firm culture and management used to care, but NOT anymore! Certain people and situations became abusive and when, as a long time employee, with only positive reviews, I attempted to try to have issues resolved, I was ignored and worse, shut down. My efforts were over several years and via a few different managers, but still excuses and nothing. Some lip service was given and a few very minor issues addressed but nothing that would really resolve the main problem. One person was permitted for 15+ years to abuse multiple staff in a well known situation, by management. There are still some very kind caring people there to work with and for but if there is a legitimate problem, it will NOT be addressed by management. Do yourself a favor and look elsewhere. 

Marshall Dennehey's IT Department is a great place to work. Most shifts begin at 8 or 9 am and end at 4 or 5. The management is very nice and capable and the workplace culture is top notch.

I did have some knowledge of software and troubleshooting before starting at Marshall, but my knowledge increased exponentially since working here. I have also learned much about managing a helpdesk and training department. At times, the tasks and assignments could get mundane or overly-routine, but it is still an enjoyable place to work and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for work in IT and experience helping those in the legal field.

I’ve never be one for reviews but felt the need to share my experience. I initially started off my employment with Marshall Dennehey with excitement and readiness to engage in a meaningful manner. Often times, the workload was too much for one person to manage, training was practically non-existent & the support staff was hardly reliable. Management did a great job fostering a toxic work environment, so much so that it was become a revolving door. 

There are some really great attorneys, but that are unfortunately outshined by some not-so great ones. Everyone micro-manages. 

Don’t expect much opportunity, just be prepared to be held accountable for things beyond your control. Going to work everyday felt like a challenge. 

The work environment is relaxed and low pressured. There is some flexibility but the benefits are not so good. The cost of care if you have one dependent is ridiculous for such a prestigious firm. The vacation time for the first 3 years is super basic. 2 weeks vacation, 7 sick days and 3 personal, no bereavement time which is horrible. The 4th year is when you get an additional week vacation and nothing else until year 10 when finally make it to 4 weeks. I've held a lot of positions with wonderful organizations and this by far is the worst vacation package. There is zero room for advancement in the accounting/finance department. The job is okay as a stepping stone / resume builder but nothing more.

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