Pros
You will gain good experience very quickly because your entire team will leave within the course of your first year. It’s a great place to gain seniority but you won’t enjoy any of the perks or trust for that. Ultimately your coworkers will become your trauma buddies as you navigate this toxic environment together. They are the only reason Margolis is still in business.
Cons
As is evident from most of these reviews, which the firm is now desperately trying to address, Margolis’ work environment is extremely toxic. Associates make far less than other insurance defense firms in Philadelphia, contrary to Mr. Miller’s representations otherwise, and raises of more than $10,000 are exceedingly rare. This is particularly true when you do not work on his team. Depending on your managing partner, you will also have essentially no work flexibility or permission to work from home. The firm has adopted a biannual raise system in an attempt to staunch the flow of people leaving, but has removed their Christmas bonus (a “gift”) so the number of bonuses stay the same. Managing partners are unnecessarily hostile at times and I frequently heard many associates complaining about stress related illnesses, including heart problems! I experienced that myself and I am happier and healthier now that I have left. It is common place to be called names, threatened, or screamed at. The firm claims these problems are endemic to the insurance defense industry and yet no other firm in Philadelphia has such a poor reputation for turnover, pay, or work environment.
