|
private:englandponticello&st.clair-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=381396
|
Oct 16th, 2020 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
England Ponticello & St. Clair
|
Attorney
|
San Diego, CA
|
|
Established, High Quality Firm
|
|
Established firm which expects and appreciates high quality legal work, lawyering skills, and thoroughness. The firm has litigated cases from administrative to appellate to SCOTUS. Steady staff that has been in place for 7+ years. Good work-life balance and “perks” like shortened Friday summer hours. Expectations are known and advancement is possible when expectations are met/succeeded.
|
Likely due to Covid and some staff working remote there is less cohesiveness at the moment. This I suspect will pass.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
APPROVE
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
|
381396
|
Open
|
Continue to set high standards and seek new attorneys and staff that fit the bill. Don’t compromise just to fill a spot.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
9.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
England Ponticello & St.Clair
|
|
|
|
private:englandponticello&st.clair-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=381396
|
Feb 29th, 2020 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
England Ponticello & St. Clair
|
|
San Diego, CA
|
|
Okay Work Environment
|
|
Somewhat of a collegial atmosphere. Help was there to those who asked. Great office location.
|
No cons that come to mind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
4.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
|
381396
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[]
|
PART_TIME
|
No
|
No
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
England Ponticello & St.Clair
|
|
|
|
private:englandponticello&st.clair-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=381396
|
Feb 25th, 2020 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
England Ponticello & St. Clair
|
Staff
|
San Diego, CA
|
|
Positive experience working with attorneys
|
|
Can't speak to past events (reviews from 2012 or older) but during my time there most of the staff had been with the firm for 4-5 years and there was not much turnover. Day flies by as the firm always seems busy with work
|
The firm is very busy and legal deadlines can be stressful to meet
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
APPROVE
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
4.0
|
|
381396
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
England Ponticello & St.Clair
|
|
|
|
private:englandponticello&st.clair-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=381396
|
Sep 23rd, 2012 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
England Ponticello & St. Clair
|
|
San Diego, CA
|
|
Horrible place to work at.
|
|
It is my humble opinion that the support staff (attorneys, secretaries and paralegal) consists of the most loyal and brilliant individuals in every aspect imaginable. All giving 100% despite the work conditions. If you are an attorney or staff looking to leave another firm to come to England Ponticello, don't do it.
|
Social interaction is monitored and frowned upon. Breaks and lunches are staggered so that socializing with coworkers is impossible. Lunches are spread so far apart enough to the point it would be impossible to coordinate a lunch break with your co-workers. Talking with co-workers in the office is also a violation of company policy. Another anecdote that shows their mind frame is this past year’s massive blackout. As our entire building was evacuated, management required staff and attorneys to stay behind and use their personal cell phones as a flash light to complete work. It wasn’t until the staff protested, “this was an unsafe work environment considering we had no air.” Than they let us go. We were the last to evacuate the building. We were all hurt knowing that our employer had such a deep disregard for our safety. The way the staff is treated is downright undignified and deplorable.
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
|
|
-1.0
|
DISAPPROVE
|
6.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
|
381396
|
Open
|
Finally, I wish everyone at England Ponticello & St.Clair well, but if you do not take steps to fix things, I doubt things will get better. At the end you will end up losing your loyal staff once the job market improves. In fact, you have lost the majority of your loyal staff in the last 2 years.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
England Ponticello & St.Clair
|
|
|
|
private:englandponticello&st.clair-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=381396
|
Jun 21st, 2012 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
England Ponticello & St. Clair
|
Staff
|
San Diego, CA
|
|
Stressful Work Atmosphere & High Turnover
|
|
Firm has an outstanding client base.
Former WCAB judge is a named partner.
Staff is friendly and hard working.
Office appearance is classy.
|
Client base is loyal because management appeases them at the expense of their associates. The term "the customer is always right" is taken to an extreme. Hours are shaved down to a bare minimum to keep customers happy, but younger associates will have an extremely difficult time making the minimum billable hour requirement.
Turnover in employees is extraordinarily high given the limited size of the firm. I have read other posts about how "grateful" and how the firm has been growing and that the firm is not the environment for people who don't want to work hard. While there are always feelings of gratitude for a person giving you a job and not firing you in this economy, the individual who left these reviews is an extreme minority. The firm does value hard work, but who doesn't. What you may not see until you are on the inside is that the hard work that you are expected to produce is brought out by yelling, ridicule, and humiliation. This would be different if the hard work was coaxed out of employees by encouragement or rewards. This firm utilizes the whip instead of the carrot. Fear is a powerful motivator, but can you live with the stress of every action you take potentially resulting in a public scolding either at the WCAB or in front of all of your co-workers? If not, be careful about your expectations here. Can you live with the feeling of dread every Sunday afternoon at around 4pm knowing that you have to be on guard every waking moment starting the next morning? If not, be realistic about your expectations here.
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
-1.0
|
DISAPPROVE
|
7.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
2.0
|
1.0
|
2.0
|
1.0
|
|
381396
|
Open
|
Please take into account the emotional health of your employees. Try using some positive feedback as a tool to get the very best out of your employees. Don't be reactive to the job market. You are losing way too many good employees because you are not providing the right work/life balance and the proper working environment.
What does it say that the latest employee you hired did not even last a full week before she quit? Something needs to change..... if this was the first person to leave under these circumstances it would be reasonable to attribute that to the individual. But after the pattern of staff/attorney defections, maybe you need to look at yourselves and make some changes.
Your firm could be very successful. You have all the right tools, but a hammer can be used to build things... not just smash things.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
England Ponticello & St.Clair
|
|
|
|
private:englandponticello&st.clair-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=381396
|
Jun 11th, 2012 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
England Ponticello & St. Clair
|
|
|
|
Thankful
|
|
I'm thankful for my experience at the firm for jump starting my career. I had to relocate and couldn't stay with the firm, but while I was there I was challenged, encouraged, and trained. The partners take so much pride in the quality and work product goes out their door. Sometimes this meant critique and a few tough conversations,, but I think it was always with the firm's and clients' best interests at heart. I learned about working hard and pride in my work product--which lessons will follow me throughout my career. I hope my path crosses with eps in the future.
|
Sometimes it seemed like there were not enough hours in the day to get everything done and done at the level expected.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
4.0
|
3.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
|
381396
|
Open
|
Delegate when and where you can so you're not spread thin. Know that you've had a positive impact on my career and family and I'm thankful.
|
4.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
England Ponticello & St.Clair
|
|
|
|
private:englandponticello&st.clair-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=381396
|
May 27th, 2012 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
England Ponticello & St. Clair
|
|
|
|
Growing and Successful Firm--Not the Place for Everyone
|
|
The firm has grown 3-fold since its start. It's senior attorneys have decades of experience and a strong and dedicated client base to show for it. Employees who have been there from the very beginning possess the talent and work ethic expected in a fast paced and serious law practice. A crop of young and eager attorneys and solid/positive staff members show promise for ongoing growth and success.
|
Of course, this firm is not for everyone. Over the years, employees have come and gone and a trend seems to exist--those who stay are hard working, pay attention to detail, care about a good work product and care about each other. Those who have fallen by the way side and, consequently, have sought out a website to air their grievances are those who obviously couldn't cut it, meet the high standards, and/or didn't want to work hard.
|
|
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
APPROVE
|
2.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
|
381396
|
Open
|
Don't lower your standards to accommodate the lowest common denominator. You're obviously doing something right if clients stay, the right employees stay, and you're expanding.
|
5.0
|
[]
|
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
England Ponticello & St.Clair
|
|
|
|
private:englandponticello&st.clair-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=381396
|
Feb 13th, 2012 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
England Ponticello & St. Clair
|
|
|
|
Great Staff, Horrible Management
|
|
The staff is extremely friendly and you will actually enjoy the time you spend with them when you are not on the clock.
|
The management is horrible! Working here is like being in a concentration camp. You are constantly being told how horrible you are at your job, even though you have never been properly trained. Employees are constantly told that what they are doing is wrong and against nonexistent rules and procedures that are then made up on the fly. Employees are not even allowed to have personal conversations with one another in the break room, on their lunch. Due to this the turnover rate is very high, and even those that do decide to deal with it and stay are fired because much of the management does not want to take responsibility for themselves and use the lower level employees as scapegoats for their own mistakes.
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
|
|
-1.0
|
DISAPPROVE
|
5.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
0.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
|
381396
|
Open
|
They need to learn how to properly train their employees to do the job that they expect of them. Furthermore, running a business in which employees are constantly being micromanaged and forced to feel constant and never ending pressure and negativity from their superiors only leads to employees that will leave as soon as a new opportunity presents itself.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
|
No
|
No
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
England Ponticello & St.Clair
|
|
|
|
private:englandponticello&st.clair-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=381396
|
Oct 14th, 2011 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
England Ponticello & St. Clair
|
Associate Attorney
|
San Diego, CA
|
|
An intense and difficult work environment.
|
|
Partners are extremely knowledgeable in their field and there is plenty of work to go around. Location and office are upscale. Partner Susan England is a former judge and is well respected in the field throughout Southern California.
There always seems to be some type of baked good in the kitchen.
|
The work environment can be classified as "difficult" at times. If one is not accustomed to frank and tough criticism, one may not be able to handle the treatment by the partners. This has caused a very high turnover rate. Work is micromanaged without clear instruction from partners. Criticism is given in unprofessional methods (emails with subject and text of: "WTF???!!!" and other colorful expressions or public scoldings).
There is absolutely no expectation of privacy at the office. Personal and oral communication within the office is strictly forbidden. All communication is to be done via email. This is to allow the partners to monitor all communications within the office. Employee computers are regularly searched for personal content. Multiple employees have confirmed instances of management searching their computers.
Management is also extremely tight with office supply budgets. Computer equipment is extremely dated and requests for items go through very tight scrutiny.
Minimum billable hours are difficult to make as a newer associate due to heavy scrutiny by the partners.
Reputation of some partners among peers and client pool is not great.
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
|
|
|
|
6.0
|
1.0
|
3.5
|
0.0
|
1.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
|
381396
|
Open
|
Provide solid mentoring and instruction for new associates. Allow Judge England the opportunity to instruct younger associates before placing them under other partners who don't have the time and patience to groom them. This will decrease frustration on both sides.
Make the work environment more friendly. Allow employees to be friendly with one another. Losing 5-10 minutes of work each day pales in comparison with the loyalty you will earn by making the firm a family. If the job market improves, loyalty is what will keep your best employees with you, not just the fear of losing a job.
Don't just tell people when their work is disappointing. Make more efforts to build up confidence and congratulate a job well done. This too will build loyalty and a family atmosphere. Machiavellian rule will only get you so far. People will work harder and longer for people they respect and feel reciprocation of that respect.
Compensation schedule should be re-evaluated. Management seems to always be reacting to competing offers instead of keeping employees happy.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
|
No
|
No
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
Jan 31st, 2021 10:57PM
|
England Ponticello & St.Clair
|
|
|