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- Gym
- Pool tables and TT tables
- PS gaming consoles
- Cafe with free fresh juices on tap
They also regularly give their employees movie tickets, spa coupons, free entry at nightclubs, gift vouchers etc.
Now tell me which law firm offers these?
Our entire industry is notoriously inefficient and low revenue generating - what makes you think the people who want associates to work 70+ hours a week for measly hourly pay (when converted - monthly pay/hours worked) will give them any such amenities as a firm policy?
There are some good partners who try and get their team members some stuff here and there, but nothing to really offset the misery of the intial years in law
Don't get me wrong - there are many good things about the UK and UK law firms (the main benefit is they tend to be more professional than most Indian firms and the training is better) but you can't compare apples to apples just by comparing incomes.
In fact if you're good, you're more likely to make more money in India by the time you get to partner level than the UK- except for the very top 5-10 law firms in the UK, a good CAM partner will make more than most partners in a UK firm, AND pay less tax, AND have lower living expenses.
All associates across the world are miserable, but the UK & USA ones are miserable sitting in better luxury.
When I was shortlisting my college, I chose a particular college because it had hundreds of acres big campus, a swimming pool, a movie theater, all sorts of sports facilities, fast food giants in-house, gaming arena, gym, etc. etc.
Mind you, all these facilities were very reasonably priced or free.
I literally had thought to myself that over 5 years I would not leave any of these facilities unused.
But hua kuch ni.
Cut to my job at a Tier 1 firm, I can tell you we had a steam/ shower facility, gym, recreational room etc. But since no one really used these things, the rooms were being used as a record room.
Toh yeh jo tune now tell me which law firm offers these pucha haina. Iska koi matlab nahi hai. Agar maangna hai toh time maang. Jitne paise tere retainer ke taxation mein waise bach jaaye unse yeh sab mauj masti karliyo.
TLDR - Ask for time not perks.