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-Drafting and all happens at all levels and even team heads give their say in the final draft more often than not (micromanagement level differs). It is NOT a one-day job unless its an urgent application. In a sane disputes team (there are less than you'd like to think), the work goes upto a Partner who reverts to the counsel/client firm and back, if necessary, for further revisions. Basic memo work is handled by juniors.
-In smaller firms, associates may get more court exposure and directly participate in briefing unlike T1s who take senior counsels just to mention or adjourn.
-Partners in these firms usually have less experience than a fresher at an advocate's chamber. If you dream of building face value as an arguing counsel, Disputes firms are definitely not it (with a few exceptions who actually became senior counsels themsleves lol). A lot of partners/senior partners CANNOT argue or are NOT CONFIDENT in arguing. (FYI, if you are a law student sneering at this, you'll realize how difficult it actually is to make relevant submissions before a High Court Bench.)
-In Bombay, some old-school firms tend to send freshers for administrative/compliance work before the Prothonotary (OS Registrar).
-Urgent tasks land on your plate all the time, especially when arbitration matters come up.
-For a lot of budding litigators, the answer for your last question is a resounding 'NO'. Most disputes work is clerical at junior levels and becomes briefing/solicitor work at senior levels. If you don't mind being a briefing counsel as part of your career trajectory, then disputes is good because you get paid better than litigation at the start. Cannot say the same for litigators with 5+ years of experience who usually start outearning their corporate peers by then. This curve, however, is very steep. Not every litigator can survive the court experience. Many prefer stability (LOL) compared to the complete uncertainty of litigation.
In contrast to this, there are NO slow days in Delhi Disputes if you are in a decent-sized terms in terms of filing. Days which seem slow actually bother you and you check and recheck your case-diary entry list or calendar to verify in case you missed a meeting and will be blasted for it by your seniors.