Culture at Gilbert + Tobin

Friendly and generally good-natured. Hardworking and serious about the quality of work, but not excessively intense or formal.

I think the culture overall is good but differs greatly between offices and teams within those offices. Generally, I would say the company has a very welcoming and laid back culture. We have a flat structure which is extremely beneficial, however this can result in very junior lawyers working directly with partner who, in some teams, can make you feel stupid for not having the experience / knowledge they have or nervous to raise issues. Socially, it is again very dependent on the team as it is partner driven. If a partner does not see the importance of team events, they will not prioritise them. My experience has been that we are encouraged to organise things, but we may end up being overloaded with work on the day it is scheduled meaning people are unable to attend or reluctant to come after a busy day / week.

G+T has a flat hierarchy and while it can probably be a bit confusing to navigate at first, once you're settled in you see the advantages. As a junior you have a voice in meetings and if you prove you can do the work, you will be given it. Socially we have lots of lunches, dinners and after work drinks at some of the best restaurants and bars in Sydney. My team is great at organising events for people's farewells, maternity / paternity leave, deal celebrations etc.

Immediate team has shared values and no real sense of hierarchy - very easy to talk to, ask questions and work with. Good to see the firm having other events generally that are not just drinks as these are usually a skip.

Generally I would rate the national firm at a 9/10. However, I think Perth faces many difficulties which is why I have rated 6/10. I think in Perth, our 'culture' is in a bit of a limbo. We work hard and work on interesting and market leading transactions. However, I do not honestly believe we have the culture of our east coast colleagues. I think there is a general reluctance to be involved in activities outside of work. Fundamentally I think that is partner driven. The partners do not show an interest, or do not attend, or give you work when a function is on which impacts your attendance, resulting in employees desire to finish their work then go home. When they do attend, there is an overwhelming feel that its because they have to, or have been told to attend and not actually that they want to be there. I compare this with Sydney office where there is a sense of genuine excitement for office events. Also feel like there is a greater sense of team comradery, more team lunches/dinners or drinks which builds the culture within a small group. It also makes those within the team feel more valued. It build relationships top down and bottom up. It seems with this mentality that there is more of a championing of careers mentality in Sydney and Melbourne compared to Perth.

Very flat, meritocratic structure, where collaboration and teamwork is encouraged

G+T has a culture of excellence in terms of the work we put out. The hierarchy is quite a flat one. I enjoy the company of my colleagues both in and outside of work hours.

G+T has a fantastic culture of inclusion, fun and ambition. Every lawyer is invested in the success of the firm and each other and are very focussed on bringing people together to feel as though they are part of the team

The culture is very good: you can raise concerns and be heard, there is a good amount of flexibility in terms of work time and locations, and a fairly flat structure. However, this does fluctuate from team to team.

G+T has a very egalitarian culture. Doing away with titles that distinguish lawyer seniority plays a key role reducing the barrier to communicating with team members. CCMR in particular has a very supportive and positive atmosphere. New joiners are welcomed and people make an active effort to include you.

Work hard, play hard. Everyone at work takes their work very seriously and strives to deliver excellence to clients. There is a very strong work ethic in the firm, but everyone also enjoys the firm social events including EOFY and Christmas parties, trivia nights. Teams work in fairly flat hierarchy and you can take on additional responsibilities suitable to your experience, not your year or level.

Great culture that is driven from the top down. Flat structure at G+T isn't a myth - partners and seniors are very accessible and enjoy socialising with lawyers of all levels. Heaps of socialising (especially informally) among colleagues, while the firm also puts effort into hosting occasional events.

People show their true selves when things are tough. I've experienced kindness and support from everyone no matter how difficult things are. There is limited hierarchy which supports cooperation, communication, and workflow. Loved the graduate cohort because we were only 11 and were able to connect and form genuine relationships.

My firm has a very flat management structure, and it is generally easy to interact and work with juniors and seniors. Teamwork within teams is strong, however teams are generally siloed and there is less opportunity to work with other teams. Social events are good, but depend on the team or larger practice group which you work in.

Teams are quite social and believe in regular catch-ups over coffee, or even lunch or dinner. While a hierarchy exists in terms of workflow, junior lawyers are encouraged to raise points and voice their opinion on matter related issues (and otherwise). The complexity of work assigned and/or undertaken depends on the initiative shown, therefore juniors have an opportunity to take on greater responsibility if they so desire.

Everyone is very friendly and supportive, always there for a chat. The Tech + Digital team has a few different social events which are great, but it is not overly social. My team works quite openly across the partners and lawyers, feels quite collaborative but could potentially be better.

It is a very friendly and collegiate environment and help is readily available everywhere, whether it be from the knowledge lawyers or partners. Everyone is invested in your development as a lawyer and you feel supported at each stage. There are plenty of social events throughout the year as well as other opportunities to get involved in and give back to the community. It is an inclusive workplace and everyone makes you feel part of the team.

I think that overall the company culture is very good. All employees are down to earth but still have a high work ethic and are very driven. The flat structure means that everyone works together well and is given opportunities at a lower level. My team in particular is very social and all get along extremely well both in the office and after hours. I think this is due to the level of teamwork we have to do as well as a good mix of individuals who are like minded

The team has a great variety of personalities, with a very inclusive and flat structure. Socialising and getting to know the broader team is therefore quite easy, however my particular team could be slightly more pragmatic in facilitating team get-togethers/events.

in office hours and outside is good everyone is respectful and kind. If anything potentially the more junior people need management training as everyone is a close age it can be awkward when colleagues delegate work but also try and be your friend.