A common theme weaves through conversations with employees at Robinson & Cole about what makes work life so satisfying at the Hartford-based law firm. “It’s about the people,” is the common response one hears in one variation or another.
Named for the fourth consecutive year as a winner of the Hartford Business Journal’s Best Places to Work in Connecticut award, Robinson & Cole knows what it takes to keep employees happy in an often highly charged, stressful profession.
Ask managing partner Eric Daniels, a 23-year veteran of Robinson and Cole, who has led the 365-employee firm for the past nine years, and he will answer without hesitation, “First and foremost, we value our people. So much of what we do flies in the face of conventional wisdom of what working in a law firm must be like.”
Respect for employees is at the forefront of Robinson & Cole’s approach. Things like encouraging employee input at all levels, creating a more team-like, less hierarchical approach to firm management, and discouraging a proliferation of titles promotes open-door communication between partners, associates and support staff.
In addition, the firm works hard to achieve a strong work-life balance for all, helping to create a stable work environment. A high percentage of attorneys and support personnel have been with the firm for many years. It is not unusual to find personnel who have been with the firm for 20 or 30 years, he said.
Robinson & Cole invests time, training and energy in its employees right from the start. For new hires, it begins with extensive orientation, which, according to Daniels, helps pass the culture down to the next generation.
For partner-track associates or support staff, on-going skill development, continuing education and advancement is strongly encouraged. Goal setting, mentoring and periodic evaluations also help employees navigate their career paths.
Part of the 169-year-old firm’s tradition is its commitment to community. Robinson & Cole attorneys sit on the boards of more than 100 civic and community volunteer organizations and, along with nonprofessional staff employees, contribute countless volunteer hours.
Twenty-plus years ago, Robinson & Cole was the first law firm to welcome and hire members of the Hartford Association for Retarded Citizens (HARC), employing them in office support roles.
In addition, the firm donates office space and legal skills to Pro Bono Partners, a nonprofit that provides legal assistance to nonprofits.
Employees themselves have organized Robinson & Cole Cares, a group that undertakes charitable activities including a recent blanket drive for Hartford’s homeless.
Daniels said this selflessness is part of the humanity that gives people at the firm a very special feeling. “It’s embedded in who we are,” he said. “
Type of business: Law firm
Connecticut employees: 365
Connecticut locations: 3
Headquarters: Hartford
HR contact: Margaret Bowen, human resources manager
Top local executive: Eric D. Daniels, managing partner
Founded: 1845
