Here are some interesting fragments from the survey: 

Middletons: "work / life balance isn't possible", "the firm expects a huge number of non-billable responsibilities to be completed even if you're busy with billable ones".

Gadens:  "tends to get quite political", "partners only care about their wallets", "getting involved means giving up Saturdays".

DLA Phillips Fox: "disgraceful IT system, bad office furnishings including a patchwork carpet", "offices and teams generally dislike each other".

On HWL Ebsworth: “The firm's management was described as a "circle of money hungry sycophants" that stifles all dissent. Apparently, after RollOnFriday published a rumour of proposed redundancies at HWL Ebsworth a memo was issued promising instant dismissal for whoever had leaked the story. Staff are worried that their emails are monitored, and partners live in fear of having their equity slashed. A charitable view would be that things have not yet fully bedded down from the 2008 merger. 2010's survey will tell whether management can turn things round.”