Mills Oakley
Write a review
    Mills Oakley
    (27 reviews)
    Write a review
    Write a review

    Company Reviews

    Working at Mills Oakley

    2.927 ratings in total
    5
    8
    4
    3
    3
    3
    2
    4
    1
    9
    67%
    Rate salary as high or average
    41%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.4(26 ratings)
    Career development
    2.8(26 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    2.4(26 ratings)
    Management
    2.7(27 ratings)
    Working environment
    3.1(27 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.0(26 ratings)
    Ratings for Mills Oakley are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

    Showing 27 reviews sorted by most recent
    Sort by
    most recent
    1.0
    Legal Assistant
    Nov 2025
    Sydney NSW 2000Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Toxic and hostile hellhole
    The good thingsNone except the central location
    The challengesThe toxic and hostile environment was obvious from day one. There was constant backstabbing, gossiping and nastiness and the partner would walk around muttering insults almost every day. The other legal assistant in the team was the rudest person I’ve ever met. I used to dread going in there and dream of getting out. I’ve worked at other firms and this was the worst one.
    3 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Paralegal
    Mar 2025
    Perth WA 6000Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    National commercial law firm with great work / life balance opportunities.
    The good thingsGreat work life balance, company culture, and senior staff.
    The challengesOpportunity for growth path was missing.
    1.0
    Legal Assistant
    Aug 2024
    Sydney NSW 20003 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Promise so much and yet hardly deliver. Management are wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing. Also, Mills Oakley takes the saying “a lot of chiefs and not enough Indians seriously”
    The good thingsSome Partners are great and some people are easy to talk to and. Just need to be selective
    The challengesA lot of workplace gossip, lack of career progression. There is definitely favouritism within teams. Loyalty means nothing, hard work is ignored. People are more interested in what is being said than the quality of work and results.
    3 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Law Clerk
    Jun 2024
    Sydney NSW 2000Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    My time at Mills Oakley has been incredibly rewarding, offering invaluable learning opportunities, and vast prospects for career growth.
    The good thingsMills has been great for making connections, engrossment within a corporate environment and a wealth of opportunity to learn.
    The challengesThe billable hours at Mills are relatively high, however the workload certainly allows you to meet the budgets.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Marketing Role
    Jan 2024
    Melbourne VIC 3000Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Unsatisfactory
    The good thingsA lot of varied work
    The challengesUnachievable timeframes and KPI's, so understaffed across the firm.
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Associate
    Nov 2022
    Management are not interested in passing along feedback and prefer to avoid issues and there is no loyalty to staff just there to make money.
    The good thingsThe low level staff are great.
    The challengesVery political firm, divisions operate as their own firm there is limited collaboration. No social activities just there to work and work. Salary is not standardised and the offering is well below market rates. Wants to be a top tier firm, for medium sized budget. IT is outdated.
    1 person found this helpful
    3.0
    Support staff
    Jun 2022
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Mostly good memories; but happy to be out - a cost obsessed firm
    The good thingsOffice location Autonomy in role; no micromanagement Partner support
    The challengesHigh focus on costs A follower, not a leader HR department poorly led Limited tech platforms vs top tier
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Lawyer
    Apr 2022
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Not terrible, but it very much depends on who you report to.
    The good thingsMet some nice people. Generally good work.
    The challengesNot like a traditional full service law firm. Groups are siloed. Lack of formal training for juniors and secretaries as the focus is on lateral hires. Below market salaries. Very very lean.
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Legal Secretary
    Nov 2020
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Great Team
    The good thingsThe team culture, the office environment.
    The challengesThe stress from being so busy.
    1.0
    Legal Assistant
    Jun 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Unprofessional and unsupportive.
    The good thingsMid-tier firm, looks good on resume. Flexible hours.
    The challengesManagement are unsupportive. Toxic and immature work culture. Everyone talks about each other behind their backs. I cried every shift. I can say with confidence that it was the worst place I've ever worked at.
    1.0
    Legal Assistant
    May 2020
    10/10 would never work here again and am so grateful to be out of there!
    The good thingsSome of the staff were great to work with and made working there pleasant when you weren't getting scream at by Partners
    The challengesTerrible management and Toxic culture. Out of control partners and you basically have to train yourself on everything there as there is no in person training. Completely understaffed finance and IT teams even though they are very friendly!
    6 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Manager
    Nov 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Amazing partners and staff make this firm exceptional
    The good thingsIt was great to be part of the law firm of the year in 2017
    The challengesLots of challenges but that is what makes it interesting
    4.0
    Legal Assistant
    Sep 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    In terms of working relations, I can say that the people in the firm are all very nice and friendly. The firm also have good and simplified systems which for a beginner would not be too complicated to learn.
    The good thingsNice people. Easy to approach and are accommodating. They value work-life balance.
    The challengesNot enough opportunities for career progression. Firm is far from working towards paperless so there's a lot to file with little room for storage.
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Legal Secretary
    Oct 2018
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Perfect
    The good thingsHonestly great company to work for, people and environment are amazing
    The challengesTravel as I worked in Newcastle
    5.0
    Temping
    Nov 2017
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    A lovely friendly place to work.
    The good thingsGreat staff friendly environment. Great IT and Accounts Department
    The challengesJust a long way to travel to work.
    1.0
    Paralegal
    Aug 2017
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Big regret in joining mills oakley
    The good thingsPleas avoid working for mills oakley and they don't treat junior law student staff with respect!
    The challengesPoor management and very bad computer network system which is always crashing
    5 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Front Desk Receptionist
    Aug 2017
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    A dynamic and fulfilling job placed in the heart of the city.
    The good thingsWorking for a prestigious national Law Firm has its many benefits; beautiful scenery, fantastic working environment, friendly colleagues and the ability to grow and develop.
    The challengesNo issues to elaborate.
    1.0
    Special Counsel
    Aug 2017
    Less than 1 year in the role
    my worst employment experience ever
    The good thingsnothing, I was promised a number things to get me to join the firm, nothing was delivered.
    The challengeseveryday going to work feeling totally unsupported
    3 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Paralegal
    Aug 2017
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Not for long term employment - good stepping stone
    The good thingsThe people in my team
    The challengesGeneral office procedures, Software, lack of WP support, lack of precedents, accounts and IT run out of Melbourne office
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Junior Lawyer
    Jun 2017
    a job
    The good thingsnational firm, ok clients
    The challengespoor leadership, no mentoring or career development
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Paralegal
    May 2017
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    I couldn't ask for a better workplace.
    The good thingsEveryone is so welcoming and accommodating! The partners want you to get the most out of your experience there.
    The challengesDeciding what field to specialise in - all of the teams are so diverse and amazing to work with.
    5.0
    Paralegal
    Feb 2017
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    A good move that positioned me to take the next steps in my career
    The good thingsA growing firm with opportunities to develop a career
    The challengesNo real challenges that I found
    4.0
    Legal Assistant
    Feb 2016
    Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    It was a perfect move at a perfect time for my career and I'm happy I've done it!
    The good thingsThere is a can do attitude with the team and each team will assist another if needed to keep transactions and matters rolling along. Everyone is friendly and helpful if you ask questions they will take the time to answer
    The challengesIt certainly took me a long time to adjust to a much bigger firm than previously worked at. There are so many people that sometimes I'm not sure who is the best person to speak to about a matter or query that I have.
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Receptionist
    Sep 2015
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Reception tasks was good, office politics & management need improving.
    The good thingsworking autonomously, further developed my multi tasking skills
    The challengesBalancing several reception duties at once e.g phone calls, attending to meeting room requests and general daily reception duties (mail)
    2 people found this helpful
    2.0
    legal secretary
    Sep 2015
    good for starting out as a secretary or junior solicitor.
    The good thingsSome really lovely solicitors to work for.
    The challengesGossip and office cliques is a major issue. As well as favouritism.
    1 person found this helpful
    3.0
    Legal Assistant
    Sep 2015
    3 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    Lovely people however management do not offer any opportunity for support staff to further skills or career progression
    The good thingsRelaxed work place
    The challengesNo career path
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Paralegal
    Sep 2015
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Working for Mills has merely been a means to an end.
    The good thingsSome really talented and professional people to work with. It's a firm that is growing exponentially and can afford people opportunities to develop their career.
    The challengesFrustratingly bad IT software and support. No senior management support. I work for a team where we are painfully understaffed but no one seems to care. Awful records management system (virtually none in some team, there is no overarching policy). Zero benefits and perks. I have been told by multiple recruitment agents that my pay is below average.
    4 people found this helpful
    Company Reviews published on our site are the views and opinions of their authors and do not represent the views and opinions of SEEK or its personnel. SEEK does not verify the truth or accuracy of any reviews and does not adopt or endorse any of the comments posted. SEEK posts reviews for what they are worth and for informational purposes only to assist candidates to find employment.
    Reviews by location
    All Melbourne VICAll Perth WAAll Sydney NSW