Pros
The majority of the partners are smart and personable and treat associates with respect. There is an emphasis on mentoring junior attorneys that is not uniformly applied but for those who are matched well it is an excellent program - and if you are not matched well there is an ability to discuss change. Open door policy with most attorneys and no real face time requirement.
Cons
The overall push for growth over the course of my 8+ years at Orrick shifted the culture from a layed-back and personable place to practice law (even with long hours and difficult demands from clients) to a greater focus on business generating and utilization rates. The difficult economy placed greater strains on partners and practice groups to perform at the top level constantly and that stress trickled down to the point that the collegial culture was strained. It was sometimes difficult to earn top market bonus even with an outstanding review because outside influences like departures from the practice group and temporary leave impacted the overall group numbers and reduced the amount the practice group leader had to reward associates which was often very frustrating.