Originally Posted by LarryJ

When it is a "climb/descend and maintain" clearance they expect ~1000fpm or greater. Sometimes they will specify greater.

When it is at pilot's discretion it is up to the pilots when to descend and at what rate. The only restriction is that once you've reported departing an altitude or flight level you can not return to it.

On arrivals, we will fly a VNAV profile if the ATC clearance allows it. If they descend us early we'll initially descend around 1000-1500 fpm until intercepting the VNAV profile.