Orientation behavior of acrylate-based liquid crystalline (LC) networks containing different types of cross-links is studied and discussed. Cross-links incorporated by chemical reaction with crosslinking agent presumably distort LC order, whereas cross-links induced by gamma-irradiation preserve and even stabilize the nematic phase. The comparison of the three different series of LC elastomers is given in terms of the macroscopic order parameter dependence on temperature and external mechanical field.