Associates

Law firm talent war drives firm expenses up 7.2%; will associates be a ‘profit sinkhole’?

Direct expenses at larger law firms increased 7.2% in the last year, mostly driven by a jump in associate compensation, according to the latest Peer Monitor Index report by Thomson Reuters.

Nov 8, 2021 12:23 PM CST

Another midsize firm raises associate pay

Several midsize law firms are boosting starting pay for associates next year in a bid to stay competitive.

Nov 5, 2021 3:31 PM CDT

Some California law firms turn down work amid associate shortage; six-figure signing bonuses reported

A shortage of associates in California’s Bay Area is leading some law firms to turn down work and others to strain available lawyers with the workload, according to a report by the Recorder.

Nov 4, 2021 9:26 AM CDT

BigLaw firm announces special bonuses; blog notes key word is ‘discretionary’

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison announced special bonuses last week for associates and counsels who showed “exceptional commitment.”

Nov 1, 2021 4:32 PM CDT

Law firms encourage workers to return to office with these perks

Law firms are trying to entice employees to come back to the office with perks that include free food and a casual, fun atmosphere.

Oct 26, 2021 11:56 AM CDT

Some Texas law firms are offering signing bonuses as high as $500K to lateral associates

The demand for legal talent in Texas is so strong that some law firms are paying signing bonuses as high as $500,000 to hire the most experienced associates from other firms.

Oct 25, 2021 9:35 AM CDT

Orrick extends program of embedding associates at nonprofits

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe has extended a fellowship program in which it embeds its associates at nonprofit organizations for a year while paying their law firm salaries.

Oct 22, 2021 10:22 AM CDT

2 law firms promise jobs to underserved students before they enter law school; tuition is free

Two Ohio law firms will offer associate positions to two students before they even enroll in law school as part of a diversity program that pays the students’ tuition and living expenses.

Oct 22, 2021 9:29 AM CDT

There’s a decrease in signing bonuses for 2021 summer associates, new survey says

Summer associates who recently wrapped up their work say they had ample networking opportunities, received clear instructions on assignments, and found the experience affirming. But few were offered signing bonuses, according to a survey released Monday by Law360 Pulse.

Sep 29, 2021 11:21 AM CDT

2 former BigLaw associates get suspensions for inflating hourly records

The Illinois Supreme Court has suspended two former BigLaw associates who were accused of inflating the time that they spent on cases.

Sep 29, 2021 9:37 AM CDT

Midlevel associates rated these firms tops for job satisfaction; survey finds hybrid work preference

Midlevel associates surveyed by the American Lawyer have ranked McDermott Will & Emery No. 1 for job satisfaction.

Aug 24, 2021 11:16 AM CDT

11 survival tips for first-year associates

Even many summer associate positions fail to provide a realistic picture of what it is like to be an associate—or worse, they intentionally paint a false picture. After years of living through, talking about and guiding others through this process—including doing so formally as part of our firm’s associate development committee—we thought we would pass along some tips to the next generation of young associates.

Aug 1, 2021 12:50 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Fewer than half of Americans approve of SCOTUS; ex-judge denies raping secretary

Supreme Court approval rating hits 4-year low Only 49% of Americans approve of the way the U.S. Supreme Court is handling its job, according to a July poll by Gallup. The approval rating is the lowest since 2017. Last year, 58% approved of the Supreme Court’s job. Bare majorities of…

Jul 30, 2021 6:25 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Cravath tops this ranking; 2 court victories for transgender youths

Cravath tops Vault rankings Vault has named its most prestigious law firms in America, based on a survey of associates at peer firms. The top five in the 2022 Vault Law 100 rankings are Cravath, Swaine & Moore; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Sullivan…

Jul 22, 2021 3:40 PM CDT

Lawyer tweets that minorities don’t have to feel guilty about BigLaw career, garnering over 1,200 likes

A Hispanic lawyer who works as a public defender apparently struck a nerve when she offered some career advice on Twitter.

Jul 22, 2021 10:28 AM CDT