Lawyer Pay

Why lawyers in practice have to be mindful of time—especially their billing time

This is as good a time as any to discuss time. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Remember that time is money”—but I won’t waste any time discussing his kites. What does time mean to lawyers? Billable hours.

Jun 10, 2021 10:40 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: McDonald’s faces Illinois privacy suit; NYPD accused of violating graffiti artists’ rights

McDonald’s sued over voice recognition software McDonald’s is accused of violating Illinois’ biometric privacy law by using voice recognition software to recognize repeat customers at drive-thrus. The suit, filed in April, was removed to federal court in Chicago, according to a May 28 notice. Law.com spoke with several lawyers who…

Jun 3, 2021 4:16 PM CDT

Law firms in Am Law Second Hundred saw gross revenue increase slightly; which virtual firm cracked the list?

The law firms ranked 101 to 200 for gross revenue had a respectable year in 2020, but their numbers are still well below law firms in the top 100, according to results published this week by the American Lawyer.

May 21, 2021 2:39 PM CDT

After DLA Piper standardizes associate pay across markets, other law firms also boost pay

Some associates working at larger law firms in smaller legal markets are seeing pay increases.

May 12, 2021 11:16 AM CDT

Why do female lawyers leave law firms? ‘Blatantly unfair’ compensation often cited, new ABA report says

Compensation systems that are “blatantly unfair” and “rife with gender bias” were most often cited as the reason female attorneys left their law firms, according to a new ABA report based on focus groups and interviews with experienced female lawyers.

May 3, 2021 3:45 PM CDT

Afternoon briefs: Search of Giuliani’s home is ‘legal thuggery,’ says his lawyer; top legal officer earns $50.9M

Search of Giuliani’s home is ‘legal thuggery,’ his lawyer says Federal agents searched lawyer Rudy Giuliani’s New York City apartment and office early Wednesday. Giuliani’s lawyer, Robert Costello, told the New York Times the searches were “legal thuggery” and unnecessary. Costello said his client had offered to answer prosecutors’ questions,…

Apr 28, 2021 4:25 PM CDT

This former attorney general now bills for BigLaw at nearly $2,300 per hour

Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. is billing at $2,295 as a partner at Covington & Burling, according to a contract that the firm signed with a public university.

Apr 19, 2021 10:27 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: 2 firms give special bonuses; immigrant leaves church sanctuary for first time in 3 years

Paul Hastings, Sheppard Mullin provide special bonuses to staff and paralegals As many large firms continue to reward young lawyers for their work in the past year, Paul Hastings and Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton are also providing special bonuses to staff. According to memos obtained by the American Lawyer,…

Apr 16, 2021 2:12 PM CDT

First-year associate pay continues to rise, despite pandemic, NALP survey says

The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t curtailed base pay for beginning associates, according to the National Association for Law Placement's survey of mostly larger law firms.

Apr 14, 2021 10:08 AM CDT

Law firms are pulling out all the stops in hot hiring market for some lateral associates

Law firms are offering signing bonuses and quickly extending job offers in a bid to lure corporate-transactions associates in a hot hiring market, according to a report by Law.com.

Apr 1, 2021 9:43 AM CDT

BigLaw’s lockstep compensation is declining in order to keep and attract talent

Lateral transfers are nothing new. Like the big leagues, BigLaw seeks to gain powerhouse rainmakers via outsize salary offers. The deals have the added value of draining rivals’ rosters to kneecap the competition. “Understand that these are not ‘all or nothing’ changes,” said John C. Coffee, director of the Center on Corporate Governance at Columbia Law School. “But marginal ones to allow the firm to pay more to the highest-grossing partner. Other firms have decided not to change significantly.”

Apr 1, 2021 1:30 AM CDT

Willkie Farr, first to announce 2021 special bonuses, matches going rate; will extra payouts continue in 2022?

The law firm that was first to announce a second round of special bonuses has raised its payouts to match what has become the market rate.

Mar 29, 2021 9:46 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Christian baker faces trial in new bias case; city approves housing reparations

Christian baker faces new bias case A Christian baker is facing a new bias claim after persuading the U.S. Supreme Court that a Colorado agency showed impermissible hostility to his religious reasons for refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding. The baker, Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop, is…

Mar 23, 2021 4:19 PM CDT

Willkie Farr announces a second round of special bonuses, only to be outdone by Davis Polk

Updated: Willkie Farr & Gallagher is paying a second round of special bonuses to associates that range from $7,500 to $40,000, the same amount the law firm paid in the fall.

Mar 22, 2021 9:00 AM CDT

Former Boies Schiller lawyer refused to leave new firm after partnership voted him out, lawsuit says

A partner in a firm formed by former lawyers at Boies Schiller Flexner refused to leave after he was ousted for abusive behavior in a partnership vote, according to a lawsuit filed Saturday.

Mar 2, 2021 10:05 AM CST