Lawyers’ ‘Blue Flu’ Slows Chicago Courts

Criminal courts in the Chicago area are expected to operate in slow motion today, as up to two-thirds of the 520 prosecutors in Cook County’s felony courtrooms take the day off. The prosecutorial “blue flu” is intended to send a message to county administrators about a claimed 12 percent discrepancy…

Jul 10, 2007 6:00 PM CDT

UK Big-Firm Partner Argues Age Claim

A hearing has begun in an age discrimination case brought against one of London’s most prominent law firms by a now-former partner, in a cutting-edge case could potentially threaten the British legal profession’s traditional “lockstep” compensation system. It could also be a sign of more litigation to come, as law…

Jul 9, 2007 7:16 PM CDT

Linklaters’ Revenues Top $2 Billion

Linklaters’ revenues have increased by almost 20 percent, bringing the London law firm’s annual earnings to about $2.2 billion. Profits per partner increased at a similarly impressive rate of 21.8 percent, bringing the number to $2.56 million, the American Lawyer reports. Managing partner Tony Angel attributed much of the firm’s…

Jul 9, 2007 12:24 PM CDT

CA Attys Sue Over $100 K Average Pay

Contending that lawyers employed by the state of California make significantly less than those working in federal and local government jobs, a union representing 3,500 attorneys and hearing officers has sued Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The June 29 action seeks the appointment of a special master by a Sacramento County Superior…

Jul 6, 2007 10:49 PM CDT

$160,000 to Start in NYC—and Seattle

An intellectual property boutique has raised its starting pay in Seattle to $160,000, matching the salary its first-years earn in New York City. The move by Darby & Darby is the latest in a series of such salary increases by West Coast law offices, according to the National Law Journal…

Jul 6, 2007 10:13 PM CDT

Older Partner Gets Trial on Pay

A New York appeals court is permitting a trial on whether a lawyer’s partnership agreement with Winston & Strawn entitled him to be paid the same amount after he reached retirement age. The New York Appellate Division, First Department, ruled that the compensation agreement for rainmaking partner Anthony LoFrisco was…

Jul 6, 2007 12:50 PM CDT

London Firms Earn #1 Billing in World

Record profits for the biggest London law firms reportedly make them the dominant players in the world legal market. Three London firms, headed by Clifford Chance, are at the top of the earnings list, with annual billings close to or exceeding $2 billion. For each, that represents an increase of…

Jul 5, 2007 7:25 PM CDT

NY Attorneys Failed to File Tax Returns

Four lawyers are among seven professionals who recently pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of failing to file New York state tax returns. The four attorneys, who earned between just under $400,000 and more than $2.7 million during the period, did not file state tax returns for four consecutive years, according…

Jul 3, 2007 9:52 PM CDT

‘Golden Handcuffs’ Chain Attys to Desks

If they could afford to, they’d leave the legal profession. That’s what one in five law firm partners and nearly one in three associates surveyed by a British legal publication recently said. Flush with profits from a booming market in mergers and acquisitions, some of London’s biggest and most highly…

Jul 2, 2007 9:08 PM CDT

IL Prosecutors + Low Pay = ‘Brain Drain’

Although it hasn’t yet caused a rush to the courthouse door, state prosecutors in Cook County, Illinois, due to a budgeting quirk, earn less than public defenders. On average, they have been making $63,000 annually to prosecute alleged criminals, compared to $73,000 for those who defend alleged criminals. And that…

Jul 2, 2007 8:51 PM CDT

Howrey’s ‘Bold Move’: Merit Pay

Associates at Howrey will get raises based on performance rather than seniority. The 630-lawyer firm says it will eliminate its lockstep compensation system beginning next year, the Recorder reports. The result is that some associates will achieve partner more quickly, and others more slowly, according to Henry Bunsow, managing partner…

Jun 29, 2007 12:31 PM CDT

Two-Tier Associate Pay at Thelen

Only the biggest-billing associates will make $160,000 a year at one California law firm. Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner will pay that amount to new associates who bill at least 2,000 hours a year, and $145,000 to those who work less, according to the Recorder. “We wanted a compensation…

Jun 25, 2007 12:28 PM CDT

‘Phenomenal Year’ for Florida Lawyers

Defying predictions of a law practice slowdown, attorneys in South Florida report their business is booming. “It was a phenomenal year to be a lawyer,” John C. Sumberg, managing partner of Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod, an 85-attorney firm in Miami, tells the Daily Business Review. “We had many…

Jun 18, 2007 9:16 PM CDT

Bonuses Pay Off for Legal System

Law firms will soon be paying signing bonuses of up to $250,000 to entice former Supreme Court clerks to join their practices. The bonus is in addition to initial salaries that are close to $200,000 a year. Some critics say these young lawyers should not be making twice as much…

Jun 18, 2007 6:37 PM CDT

Jenner & Block Culls Equity Partners

Jenner & Block will shift between 15 and 20 equity partners to nonequity status this year.

The National Law Journal reports that some of the partners will leave the firm and others will move toward retirement.

Some recruiters predict more firms will follow suit in an effort to boost partner profits.

Jun 11, 2007 1:05 PM CDT