Some Kaye Scholer 1st-Years to Earn $60K to Do Firm's Pro Bono Work
There’s good news and bad news for incoming first-year associates at Kaye Scholer. Some will do the firm’s usual corporate work at what is presumably a six-figure standard starting salary. But the rest of the class will be assigned to do the firm’s pro bono work at an annual salary of $60,000.
The pro bono group will qualify for full benefits and will get the same training as other Kaye Scholer associates, managing partner Barry Wilner, who also chairs the executive committee, tells Above the Law.
Although the news wasn’t greeted as glad tidings by several anonymous law blog tipsters, Wilner pointed out that the pro bono group is at least guaranteed work; stipends of similar amounts offered to deferred incoming first-years at some competing firms don’t necessarily provide an opportunity to do any legal work.
“It’s incredibly difficult to get public interest work in this environment,” he tells ATL, referring to the increased competition for such jobs due to the difficult economy. “It’s a good thing from the standpoint that the firm is providing excellent public interest training and mentoring.”
Related earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Kaye Scholer to Cut Pay of Low-Billing Junior Associates by 15-20 Percent”
ABAJournal.com: “Pay Cuts Accelerate at Law Firms Across the Country”
