Lawyer Pay

$1M-plus bonuses will be paid to ‘multiple associates’ at this prominent law firm

“Multiple associates” at Boies Schiller Flexner are receiving bonuses of $1 million or more this year, thanks to a formula based on law firm contributions and revenue generation, according to an internal memo obtained by several publications.

Dec 11, 2024 10:10 AM CST

Associates at this BigLaw firm can choose one of 3 billable-hour budgets

Steptoe is adopting a new compensation system next year that allows associates to choose one of three different tracks based on hourly targets.

Dec 9, 2024 3:19 PM CST

BigLaw firms pile on bonus bandwagon led by Milbank, and some offer more to top associates

Updated: By Thursday morning, more than 30 law firms had matched Milbank’s year-end bonuses and announced special bonuses on par with Milbank’s summer bonuses, according to bonus announcements obtained by Above the Law.

Dec 2, 2024 12:17 PM CST

BigLaw firm and ex-partner who sued for age bias agree on dismissal

A former Fox Rothschild equity partner who claimed that he was demoted to a position with lower pay and required to work under a series of one-year contracts has ended his age-bias lawsuit against the law firm.

Nov 26, 2024 2:09 PM CST

More BigLaw firms match Milbank’s year-end and special bonuses for associates, make no mention of pay hikes

Updated: Associates at several BigLaw firms will be getting year-end and special bonuses that total $21,000 to $140,000, the amount being paid by Milbank.

Nov 20, 2024 10:12 AM CST

Where have all the lawyers gone? 25% are in these 2 states with higher pay than $176K average

Twenty-five percent of all lawyers live in California and New York, states that include five of the top 10 metropolitan areas for attorney pay.

Nov 19, 2024 11:01 AM CST

Following pay changes with Idaho public defender’s office, agency saw more than 1,000 withdrawals

Updated: Recent Idaho public defender pay rate changes led to many counsel heading for the exits, and the Idaho State Bar issued a formal ethics opinion due to concerns. It recognizes financial hardships can cause conflicts in legal representation but notes that counsel cannot leave a case without the court’s approval.

Nov 13, 2024 9:07 AM CST

Taking the BigLaw lead, Milbank announces year-end bonuses

Milbank announced Monday that it will be matching last year’s year-end bonus scale, paying associate bonuses that range from $15,000 to $115,000.

Nov 12, 2024 9:05 AM CST

BigLaw firms set earnings expectations for partners, create ‘super tiers’ to reward top performers

As BigLaw firms focus more on metrics, many are setting earnings expectations for partners, according to legal recruiters who spoke with Law.com.

Oct 31, 2024 11:56 AM CDT

Average BigLaw partner compensation increased 26% in 2 years, reaching this high-water mark

Average compensation for partners in larger law firms is $1.4 million, a record high that represents a 26% increase since 2022, according to a new survey by legal recruiting firm Major, Lindsey & Africa.

Oct 29, 2024 10:35 AM CDT

Law firms cut compensation for some partners, freeing up cash for high performers

Law firms are cutting compensation for some partners because of reduced productivity or impending retirements, a contrast from more collegial days, according to consultants who spoke with Law.com.

Oct 15, 2024 3:28 PM CDT

Judge cuts Quinn Emanuel’s $185M fee, an amount deemed ‘astronomical’ by objectors

A federal judge has slashed a $185 million fee that she initially awarded to Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, an amount that translated to about $18,500 per hour for its work in an insurance class action lawsuit.

Oct 14, 2024 1:12 PM CDT

About half of surveyed lawyers are satisfied with their law firm compensation, survey finds

Only 52% of surveyed lawyers are satisfied with their total compensation, but the percentage increases with pay transparency, according to a law firm compensation survey by Law360 Pulse.

Oct 3, 2024 9:03 AM CDT

Which law firms scored highest in summer associate surveys? And which had memorable events?

The law firm with a No. 1 ranking by summer associates is either Dentons or Paul Hastings, according to surveys by Law.com and Law360 Pulse.

Sep 27, 2024 9:19 AM CDT

Some top partners in BigLaw will bill nearly $3,000 per hour next year, data says

Billing rates for some of the nation’s highest-grossing law firms are expected to continue an upward climb next year.

Sep 26, 2024 12:07 PM CDT