Lawyer Pay

2 former partners sue Clifford Chance over alleged compensation clawbacks

Clifford Chance is facing a federal lawsuit from two former partners who allege that the law firm asked them to repay nearly $5.8 million in compensation after they left in January.

Jul 7, 2026 9:39 AM CDT

More boutique and midsize firms match BigLaw associate pay

An increasing number of boutique and midsize law firms are matching or surpassing BigLaw associate pay and even offering bonuses to their associates this summer.

Jun 26, 2026 10:04 AM CDT

Firms take associate salaries higher despite looming AI threats

Salaries for associates in BigLaw are continuing to climb despite fears that artificial intelligence will replace some of their jobs.

Jun 11, 2026 9:52 AM CDT

More top partners are earning over $40M, including bonuses

More BigLaw partners are advancing to top-tier earnings of $40 million or higher, which includes base pay bonuses of up to 40%, according to industry observers.

Jun 3, 2026 1:45 PM CDT

General counsel compensation climbs, aligned with equity and company scale

General counsel compensation continues to increase, particularly among large public and private equity-backed companies, creating a divide in how legal chiefs are paid.

May 28, 2026 1:09 PM CDT

Judge in Google antitrust case blasts attorney fees request as ‘shockingly huge’

A California federal judge who approved a $700 million antitrust settlement with Google described the class counsel’s $85 million attorney fees request as "patently unreasonable" and "shockingly huge."

May 18, 2026 9:33 AM CDT

Legal sector jobs rebound in April, new government data shows

The legal industry has bounced back, gaining 2,400 jobs between March and April, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

May 12, 2026 9:28 AM CDT

US attorney’s office in DC gives prosecutors $5K bonuses

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro in Washington, D.C., is giving out informal bonuses in the range of $5,000 to $7,000 to prosecutors, a tactic that some attorneys see as an attempt to prevent experienced prosecutors from leaving, according to story by Bloomberg Law.

May 8, 2026 9:27 AM CDT

DOJ offers $25K signing bonuses to address lawyer shortage

The U.S. Department of Justice, faced with a lawyer staffing crisis after mass departures and firings, is trying to recruit legal talent and prevent current lawyers from leaving by offering signing and retention bonuses.

May 6, 2026 9:19 AM CDT

Paramount Skydance’s new chief legal officer gets $63M for 3 months of work

The Paramount Skydance Corp.'s new chief legal officer made $63.6 million during his first three months of work, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Apr 28, 2026 9:39 AM CDT

Netflix chief legal officer’s pay raise could move him to top-paid CLO

The 2025 salary of Netflix's chief legal officer hit $2 million—a 33% increase from the $1.5 million that he earned one year earlier and placing him at the top of the market, according to a proxy statement filed Thursday.

Apr 20, 2026 9:52 AM CDT

State laws about pay transparency in job ads are gaining popularity, lawyers say

Colorado’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Act requires employers with at least one employee in the state to post salary ranges, benefits packages and application details for all jobs, including internal promotions. The law, which became effective in 2021, is widely considered a trendsetter in pay transparency, along with a 2023 California law.

Apr 1, 2026 12:40 AM CDT

Where can 1Ls get five-figure signing bonuses?

Updated: In a move that some say is costing large law firms more money in recruitment programs, at least 15 Am Law 100 firms are offering first-year associates as much as $50,000 if they commit to 2L summer associate programs.

Mar 26, 2026 10:47 AM CDT

Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer, who has been linked to Epstein, exits with $25M pay package

The top lawyer at the Goldman Sachs Group Inc., who has been linked to disgraced multimillionaire financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, secured a $25 million pay package and new security perks in 2025 before she announced her upcoming resignation in June.

Mar 23, 2026 10:25 AM CDT

When it comes to attorney fees, law firm size doesn’t matter, 9th Circuit rules

An appeals court ruling Tuesday determined that a federal judge was wrong to decide that it was “simply unreasonable to award BigLaw rates to a four-person firm,” according to Bloomberg Law.

Feb 25, 2026 9:37 AM CST