ABA Journal

Lawyer Pay

1320 ABA Journal Lawyer Pay articles.

$200K is median base pay for new associates, thanks to market pressure from talent wars, NALP says

Associate pay hikes cascaded during a “red-hot recruiting market” over the last two years, leading to a median base salary of $200,000 for new associates in 2023, according to Nikia L. Gray, the executive director of the National Association for Law Placement.

Nearly $1,000 an hour is rate for second-year associates at these BigLaw firms

Billing rates for second-year associates at some BigLaw firms are nearing $1,000 an hour, according to a review of bankruptcy fee requests by 10 larger law firms.

Former BigLaw partner must pay attorney fees to firm that are about $446K greater than his award, judge says

A New York judge has affirmed an arbitrator’s decision that awarded $224,000 in unpaid fees to a former Holland & Knight partner but ordered him to pay nearly $670,000 for the law firm’s attorney fees and costs.

Former associate must repay law firm for failing to bill promised hours, top state court says

An associate who signed a contract with an “hours billed discrepancy” clause is obligated to repay his law firm for failing to meet promised billable hours, the North Dakota Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

Judge’s failure to conduct ‘lodestar cross-check’ dooms Quinn Emanuel’s $185M fee award

A trial judge should not have awarded $185 million in fees to Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan without conducting a “lodestar cross-check” that considers hours worked and billing rates, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled Tuesday.

Top 10 news stories of 2022

Every year, we like to take a look back at the news events and stories that most resonated with our online readers. This year, the financial state of the legal industry dominated the list, accompanied by disciplinary cases, law school rankings and the bar exam.

As more law firms announce bonuses, some pay extra for higher hours

Updated: Several law firms are following the lead of Baker McKenzie and Cravath, Swaine & Moore in announcing year-end bonuses tracking their scales, but some are offering even more money for high-billing lawyers or exceptional work.

Cravath mostly matches Baker McKenzie bonuses; what about the class of 2015?

Updated: Cravath, Swaine & Moore is paying year-end associate bonuses on a scale that mostly matches that of Baker McKenzie.

Boies Schiller deems its higher bonuses ‘extraordinary’ and ‘extra-extraordinary;’ top amount is $165K

Boies Schiller Flexner is matching associate bonuses announced Nov. 21 by Baker McKenzie in just one respect.

Some law firms tie in-person work to bonuses and job retention amid demand slowdown

Some law firms are getting tough with demands for in-person work, observers have told Law.com.

Baker McKenzie announces year-end bonuses of up to $115K; it’s ‘nothing but crickets’ for 2022 special bonuses

Baker McKenzie is apparently the first law firm to kick off BigLaw’s bonus season. Baker McKenzie’s year-end bonuses range from $20,000 for the class of 2021 to $115,000 for the class of 2015 and over.

What most worries law firm business leaders? Cyberattacks, economy and associate pay, new report says

The possibility of cyberattacks is cited most often as a high concern for law firm business leaders, followed by risks caused by high associate salaries and general economic pressures, according to a report released Thursday.

Pay gap between male and female partners narrows to 34%; what is their average compensation?

The average male law firm partner earns 34% more than the average female partner, which is less of a differential than in prior years, according to a survey by recruiting firm Major, Lindsey & Africa in association with Law360.

Some law firms are ‘pulling back the throttle’ on hiring as expenses rise and deal work slows

Associates are confronting a new reality as law firms slow hiring in response to higher costs, rate pressures and a decline in demand, especially in mergers and acquisitions. “The demand for associates no longer exceeds supply,” says one recruiter.

At least one high-level administrator at a law firm makes $2.7M, survey says

Top-level administrative professionals in law firms make anywhere from $77,000 to $2.7 million in total compensation, according to a recently released survey.

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