ABA Journal

Lawyer Pay

1329 ABA Journal Lawyer Pay articles.

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.

Median lawyer income is dropping, when adjusted for inflation, study finds

Lawyer income appears to be increasing, but that’s not the case if you take inflation into account, according to a new study.

Boies Schiller and Hausfeld will get big chunk of $626.6M in legal fees in insurance antitrust case

A federal judge in Alabama approved a $2.67 billion settlement and $626.6 million in attorney fees Tuesday in an antitrust class action against Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plans.

This BigLaw firm may be the first to announce special bonuses this summer; will it be the last?

Littler Mendelson has announced special bonuses for some lawyers, making it possibly the first BigLaw firm to offer bonus cash this summer, according to a report by Above the Law.

Pay for 2021 law grads is at all-time high as percentage of BigLaw jobs increases, NALP says

Law graduates from the class of 2021 are enjoying record high salaries and record high employment in jobs for which bar passage is required or anticipated, according to figures released Thursday by the National Association for Law Placement

Only half of class of 2018 law grads practice in law firms, NALP report finds

Ninety-seven percent of surveyed law graduates from the class of 2018 were employed, but only 51% were working in law firms, according to a joint study by the National Association for Law Placement and the NALP Foundation.

Some associates not meeting ‘utilization expectations’ get pay cuts at this law firm

Associates at Steptoe & Johnson who aren’t meeting “utilization expectations” will be getting prorated pay cuts through the end of 2022.

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