Biglaw, Bonuses, Money

Associate Bonus Watch: Count Your Blessings

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We haven’t heard anything yet on law firm associate bonuses. The message boards are pretty quiet, intramural insults aside.
There is a rumor going around of “$50K for 1st years” as the likely rate, but it’s just a rumor. No announcement memos yet.
What’s not in doubt is that Biglaw lawyers WILL be getting a bonus — which is something to be grateful for. Outside of the top law firms, the “bonus guessing game” isn’t much of a pastime.
To put things in perspective, here’s an email we received from a lawyer in the midwest, who works in-house for an engineering and construction company:

Well, *I* just got a zip-line lanyard for my ID badge. Suck on that you NY Biglaw Associates. Throw in the facts that they (1) just added a *second* microwave to our break room and (2) gave me a new hard hat, and it’s an early flippin’ Christmas! Yeah, that’s right, living the dream, baby! Living the dream!

So when you start fretting about the size of your bonus, remind yourself: at least you know you’ll be getting one. Not every lawyer in America can count on tens of thousands of dollars just showing up this month.
(But yeah, we know: Not every lawyer in America bills over 2500 hours a year.)
Once again, please contact us ASAP, as soon as you hear anything official. You can reach us by email (tips AT abovethelaw DOT com). Anonymity of all tipsters is guaranteed, unless you request otherwise. Thanks.
Earlier: Prior ATL coverage of bonuses (scroll down)

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