Skaddenfreude: Is Kellogg Huber Keeping Pace?
In a recent post about those gargantuan Supreme Court clerkship bonuses, we mentioned Kellogg Huber, the super-elite D.C. litigation boutique.
The firm's SCOTUS bonuses are said to hover around market -- which is about $200,000 these days. But if you missed out on a Supreme Court clerkship, but managed to land a federal appeals court clerkship, the firm is worth looking into. It pays a bonus of $100,000 to federal circuit court clerks, which is the largest non-SCOTUS clerkship bonus that we're aware of.
The rest of Kellogg's compensation package is nothing to sneeze at. The firm pays its associates a base salary of $180,000, plus huge year-end bonuses -- closer to Wachtell Lipton bonuses than regular Biglaw bonuses.
(It should be noted, though, that Kellogg associates work hard for the money. The firm can be a bit of a sweatshop.)
With such a compensation scheme in place, Kellogg Huber sat at the top of the Washington legal market for years. But now we're hearing that, in light of recent pay raises, the firm may not be what it once was.
From a tipster (although not a source currently at the firm, so this may be off in some respects):
The associates [at Kellogg Huber] are utterly mystified because the base salaries at all levels are still $180,000. [T]his is barely even a third-year associate salary elsewhere.It used to be that the year-end bonuses at Kellogg were out of this world. But now all the other firms have come pretty close to catching up.
In short, Kellogg has not changed its salary structure in years. What used to be top of the market is now actually bottom. Senior associates make more money at pretty much any other firm in Washington than they do at Kellogg.
Is this true? And if so, does the firm have any plans of addressing the situation? If you're in a position to know, please drop us a line. Thanks.
Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel [official website]
Earlier: Supreme Court Clerks: Do They Live Up to the Hype?
(33) Comments
did anyone else notice that there are only about FIVE women attorneys at the firm? Wow.
any additional info on the W&C raise rumor from yesterday?
I'm pretty sure I got a letter from Kellogg along the lines of "Don't know what you're doing after your clerkship?" and it definetly didn't mention the $100,000 bonus. Would've given it a second read.
I got a HUGE letter from Kellogg Huber while clerking, which included the bios of everyone at the firm.
After looking at those, I came to the conclusion that there's no way I'd ever get a job there.
Yeah, 4:26 -- same thing.
There may be only 5 women, but the firm hires predominantly SCOTUS clerks and former Bristow Fellows/OLC alums. Among those ranks, men predominate. So, if one thinks there is some hiring discrimination, it happens earlier. It is well known, for example, that SCOTUS clerks have historically been (and continue to be) predominantly male (and white).
It's also at 1615 M St NW. I've never heard of any law firm locating there. Walk about a block or twoand you will hit the "up and coming" areas of DC. Guess the firm wanted to cut costs on location.
5:02...Do you even KNOW DC? That area is now splendid, located between Dupont & Logan Circles, south of Mass. Ave and only 5 or 6 blocks from Lafayette Park and the White House.
I had a phone interview there last spring. It is true their appellate clerkship bonus is 100k. It is also true that they work you to death. A friend's boyfriend works there and average associates bill in the high 2000s and low 3000s. He comes home at 10pm every night. You get paid like a king, and work like a dog. They have a large regulatory focus (like 1/3 - 1/2 of the practice) and no chance of doing appellate work unless you're a SCOTUS clerk. Unless you're a total workaholic, it's not worth having no life.
Agree w/5:18, that area is now very nice. The "sketchiness" zone has shifted several blocks east over the past few years. Even 14th Street is pretty gentrified now.
Yeah, 16th and M is a pretty nice area. This is the 00's not the 80's.
jeez, that Huber guy's no joke huh? Summa from Harvard, USCA clerk for Ruth Bader, SCOTUS clerk for O'Connor.
Kind of makes me wonder whether I've ever really accomplished anything with my life.
Don't despair, 6:51, I'm sure he has a terrible home life.
The firm wouldn't need to pay $100,000 bonuses if it hired hardworking tier 2 grads instead of pampered tier 1 grads.
We'd be happy just to have enough money to eat.
And by eat I don't mean high faluting top school grad restuarants like Le Bernardin, Prime Grill, Telepan or Per Se. Like the Japanese soldier in WW2 all we tier 2 grads need is a humble bowl of rice and we can go for a day. Just give me one big mac and I'll doc review for two hours, write a memo AND pick up the partner's dry cleaning.
With all the salary increases for first year associates in the fall ... Does anyone know if this means salaries for summer associates will be bumped up as well?
hmmmmm Loyola 2L you sure know a lot about NYC restaurants for a far-away poor 2L.... I smell a rat, and a loser NYC biglaw assoc who has played out one joke for a month and probably still thinks it is hilarious.
I overheard top school grads talking about them as I handed out resumes in front of the Debevoise building.
Loyola 2L, Telepan isn't really "high-faluting"...nice try though. You must be from NYC, it's not that famous.
Loser!
lol L2L is busted.
Considering a PWSP associate was robbed by an armed criminal a few blocks west I think it's still too early to say Kellogg is in a great area. The point was just that the partners clearly wanted to save some bucks on the office when they located the firm. You all would be crowing if they had picked Bethesda or Reston and yet it's somehow noble to pick a worse part of the city.
Considering you can get robbed in the heart of Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, Cathedral or any other part of the city at any time of day, I dont pay that much heed. I went college in DC and remember a time when you couldn't get a taxi to Chinatown. Now it looks like Times Square.
Loyola 2L,
I hate to tell you, but when I was clerking Kellogg and Huber was interested in me, and I was ---- wait for it --- a tier 3 grad. Barely in the top 10%.
Crack a book.
I only made top 25%. I guess I'm "dumb" and "lazy."
At least we're making progress, Loyola. Slow but steady.
Top 10% is the new underground railroad.
Does anyone know if Kellogg bumps up the $100,000 bonus for 2 years of federal clerkships (but not SCOTUS)?
M St by the White House is a great location.
Last I checked, Marquette University Law School is not a top 10 law school (I believe it is ranked #100 in US News), yet one Associate comes from that school :
http://www.khhte.com/attorneys_view.php?id=151
So I guess it is not so elitist after all
The one associate from Marquette will be a Bristow next fall.
The one associate from Marquette will be a Bristow next fall.
True, the other lawyers work very hard, and partners stay late, while associates stay later (not all the time). But you'll have a tough time finding a more intelligent group of people. -- That aspect in my opinion makes the "work" part of "work" much more pleasent.
Ok, so there's not a ton of socializing ... who cares. And as for diversity -- the firm seems to care about one thing: track record and work ethic. They are going to hire the best and expect the best, but at the same time will reward those who show special effort. I really don't think there is any attempt to discriminate nor is there discrimination in general. As for political leanings, the named partners are mostly conservative, but overall associates and partners combined the firm is very diverse.
The location is fine too.. no idea where that is coming from.
Several new hires at KHHTE.