first!

Dorks!

Uh... tech allowance? Hey Lat, here's an idea-- now that the salary stuff is mostly over with except for the firms no one cares about, how about starting a series on the fringe benefits that vary between BigLaw firms-- tech allowances, book allowances, gym memberships, home loans, etc., that form a part of the total compensation package not encompassed by salary and bonus alone?

I DEMAND A TECH ALLOWANCE ---- CAUGH IT UP, BIGLAW!

Be wary of the Iphone...apparently it's not compatible with many secure Biglaw networks; we were told it wouldn't work with ours--although I'm sure lawyers would look extra cool and important with a Blackberryand Iphone.

what other firms offer tech allowances?

Be wary of the Iphone...apparently it's not compatible with many secure Biglaw networks; we were told it wouldn't work with ours--although I'm sure lawyers would look extra cool and important with a Blackberryand Iphone.

Weil Gotshal has a tech stipend -- $2,000 for the first two years.

It's not yet compatable with Exchange, which is what most lawfirms and corporations use. Read the paper, it's been discussed extensively.

also... the phone component seems to suck as far as i can tell... unless you put the earbuds in which also sucks

I've also heard some firms give book allowances. How much, and do most firms do this?

This information is available on the firms' NALP forms. You can even run searches for the specific benefit that you are curious about (e.g., tech allowance, day care, vision plan, etc.):

http://www.nalpdirectory.com/

6:17: Thank you for being useful.

Maybe I am naive but at our firm if we want a book we order it and the firm reimburses us no questions asked.

I picked up one of the iPhones the other day and have to say that I would kill to sub out my BB for this. Much better phone than my RAZR and much better for light email than my BB; I don't write more than 10 emails a day on my BB.

Of course, when I asked our IT department if they would support it even for pull email on Exchange (which it supports just fine), they just kept saying it was not secure. Hell, our entire firm runs Windows XP, they shoudl be worrying about that, not the iPhone.

"Pretty much makes skadden associates the coolest on the planet!"?? Cough.

I second the motion for a discussion about benefits.

Don't you have to be seen out and about with the iPhone for it to be cool?

Some Skadden associate hovering over a printer at 3am with a brightly lit iPhone in his hand does exactly sound like my idea of cool.

I third the motion for a discussion of benefits. Learning that some law firms match 401(k) contributions or make a pre-salary 401(k) contribution automatic (allowing you to go higher than the otherwise in-place cap) was very enlightening and helpful.

I also move for a discussion on bonuses. These can make a HUGE difference in overall compensation and, quite frankly, some firms just suck in this department (small bonuses or merit bonuses to only a very few, etc).

Tech Benefits at S&C?

One word: nonexistent.

Howrey’s First-Year Texas Associates Earn $160,000
By Anne K. McMillan

Texas Lawyer

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Washington, D.C.-based Howrey has bumped its starting salaries for first-year associates up to $160,000, effective July 1, Houston managing partner Steve Cagle says. The 635-lawyer firm also is ramping up work on a new merit-based compensation plan that will replace the old lockstep system of providing raises.

“I really love the fact that people are going to be able to make the choice of their own career path,” Cagle says. He notes that the merit-based plan will provide associates with choices they’ve indicated they want — accommodating those who want to bill 2,400 hours per year and make partner as quickly as possible as well as those who want to bill 1,900 hours per year and have a life outside the firm.

In addition, Cagle says, the merit-based system will “place a lot of pressure on the partners in the firm. . . . [It] represents a significant commitment on the part of partnership to get more involved in associate development.”

Focus groups, including several to be held in the 60-lawyer Houston office, outside consultants and the firm’s powers that be are working out factors for the merit-based system, which likely will include criteria such as productivity, quality and entrepreneurship.

Cagle expects the system to be in place by the first of the year.

Fourth the discussion for benefits. Can we start compiling a list by category of perk and firm here or on XOXO?

Let's do it here. Would love to have a permanent set of links on the side for discussion of (1) bonuses (bonii for those of you who insist) and (2) perks.

We really need transparency in category #1 (the current discrepancies mean as much as a $35,000 difference between firms people otherwise consider equal) and #2 can make a world of difference in terms of one's month to month life or long-term well-being.

agreed, though i think ciolli created lawfirmdiscussion or something to do that. maybe they should collaborate.

I have to pay for my own Blackberry. No kidding. I have to buy my own Blackberry and get a contract. The IT guys then hooks it to the server.

No kidding. My firm email that is sent to the Blackberry I use to be more responsive to client needs, is purchased by me on a contract for which I pay.

I do graciously get a reimbursement set lower than what I pay.

How ridiculous is that?

PAY FOR MY BLACKBERRY.

Wiley Rein and formerly Fielding offers pet insurance.

PAY FOR MY BLACKBERRY.

PAY FOR MY BLACKBERRY.

PAY FOR MY BLACKBERRY.

PAY FOR MY BLACKBERRY.

loyola2L find a new shtick?

Just got an Iphone...I already I love it more than a human baby

11:27: Loyola 2L doesn't come round here any more. He prefers to harass the readers of the Wall Street Journal's Law Blog.

I never thought I'd say it, but I sorta miss the little turd.

Loyola 2L will be back in August under the name "Loyola 3L"

The iPhone will not work with Skadden corporate email. If you want to carry around an iPhone for looks and a Blackberry for functionality, that's fine, but silly. Skadden won't support the iPhone until a reliable corporate email client works securely on the iPhone.

Ok, my firm pays for the blackberry (lets you order whatever model you want), syncs it up to your email and calander, etc., but we get stuck with the phone bill if we make or receive phone calls on it. We however, can purchase phone plans and use the phone as our personal phone and eliminate the hassle of carrying around two phones.
Is this standard or does your phone also pay for the phone bill on your BB??? Just wondering because a family member who works for a large accounting firm and a friend at a bank both get their phone bills paid for.

Weil gives first and second year associates $2,000 per year for a technology stipend which can be used for iPhones. I do not come close to reaching this amount and don't feel like I should just to waste my firm's money on crap I do not need. I know a lot of other firms which pay for Blackberry's, but do not know of any others that give a stipend. I like what Weil does because I have a lot of flexibility to get what I want as opposed to picking from a small list that is generated by some tech department within a law firm.

Definitely need to do an expose on benefits....the differences among even the very top handful of firms are huge if some of these posts are to be believed.

What does Latham do? Stipend?

6:21 - do I read your post to mean that at Weil your Blackberry comes out of the stipend?

At Heller Ehrman NYC associates pay the Blackberry bill (data only) and get reimbursed. Is kind of a pain in the ass, frankly.

S&C to $200,000 for 1st years!

Latham gives no technology stipend. They give everybody a laptop at the office, so I guess their is technically no need for a stipend for a home computer (carting it back and forth isn't fun).

They do pay for Blackberries, and give people new devices (usually the very latest model), though we aren't given phone service. If you use phone service, you have to pay the entire bill and get reimbursed for technology.

Other than that, we get nothing. No stipend.

I work for one of the firms that "isn't at the tops on compensation" ... not saying we don't pay market ... which we do (the NY market) but we're a little more compressed...

To the point, I think that the talk about providing a tech allowance is actually limiting. I ask for stuff, and I get it. There's no budget or cap. In my first year I got two laptops, a second monitor, a docking station, a blackberry ... and my firm covers my phone bills and blackberry service. That's well over the $2,000 most firms provide and probably even over the $3,000 Skadden gives, considering my phone service alone runs about $1500 a year.

Just thought I'd throw that out there so you guys would think about all of these numbers and "allowances" from a different angle ...

Anyone know the perks/benefits at Paul Weiss?

How about sabbaticals? Any firms still have those? Now that is a perk worth bragging about.

Is a sabbatical really worth bragging about? I mean, let's be honest, you get it in what, your fifth or sixth year (if you've stayed with the firm that long) and all it means is "we recognize that we're working you to death, so we will give you 3 months to cram the life that we've stolen from you for the last 5 years into before you get your ass back to work ..."

good perk. i'd rather not be a slave for the prior five years ... it used to surprise me how shortsided lawyers were ... not anymore ...

I can get reimbursed for books I buy . . . if I provide a client matter number.

What's "shortsided"?

Sabbatical sounds pretty cool to me. If you stash away a little cash each bonus payout over those 5 years, you could send yourself on a pretty nice vacation. And since it's a 3 month vacation, rather than 1 week, your decks will have to be cleared before you go, which means you won't have to bring work with you, won't have to worry about work, and there won't be 1/2 million emails/voicemessages waiting for your return. Finally, it gives you the time to really think about whether you want to return. I don't see a downside. Or a shortside for that matter.

Sabbaticals are great for all those involved. They are great for the lawyer because it provides an opportunity to take a real break (not just a one week vacation). They are great for firms because attorneys come back refreshed. They eliminate burnout... which is costly to both parties. Some firms even REQUIRE you to take a sabbatical. The firms that don't have a sabbatical see a lot of turnover between 3-5 years. Those with sabbaticals see a lot more midlevels and senior associates. That isn't a bad thing.

In response ... doesn't cadwalader require sabbatical? I think in year 5 or 6 ... your'e telling me that they have "less turnover between 3-5 years" trust me ... no one is hanging on for that sabbatical ...

If Texas raises to 160,000 then NY should be at, what, 350,000?
Yee-haw!

Cadwalader offers a 1-month sabbatical after 5 years. It is not madatory; many people cash it out.