too bad winston chicago is cheap

Kaye Scholer is only paying the special bonus based on an hours level - something between 2000 (at which point you get the market bonus) and 2400 (at which you point you get another, greater, amount).

I thought everyone should know.

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FIRSTY!

What were the bonus amount for other offices for Winston? D.C. particularly

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can someone explain why lat always refers to himself as "we"?

FIRSTY!

FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII .... oh, forget it.

Winston is a great place to work.

Kudos to Winston for ponying up.

2:40 Lat has a monkey

2:40 Lat uses the royal "we" instead of I. This remains the custom of many federal judges and other self-important individuals. (Though don't change the habit Lat, it is part of your charm!)

YAY WINSTON

Xenu says: WINSTON APPROVED.

Orrick just announced it will pay special bonuses only in NY. Associates in DC and SF are not happy.

2:40 Lat uses the royal "we" instead of I. This remains the custom of many federal judges and other self-important individuals. (Though don't change the habit Lat, it is part of your charm!)

sooooo, anyone know what's happening in their other offices?

3:04 - Is Orrick paying the "NYC market" bonus in DC and SF?

Xenu says: WINSTON APPROVED.

Orrick is paying according to the scale set forth at the beginning of the year -- for standard bonuses. Not sure if it's NY market or not.

I'm a TO Fan ya'll... I just want to see him DANCE!!!

Orrick's bonus is not New York market if NY market is flat $35k. For class of '06 Orrick pays 25k at 2000 hours, 35k at 2100 hours and then 10k pro rata for 2100-2400. This is across all offices.

I'm a TO Fan ya'll... I just want to see him DANCE!!!

Technical problems? On Above the Law?

"That's unpossible."

GIGI SAYS : WINSTON APPROVED and sooo easy

Just like my New Year's resolution to go to the gym every morning, it looks like ATL's resolution to use alternative phrases for "After the Jump" has come to an end.

OK 3:23 - Tell us how much they are and we will tell you whether they are NYC market.

FIRST!

From 5/07 memo. Discretionary bonuses paid out above 2100 hours:

2007 BONUS PROGRAM FOR ASSOCIATES IN U.S. OFFICES

Level Standard Bonus Discretionary Bonus Maximum Bonus
1 $25,000 Up to $20,000 $45,000
2 $30,000 Up to $20,000 $50,000
3 $35,000 Up to $20,000 $55,000
4 $40,000 Up to $20,000 $60,000
5 $40,000 Up to $35,000 $75,000
6 $45,000 Up to $35,000 $80,000
7 $45,000 Up to $35,000 $80,000
8+ $50,000 Up to $35,000 $85,000

comment (moron) cleanup desperately needed already, Lat

I REALLY want to comment on the CWT thread, but the comments page isn't active yet. Come on, Lat!

What's Winston's minimum? From the memo it looks like there has to be one.

What's Winston's minimum billable requirement? From the memo it looks like there has to be one.

3:52 - I'm confused - your 2007 bonuses were determined in May of 2007? That's different....

4:31 - 1950 (at least in DC)

Lat actually uses the editorial "we", which is slightly less self-important than the royal "we".

CHICAGO??!! WHERE IS CHICAGO?!

CHICAGO??!! WHERE IS CHICAGO?!

I work at Winston Chicago. We didn't get a cash bonus this year, but we did get a trip to luxury fitness bootcamp.

4:31 - Based on a memo we received last spring, it's 1900 billable hours in NY to get the full market (and, in this case, special) bonus.

Are the 2008 base salaries above an increase on 2007?

Orrick's bonuses have traditionally been determined at the beginning(ish) of the year.

The base salaries above are consistent with the base salaries Winston NY associates received in 2007 - there has been no increase.

Wait, what's the deal with winston chicago? was there already a memo about salaries and bonuses? if so, please post the link.
thanks!

Any info on Winston DC would be appreciated.

Winston's NY office announces bonuses a few weeks prior to the other offices. The bonus rule for all of the other offices is that you have to have 2100 total hours, of those 1950 have to be billable. The firm also gives full credit for 100 pro bono hours and 35 of those can count to the 1950. Lots of folks do around 1915-1950 client billables, another 100+ pro bono and then another 50-100 firm hours (recruiting, summer program, business development, CLE, etc.). All in all, Winston makes it very easy to make the base bonus.

Another pathetic move from Winston. (Remember when they raised in CA only this spring, then were forced to match everywhere later?)

Winston will pay market in NY, but is way BELOW market everywhere else. They put out a memo now for NY, but won't do the same for any other office, knowing that this memo will be here on ATL, and nothing will be said about their BELOW market bonuses in every other city, which won't be announced in a memo form.

Wow, if there isn't a substantial match at the other Winston offices, then there is going to be some major grumblings. Major.

If you want to know about Winston's bonuses, check out what was written in Vault. Way, way below market.

10:08 and 10:49, how are you so sure? Way below market? Where on Vault or elsewhere can I find confirmation of this?

winston may have given bonuses, but it sucks to work here!!!!

I'm with 10:08 and 10:49. I know people that were 2nd years in Non-NYC offices who billed 2300 and 2400 respectively (total firm hours were 2700 and 2800) and they only received $20K and $25K each last year. There has been some buzz that Winston is stepping it up this year, but don't expect much. Those that work or have worked there know that they are notoriously cheap. After all, what other law firm doesn't pay for attorney bar fees? Yep, both associates and partners at Winston pay their own frickin' bar fees!!! With policies like that, you can't expect much in bonuses.

I'm with 10:08 and 10:49. I know people that were 2nd years in Non-NYC offices who billed 2300 and 2400 respectively (total firm hours were 2700 and 2800) and they only received $20K and $25K each last year. There has been some buzz that Winston is stepping it up this year, but don't expect much. Those that work or have worked there know that they are notoriously cheap. After all, what other law firm doesn't pay for attorney bar fees? Yep, both associates and partners at Winston pay their own frickin' bar fees!!! With policies like that, you can't expect much in bonuses.

I don't care about bar fees. A few hundred dollars. Big freaking deal. Bonuses are another matter. You're talking tens of thousands of dollars. The market's too transparent now. There is no way Winston can get away with low balling its associates. We'll find out soon enough.

I am an 8th year in one of Winston's non-NY offices. I fully expect that Winston will not come anywhere near these bonus levels for their other offices. I also fully expect that I will be at another firm by the end of March, and that my $1,000,000+ in billing (99% collection rate) in 2007 for Winston will go to a firm willing to pony up. I could be wrong, but I am not holding my breath.

I fully agree with 1:43 regarding bar dues. I can give a crap less about a couple of hunder bucks a year. But when salary differential starts to approach 6 figures for the same work, the message is clear.

1:43 and 3:53, you're totally missing the point of what 1:29 is saying. If a firm is so cheap that it will screw you over a couple hundred bucks, what would make you think that they wouldn't screw you over several thousand? Nickel and diming on the lowest levels does nothing but assure you that they're cutting back wherever they can and will do so as much as possible.

5:54, I understand exactly what 1:29 is saying, and after working here for a substantial amount of time, I understand the firm is cheap. What I and 1:43 are saying, however, is that no one is going to jump ship over a few hundred bucks. Change that to tens of thousands or a hundred thousand, though, and the lifeboats are going to be full (at least with those that can move).

I am just waiting for my memo next week. My recruiter is already on standby.

6:28 -- Fair enough. It just seems that the bar fee issue would be indicative of a greater pattern and, therefore, not an isolated issue of a just a couple hundred bucks. If it were an isolated issue, I'd agree with you. But I'd imagine that you area also missing out on a lot of other perks as well (gym membership, dry cleaning, meal allowances, transporation/cabs, etc.), which may translate to several thousand dollars, even if not up to the level of salary disparity. Plus, I think the cheapness issue is not really a money issue at all, but an aggravation issue. When you're working a lot of hours, the little extra f-yous add up. But I definitely think you're right on the money about the lifeboats----those that can leave, will.

I have been a Winston associate at a non-NY office for a long time and have never seen morale as low as it is right now. I don't know a single associate who was happy with the bonus that they received last year and I know several people who will leave this year if things don't change. It is not as if Winston's bonuses are only a little bit off the market pace. The reality is that the bonuses are regularly less than half of market and it is a well known fact that people who work the most get shafted the worst because the firm caps bonuses at 2400 hours. The associates in Chicago and DC are especially angry, but the unhappiness extends to all of the offices except NY. Hopefully, partners are reading this because the firm is a great place to work and it would be a shame to see good people leave simply because of the money. But that is the reality of what is going to happen. Every comment from 10:49 onward is largely accurate.

9:40, you're shitting me. Why would anybody at Winston work more than 2400 hours if you're basically working for free afterwards? That sucks!

Winston Chicago does have its perks like free starbucks, lavish attorney dining room, free happy hour every Friday, donuts/bagel on payday, and cabs/meals for late nights. Not to mention probably the nicest law offices in Chicago. You know what? I'd give up all this, free botox and free ass wiping if it will mean we get a proper bonus. I'm not saying match Kirkland. I'm saying match Winston NYC.

dude...my bonus sucked last year. I was a third year and about 20K behind SIDLEY, where most of us could be working. I don't get it. At. All.

I'm also a non-NY winston associate, and echo what has been said in last ~10 comments. Moral is very low. No one is happy . . . a big part of it stems from fact that our bonuses are so low, i.e. outside NY third years at W&S get lower bonuses than first years at other firms in the same city.

forgodsakes, make it right and all will be forgiven. screw us and watch a mass exodus. it's not like any of us lacks the credentials to go elsewhere in the city.

I get that Winston's paying special bonuses in NYC, but it sucks that all signs point to my normal bonus being less than a first year's in NY. This really sucks when I've billed a ton and turned down offers from local competitors who pay more for just meeting the regular 'ol 2100 hour requirement.

This can't be right--NY associates are getting DOUBLE or TRIPLE our bonusux.

For anyone in Winston's CA offices, take a look at Latham's memo. Winston had better match those levels at the least.

Winston just delayed the circulation of bonus memos and bonuses. Way to go.