First. And, Last.

the info for patterson is a little off - they pay for a bar review course and for the cost of the exam itself.

What about a discussion of which firms include the bar exam expenses (and Bar/Bri, PMBR, etc.) as taxable income to the associates? Tt IS taxable income, but I'm wondering which firms actually report this correctly.

Thank you for posting this. I was actually starting to doubt my choice of firm because I thought they were cheap all around, but it seems that they're on par with everyone else. I am still surprised they give more of a bar stipend in their chicago office than their ny office.

DLA NY (and I'm pretty sure at every other US location) pays for the bar, pmbr, barbri etc.

To clarify, 10:35 is referring to Linklaters LLP by stating "Links." I got letters from them confirming this info last week. Interest-free advance up to $10,000. To note, Links direct bills both PMBR and BarBri. As most firms probably do, Linklaters also pays for any travel and accommodations for the bar exam itself, (and blocks off hotel rooms so you actually a place to stay in Albany!). Also, they pay for any relocation expenses (both travel and freight) whether that be to New York, Hong Kong, or any other office. In addition, from my conversations with current associates, bonuses are given to first-years on a pro-rated basis. And to top it all, the first week on the job isn't spent in New York; they fly all the new associates (US, UK or other country qualified) for a week-long global orientation/retreat/bonding/schmooze-fest.

Linklaters info is wrong. They pay for up to two bar courses plus travel and lodging for the exam. They also pay all moving expenses. And first years recieve a stub bonus equal to a prorated portion of the top of the market for NY first years (Around $12k last year I think).

11:25 forgot to say where Linklaters flys all new associates: London.

Apologies - repeated the Linklaters info posted while I was typing. 11:25 is correct (and more complete).

wow, with a $15K stipend + pro-rated bonus, Irell appears blow everybody else out of the water.

I don't know who said we get $3000 bar stipend at Milbank. They pay for whatever bar review course you want (so for me, BarBri and PMBR, direct billing for both) and the bar exam fees. I guess that comes out to slightly over $3000, but it's not a stipend, it's direct reimbursement.

mlb is wrong - at least for NYC - they give out stub bonuses

Mcuire Woods is wrong - they pay $5,000 signing bonus in May plus Bar review, PMBR, and bar fees / character & fitness

Sorry, I forgot to mention that Linklaters is sad.

McDermott is wrong. Full reimbursement for any bar prep course (direct billing) plus $8500 stipend.

Irell prides itself on always having the best base comp in Southern CA.

MWE is wrong...check firm website

Orrick makes you pay the $10,000 stipend back if you quit before three years.

11:43, It looks to me like Kirkland pays out ~$40,000, while requiring an additional 300 hours of work, that's pretty generous.

Baker McKenzie (all offices) reimburses all bar/bar prep expenses. New NALP info suggests they now pay stub bonuses.

Morris Nichols is wrong, they also pay out BarBri and PMBR fees as well as Exam fees

Yeah, MWE is wrong. 8500 stipend plus all bar/bar prep expenses.

Is it me or is the format of this chart very confusing?
Why not just call those 10-13k stipends bonuses since they're offered on top of bar expenses?

MWE is actually 9500 + bar review course and bar expenses. I think you have to pay part of it back if you quit within a year.

Guys in my high school used to get a stipend plus all bar/bar prep expenses all the time.

It was no big deal.

SPOILER: All SONNENSCHEIN gives you is a measly 5K SALARY ADVANCE.

Working for Latham is SWEET!

K&L Gates - Seattle seems to be wrong. Should be $10K + bar review

Does McDermott vary by office? I know for DC it is $6K stipend, plus bar review & moving reimbursement. Which offices are giving out $8500/9500?

Finnegan Henderson - 3 week salary, $9,230

Munger Tolles & Olson also pays BarBRI + PMBR + exams fee.

orrick gives stipend in addition to bar review course. so 10,000 as free money, and then reimbursement for everything, including bar classes, exam costs, hotel, travel, etc.

What is a Stub Bonus? Is this the bonus the firm gives you for the time spent working in the year of your graduation (prior to first complete year)?

4:06 - unfortunately, yes. ny is 3000, which makes no sense.

The info on McKee Nelson is wrong. The stipend is $13,333 (one month's pay) not $12k.

K&L Gates, Pittsburgh (as of last summer): $6,000 stipend + BarBri (direct billing) + Exam expenses + Actual moving expenses up to $5,000 (direct billing)

No offense Lat, but this is not ATL's best work. Most of this data is already available at nalp or directly from the firm by inquiry. Many of the self-reported numbers seem suspicious, either because the survey was poorly constructed (some categories weren't mutually exclusive or were under-inclusive) or because you didn't get enough responses for some firms to verify the data.

Frankly, I'd scrap this little experiment now or hire someone who actually knows how to construct surveys and assemble their data. I would not trust any number on the chart because this info is only provided by students (not the firm)

Also, McKee pays for both PMBR and BarBri (direct billed) and bar exam travel and expenses.

SPOILER: All SONNENSCHEIN gives you is a retraction of your offer

mwe varies by office - not really sure why tho. it's 3K stipend for NY

Here's an open question: would it be inappropriate to ask the recruiters why benefits (such as a stipend) would vary office by office?