Expanded Nationwide Start Date Round-up

Last month, we did a round-up of start dates for 2009 associates. Reflecting the slowdown in work at firms across the country, many firms have pushed back start dates for new associates into next year.

After that post, we heard from many of you going to firms not included in the list the first time around. We’ve made quite a few new additions to the list, after the jump.

Some law students are e-mailing us because they still don’t know when they will start and are reporting little communication from their firms. Firms, the message 3Ls want to send to you is, “Please communicate. We’re freaking out.” 3Ls, the message ATL wants to send to you, “Try not to freak out.”

Many law school graduates with Biglaw offers will have many months to kill before starting their new jobs. Let us know how you’ll be spending your time, in the comments. And check out the list of start dates, after the jump.


This list is predominantly based on reports from tipsters, and so we consider it an “unofficial” round-up. Feel free to send us corrections at tips@abovethelaw.com with the subject “Nationwide Start Date Watch.”

  • Akin Gump – March 2010
  • Alston & BirdJanuary 19, 2010 ($10,000 stipend)
  • Sponsored

  • Arent Fox – November 1, 2009 for some; February 1, 2010 for others (Unspecified stipend amount)
  • Ballard Spahr – September 2010 ($45,000 stipend)
  • Baker Hostetler – October 15, 2009
  • Cadwalader – October 5, 2009
  • Cleary – staggered options: September 14/ October 12/ November 9, 2009 or January 11, 2010
  • Sponsored

  • Clifford Chance – 20 incoming associates will start in January 2010 ($10,000 stipend); About 30 others will start in October 2010 (stipend of $3,335-$5,000 per month).
  • Chadbourne & Parke – January 2010
  • Cravath – October 2009, November 2009 or January 2010
  • Debevoise – 2009, baby! September 21, October 12, October 26, or November 16
  • Dechert – October 5, 2009
  • Dewey & LeBoeuf – January 11, 2010 ($5,000 stipend)
  • Dorsey & Whitney – November 30, 2009
  • Edwards Angell Palmer & DodgeMarch 1, 2010
  • Foley and Lardner – September 7th, 2009 (Boston office)
  • Fried Frank – January 28, 2010 ($10,000 stipend); Fall 2010 ($70,000 stipend)
  • Fulbright & Jaworski – January 11, 2010
  • Goldberg Kohn – “Indefinitely deferred,” March 2010 at the earliest
  • Greenberg Traurig – January 2010
  • Hogan & Hartson – November 30, 2009
  • Holland & KnightJanuary 11, 2010
  • Irell & Manella – As early as the week after the bar exam; November 1, 2009 at the latest
  • Jenner & Block – November 2009 (Chicago office)
  • Latham – December 2009; October 2010 ($75,000 stipend)
  • McDermott Will & Emory – December 1, 2009
  • Milbank Tweed – January 25, 2010 ($10,000 stipend)
  • Morgan Lewis – October 2010
  • Morrison & Foerster – November 2, 2009 will be the earliest start date
  • O’Melveny & Myers – December 2009
  • Nixon Peabody – January 2010
  • Paul Hastings – October 12, 2009
  • Perkins Coie – January 4, 2010 ($7,500 stipend)
  • Quarles & Brady‏ – January 2010
  • Ropes & GrayJanuary 2010
  • Shearman & Sterling – December 2009 at the earliest, or September 2010 with a $65,000 deferral stipend
  • Skadden – October 2009
  • Squire SandersJanuary 19, 2010
  • Venable – January 2010
  • Wachtell – September 14 or October 12, 2009; November 2, 2009 for clerks only
  • Weil Gotshal – January 2010 ($15,000 deferral stipend); January 2011 for others ($75,000 stipend)
  • White & Case – November 2009 for 40% of new associates; 2010 for the rest (with a $45,000 stipend, or a $75,000 stipend if they pursue volunteer or community service during the deferral period)
  • Willkie Farr – September, October, or November, 2009
  • Earlier: Open Thread: Nationwide Start Date Round-up