Nationwide Start Date Round-up: More Firms Join The List

Many law school graduates are preparing for an endless summer. Endless in that they won’t be starting work until well into the winter. At this point, the majority of firms are starting 2009 graduates in January 2010. There are some outliers though — some firms are starting new associates as early as September 2009, and some are offering them start dates as late as January 2011.

Here are a few of the latest additions to the deferred start dates list from the past week:

  • Foley & Lardner pushed its start date back from September 8, 2009 to February 1, 2010, offering a $10,000 stipend. “The firm did it to protect incoming associates from swine flu,” one of our Foley sources joked.
  • Paul Hastings has deferred all incoming first-year associates from October 2009 start date to January 19, 2010. They’re providing a $10k stipend, optional health insurance coverage starting in October and an optional $5k salary advance to cover required loan payments in the interim.
  • A tipster tells us: “Faegre & Benson (Minneapolis) just called their incoming associates to let them know that some get to start at the beginning of October and some don’t get to start until January. The unlucky ones who are deferred until January are mostly Real Estate and Corporate types. $7500 stipends. Earlier they said ‘at least October, 2009.'”
  • Andrews Kurth has pushed back starting dates to January 2010. Per a firm statement, “The firm will pay each of the new associates in the class a deferral stipend of $10,000; the stipend is not a salary advance or a loan and is not expected to be repaid after starting employment. The firm will also honor its commitment to pay the bar and moving expenses for this class. ”

    After the jump, we’ve got a new round-up of start dates at firms nationwide, sorted two ways: alphabetically by firm name and chronologically by start date (per popular demand).


    This list comes from a variety of sources, including tipsters, firm memos, and firm spokespeople. Still, we consider it an “unofficial” round-up. Feel free to send us corrections at tips@abovethelaw.com with the subject “Nationwide Start Date Watch.” We prefer e-mail to receiving tips in the comments.

    We’re providing these start dates by firm name, and by date (thanks in part to the help of Breaking Media’s Winnie Liu). We’ve got the chronological listing first. Scroll down to see the alphabetical list.

    Where noted, a stipend refers to a special deferral stipend amount, not “normal” stipends, loans, salary advances, or other extras, like bar exam fees. Many of you have asked us to note the firms that are not offering stipends. We have done so when we know so, but if you have more information for us, you know our e-mail: tips@abovethelaw.com.

    START DATES, ORGANIZED BY DATE

    Ed. note: Some firms appear on multiple dates, as they’ve offered a mix of dates and deferral options

    2009

    * Covington & Burling – Any Monday after the bar exam

    * Irell & Manella – Any Monday after the bar exam, November at the latest

    * Munger, Tolles & Olson – Any Monday after the bar exam

    * Quinn Emanuel – Any Monday after the bar exam

    SEPTEMBER 2009

    * Akin Gump – September 14, 2009 for some Houston associates

    * Allen & Overy

    * Cleary – staggered options: September 14/ October 12/ November 9, 2009 or January 11, 2010

    * Davis Polk – September 14, October 19, or November 16, 2009

    * Debevoise – September 21, October 12, October 26, or November 16

    * Linklaters

    * McGuire Woods

    * Paul Weiss

    * Simpson Thacher & Bartlett – September 21, October 26, and November 30, 2009

    * Sonnenschein

    * Wachtell – September 14 or October 12, 2009; November 2, 2009 for clerks only

    * Willkie Farr – September, October, or November, 2009

    OCTOBER 2009

    * Baker Hostetler

    * Cadwalader – October 5, 2009

    * Cravath – October 2009, November 2009 or January 2010

    * Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle

    * Dechert – “Fall 2009”

    * Faegre & Benson – October 2009, for some

    * Jones Day

    * Kramer Levin

    * Skadden Arps

    NOVEMBER 2009

    * Arent Fox

    * Baker Botts – Houston office

    * Dorsey & Whitney

    * Finnegan

    * Gibson Dunn

    * Hogan & Hartson

    * Hunton & Williams – D.C. office

    * Jenner & Block

    * Morrison & Foerster – “at the earliest”

    * Sidley Austin

    * Sullivan & Cromwell

    * Vinson & Elkins

    * White & Case

    DECEMBER 2009

    * Latham & Watkins

    * McDermott Will & Emory

    * O’Melveny & Myers

    * Shearman & Sterling – December 2009 “at the earliest”

    * Snell & Wilmer, LLP – $5,000 stipend

    JANUARY 2010

    * Akin Gump – $10,000 stipend

    * Alston & Bird – $10,000 stipend

    * Andrews Kurth LLP – $10,000 stipend

    * Baker & McKenzie – no stipend

    * Bingham McCutchen – $10,000 stipend

    * Blank Rome – “deferred until at least January 2010”

    * Bryan Cave – $10,000 stipend

    * Cahill Gordon

    * Chadbourne & Parke

    * Clifford Chance – $10,000 stipend

    * Cooley Godward Kronish – $25,000 stipend, including bar stipend

    * Dewey & LeBoeuf – $5,000 stipend

    * DLA Piper – $10,000 stipend

    * Faegre & Benson (Minneapolis) – $7,500 stipend

    * Fried Frank – $10,000 stipend

    * Fulbright & Jaworski

    * Goodwin Procter

    * Greenberg Traurig

    * Holland & Knight

    * Hunton & Williams

    * K&L Gates

    * King & Spalding

    * LeClair Ryan

    * Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell – no stipend

    * Mayer Brown – $5,000 monthly stipend and subsidized medical benefits

    * Milbank Tweed – $10,000 stipend

    * Mintz Levin

    * Nixon Peabody

    * Orrick

    * Paul Hastings – $10,000 stipend, optional health insurance coverage

    * Pepper Hamilton

    * Perkins Coie – $7,500 stipend

    * Proskauer Rose – $10,000 stipend

    * Quarles & Brady

    * Ropes & Gray

    * Schulte Roth & Zabel – $20,000 stipend

    * Squire Sanders – $10,000 stipend

    * Sutherland – $7,500 stipend

    * Troutman Sanders – no stipend and no health insurance

    * Venable

    * Vinson & Elkins

    * Weil Gotshal – $15,000 deferral stipend

    * Wiley Rein

    * WilmerHale – $10,000 stipend

    * Wilson Sonsini – $10,000 stipend

    * Winston and Strawn – $15,000 stipend + health insurance

    FEBRUARY 2010

    * Arent Fox – $5,000 stipend

    * Buchanan Ingersoll

    * Foley Lardner – $10,000 stipend

    * Katten – $15,000 stipend

    * Winstead

    MARCH 2010

    * Akin Gump – $15,000 stipend

    * Dechert – $17,500 stipend

    * Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge

    * Goldberg Kohn – “Indefinitely deferred,” March 2010 at the earliest

    * Orrick

    * Proskauer Rose – $20,000 stipend

    * WilmerHale – $15,000 stipend

    APRIL 2010

    * Kilpatrick Stockton — $17,000 stipend

    “FALL 2010”

    * Dechert – $75,000 stipend

    * Fried Frank – $70,000 stipend

    * Schulte Roth & Zabel – $70,000 stipend with public interest work

    * White & Case – $45,000 stipend, or a $75,000 stipend for some to pursue volunteer or community service

    * WilmerHale – $75,000 stipend

    SEPTEMBER 2010

    * Ballard Spahr – $45,000 stipend

    * Shearman & Sterling – $65,000 deferral stipend

    OCTOBER 2010

    * Clifford Chance – Stipend of $3,335-$5,000 per month

    * Goodwin Procter – $60,000 stipend with pro bono work

    * Holme, Roberts & Owen – A one time payment of $15,000; or $30,000 in installments, contingent on accepting a public interest job

    * Latham & Watkins – $75,000 stipend

    * Mayer Brown – “can defer up to Oct. 2010” with a $5,000 monthly stipend

    * Morgan Lewis

    * Sonnenschein – $5,000 stipend

    * Wiley Rein – $5,000 monthly stipend

    “WINTER 2010”

    * Orrick – $60,000 “honorarium”

    JANUARY 2011

    * Proskauer Rose – $60,000 stipend with pro bono work

    * Sonnenschein – $10,000 stipend

    * Weil Gotshal – $75,000 stipend with public interest work


    START DATES, ORGANIZED BY FIRM

  • Akin Gump – January 2010 ($10,000 stipend), or March 2010 ($15,000 stipend); September 14, 2009 for some Houston associates
  • Sponsored

  • Allen & Overy – September 21, 2009
  • Alston & BirdJanuary 19, 2010 ($10,000 stipend)
  • Andrews Kurth LLP – January 2010 ($10,000 stipend)
  • Arent Fox – November 1, 2009 for some; February 1, 2010 for others ($5,000 stipend)
  • Ballard Spahr – September 2010 ($45,000 stipend)
  • Sponsored

  • Baker Botts – November 16th, 2009 (Houston office)
  • Baker Hostetler – October 15, 2009
  • Baker & McKenzie – January 2010 (no stipend)
  • Bingham McCutchen – January 28, 2010 ($10,000 stipend)
  • Blank Rome – “deferred until at least January” 2010 with no information provided yet as to a definitive date or stipend
  • Bryan Cave – January 19, 2010 ($10k stipend)
  • Buchanan Ingersoll – February 2010
  • Cadwalader – October 5, 2009
  • Cahill Gordon – January 2010
  • Cleary – staggered options: September 14/ October 12/ November 9, 2009 or January 11, 2010
  • 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
  • Cooley Godward Kronish – January 4, 2010. ($25,000 stipend, including bar stipend)
  • Covington & Burling – Any Monday after the bar exam
  • Cravath – October 2009, November 2009 or January 2010
  • Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle – October 19, 2009
  • Davis Polk – September 14, October 19, or November 16, 2009
  • Davis Wright Tremaine – January 2010 ($7,500 stipend)
  • Debevoise – 2009, baby! September 21, October 12, October 26, or November 16
  • Dechert – Splitting new associates into three groups starting Fall 2009; March 2010 ($17,500 stipend) and Fall 2010 ($75,000 stipend)
  • Dewey & LeBoeuf – January 11, 2010 ($5,000 stipend)
  • DLA Piper – January 11, 2010 ($10,000 stipend)
  • Dorsey & Whitney – November 30, 2009
  • Edwards Angell Palmer & DodgeMarch 1, 2010
  • Faegre & Benson – October 2009 for some; January 2010 for others ($7,500 stipend)
  • Fenwick & West – has not yet announced
  • Finnegan – November 2, 2009
  • Foley Lardner – February 1, 2010 ($10,000 stipend)
  • Fried Frank – January 28, 2010 ($10,000 stipend); Fall 2010 ($70,000 stipend)
  • Fulbright & Jaworski – January 11, 2010
  • Gibson Dunn – November 16 and November 30, 2009
  • Goldberg Kohn – “Indefinitely deferred,” March 2010 at the earliest
  • Goodwin Procter – January 2010 for half of its 125 new associates; October 2010 for the rest ($60,000 stipend with pro bono work)
  • Greenberg Traurig – January 2010
  • Hogan & Hartson – November 30, 2009
  • Holland & KnightJanuary 11, 2010
  • Holme, Roberts & Owen – October 2010 (Can accept a one time payment of 15K or 30K in installments, contingent on accepting a public interest job)
  • Hunton & Williams – November 2009 (D.C. office); January 2010
  • Irell & Manella – As early as the week after the bar exam; November 1, 2009 at the latest
  • Jenner & Block – November 2009 (Chicago office)
  • Jones Day – October 26, 2009
  • K&L Gates – January 4, 2010
  • Katten – February 1, 2010 ($15,000 stipend)
  • Kaye Scholer – January 11, 2010
  • Kilpatrick Stockton — April 2010 ($17,000 stipend)
  • King & Spalding – January 19, 2010
  • Kramer Levin – October 26, 2009
  • Latham – December 2009; October 2010 ($75,000 stipend)
  • LeClair Ryan – January 2010
  • Linklaters – September 2009
  • Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell – January 2010 (no stipend, no health insurance, no salary advance)
  • Mayer Brown – January 19, 2010 ($5,000 monthly stipend and subsidized medical benefits during the deferral period); Also offering October 2010 deferral, with a $5K monthly stipend
  • McDermott Will & Emory – December 1, 2009
  • McGuire Woods – September 2009 (but salaries have been reduced from $160K to $145K)
  • Milbank Tweed – January 25, 2010 ($10,000 stipend)
  • Mintz Levin – January 11, 2010 ($15,000 salary advance)
  • Morgan Lewis – October 2010
  • Morrison & Foerster – November 2, 2009 will be the earliest start date
  • Munger, Tolles & Olson – 2009! (Any Monday after the bar exam)
  • O’Melveny & Myers – December 2009
  • Orrick – January 2010; March 2010; or Winter 2010 ( $60,000 “honorarium”)
  • Nixon Peabody – January 2010
  • Paul Hastings – January 19, 2010 ($10,000 stipend, optional health insurance coverage)
  • Paul Weiss – September 14, 2009
  • Pepper Hamilton January 19, 2010
  • Perkins Coie – January 4, 2010 ($7,500 stipend)
  • Pillsbury – has not yet announced
  • Proskauer Rose – January 2010 ($10,000 stipend) or March 2010 ($20,000 stipend), or pro bono deferral option with start date of January 2011 ($60,000 stipend)
  • Quarles & Brady‏ – January 2010
  • Quinn Emanuel – 2009, any Monday after the bar exam
  • Ropes & GrayJanuary 2010 (no stipend)
  • Schulte Roth & Zabel – January 28, 2010 ($20k stipend); Limited number of public interest deferrals until Fall 2010 ($70,000 stipend)
  • Seyfarth Shaw – October 19, 2009
  • Shearman & Sterling – December 2009 at the earliest, or September 2010 with a $65,000 deferral stipend
  • Sidley Austin – November 2 or November 16, 2009
  • Simpson Thacher & Bartlett – September 21, October 26, and November 30, 2009
  • Skadden – October 2009
  • Snell & Wilmer, LLP – December 2009 ($5,000 stipend)
  • Sonnenschein – 20 associates have start dates between September 2009 and Fall 2010 ($5,000 stipend), but nine have been deferred to January 2011 (a paltry $10,000 stipend!)
  • Squire SandersJanuary 19, 2010 ($10,000 stipend)
  • Steptoe & Johnson – has not yet announced
  • Sullivan & Cromwell – November 2, 2009
  • Sutherland – January 2010 ($7,500 stipend)
  • Troutman Sanders – January 2010 (no stipend and no health insurance)
  • Venable – January 2010
  • Vinson & Elkins – November 2, 2009 or January 4, 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)
  • Wiley Rein – January 11, 2010 for some; October 2010 for others with $5K/month stipend
  • Willkie Farr – September 14, October 12, or November 23, 2009
  • WilmerHale – January 20 or March 17, 2010 ($10k stipend for Jan,; $15k stipend for March); also offering $75,000 stipend with fall 2010 deferral option
  • Wilson Sonsini – January, 2010 ($10,000 stipend)
  • Winstead – February, 2010
  • Winston and Strawn – January 19, 2010 ($15k stipend + health insurance)
  • Earlier: Previous Start Date Coverage on ATL