Skadden NALP Mystery Solved
For the past week, readers, commenters, tipsters, Steven Hawking and the Dalai lama have all been asking me what is going on with Skadden’s NALP form. If you look at the NALP directory of legal employers, you’ll notice that Skadden’s 2009 starting salary is listed as “TBD” — to be determined.
Well we finally have an official answer from the firm. The statement confirms what off-the-record sources and reasonably sane people have been saying all week: Skadden will still be paying $160,000 to first year associates.
After the jump, check out the firm’s salary statement.
Here is the official statement from Skadden:
The Firm can confirm starting salary will be $160,000 same as last year. Apparently it was just an oversight that the NALP form wasn’t completely filled out. ([T]hey plan to update it [today], though [we] don’t know how long it will take for the number to show up.)
As we understand it, it took Skadden management a long time to figure out why the NALP forms were incorrect, not a long time to decide what starting salaries would be next year.
Now that Skadden has corrected the clerical error on the NALP form, perhaps I can stop getting emails like these from concerned associates:
Mystttal. We’ve had our differences. You hate English and I hate you, but could you please stop eating and figure out what is going on at Skadden? I’ll give you a donut.
I really don’t like donuts.
Make Skadden come clean about their salary cuts. Make them. Make them now! What part of “job” do you not understand?
For my next trick, I will make the rains stop and the buffalo return. Worship me.
Thanks for nothing Ellie MysTTTal, I had to find out about my salary being cut from NALP. I hope you do get fired via Twitter.
I’m happy your salary has been returned to you. Perhaps now you can stop adding extra “L’s” and “T’s” to my name? Thanks.
Is there anything else I can be helpful with today?
Earlier: Skadden Summers: Welcome to the New Market Class of 2010 start dates pushed to 2011.
Nationwide Pay Freeze Watch: Skadden Freezes Counsel Salaries
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Comments
TTTurd
first, so fy mr firsty first
Hahaha, this post made me laugh on a sad morning.
Skattten
Why did Above the Law take down the Hogan post from yesterday?
This lawtweet chatblog server farm has really nuked the fridge.
As a Skadden associate, let me be the FIRST to say that I actually like Elie. Keep up the good work and ignore the ribbing. Envy comes in various shapes and forms.
what hogan post? i was not on ATL yesterday
Elie - please burn your voter registration card today. Thanks!
Dude, you are getting funnier, I swear.
"For my next trick, I will make the rains stop and the buffalo return. Worship me."
Ignore the haters -- that is laugh-out-loud stuff!
Elie - the opposite of love is not hate. The opposite of love is apathy. TTTTThat guy is definitely not apathetic about you. Keep up the good work.
I like Elie. Who gives a fuc* about grammar when you people spew racism, hatred, and homophobia on the comment boards like it's your job.
Not cutting now only means bigger cuts (and/or layoffs) later.
Great. I'm a fourth-tier mouth-breather, so it doesn't really matter to me anyway. Am I trolling? And seriously, what does TTT mean?
SKADDEN SECURE
For my next trick, I will make the rains stop and the buffalo return.
Planning a family reunion?
"For my next trick, I will make the rains stop and the buffalo return. Worship me. "
Not going to lie, this made me laugh a bit.
Elie doesn't like donuts? Didn't he recently order boxes of donuts from that NYU grad and posted pictures?
Stop lying!!
10 -- it is quite possible (and probable) that the "interns" are now ghost-writing for Elie. Would explain a lot.
actually hilarious. the truth is the only people that care about skadden are the people that work there. If you care about a firm you don't actually work for, you have deeper issues. On the other hand, a lot of people care about getting a one minute laugh break, and for that, I thank you Mr. Mystal.
Jesus Christ, people are crazy! Who writes e-mails like that?
freakin awesome.
skadden secure
-rising 2L bidding #1 on skadden.
Nice post Mystal! Use the rage you feel towards the haters.
What is this "Hogan post"? Plz explain.
Now how about a follow-up on the side-bar program? How many of the "oversubscribed" attorneys who opted for a year at 1/3 pay did Skadden let walk out the door? What if you were in the middle of a deal or litigation -- according to the NY Times piece Skadden targeted mid and senior associates. Were people told they could leave after their matters were resolved or transitioned? What happened to those who asked to go and were told they couldn't leave (if any)? You probably can only get this anecdotally, but how many of the 100+ associates who opted for the program jumped to another firm and pocketed the cash, as opposed to the assinine plan of traveling in Africa for a year that the NY Times suggested was every big law fifth year's dream?
ATL is big on regurgitating the PR fluff that's in the paper, but this is a big law v10 associate story. -- i.e. you're bread and butter. Do some f-cking digging already.
The ship be buoyant . . .
Skadden to 190k??!!??
Elie,
You get some humorous hate mail. Please make a post showing some of the better ones.
The Mystal be buoyant...
Oh good. Now I can sleep at night.
16 = Winner.
Kirkland's don't even have a TBD; they're just blank.
Elie, I used to hate you. I admit to posting at least 15 (okay, 30) "Suck it, MysTTTal"s back in January 09. Now, I must say, you're growing on me. I no longer crave a public firing by Lat. In fact, I would be sad if you were to leave. You have developed your own style, which is amusing, and less of a facade than Lat's royal "we". I also really, really love that you take the abuse in stride, and incorporate it back into your posts.
I would remind your detractors that there was no one better back in the days when we voted for you. Would you prefer "frolic and detour," or Arnie Becker to Mystal? They were both even worse.
That is all.
Good for you man.
I'm glad you have the guts to show up all the haters.
We love you, Elie.
Is there anything else I can be helpful with today?
Yes, you can wash your future posts clean of the compulsion to rant and rave about identity politics that verges on Tourette's. I make a point of not reading iblamethepatriarchy, racialicious, and the neverending series of livejournals dedicated to those issues because I don't want to be exposed to politicized ideological pabulum. If I could avoid that danger while visiting ATL, that'd be super. Thanks.
Nice way to answer your critics, Mr. Mystal--with wit and dignity.
25 is right -- A follow-up would be interesting.
Mystal, you are still fat and your moobs are covered in jesus juice.
Well played, Elie. Just embrace it.
Elie, please post more hate mail. That stuff is really funny.
22 is clearly a moron at a TTT school. Stay the hell away from this slave ship jackass!!!
Paul Hastings's NALP form has been reading TBD for months now. I'd like to think this is simply a clerical error as well - but this is Paul Hastings we are talking about.
elllllllllie mysttttttttttal
wow that feels good
This is the first thing MysTTTal's written that made me laugh. Good work!
Dear Client...the acquisition went through at $1 million. But you wanted $1 billion?! it was an oversight on our part. The form wasn't completely filled out. We forgot the extra zeros. -- Skadden
Hahahah - Good post Elie. Glad to see you can laugh off pathetic attempts by Skaddenites to insult you. They're at best thin-skinned babies, at worse, well, morons.
This made me LOL! Good job MysTTTal!
Irregardless of the fact that they haven't frozen salaries, the firm is still not as strong as it once was.
Moar posts like this and goat herder please.
skadden sux
"ATL is big on regurgitating the PR fluff that's in the paper, but this is a big law v10 associate story. -- i.e. you're bread and butter. Do some f-cking digging already."
i.e. you are bread and butter?
Does Paul Hasting's form still read TBD, or has it been fixed like Skadden's?
Moar secretarial ass pounding please.
Echo 11, 28 & 50
Non PEER
Oversight my ass. Sounds to me like they wanted to leave an opening to reduce starting salaries but ultimately decided against it.
33 = Elie
I'm disappointed. I was hoping that they would cut salaries. Though objectively speaking, that would probably go against my own interests. Still.
Our Editor is a wise man. We can all learn from the way he handles ridicule, stupidity and sincere questions.He handles them with grace, good humor, kindness, and he tries to answer the questions on the table.
He's not hiding behind a Wizard of Oz curtain. He's completely human, with occasional misspellings and a few extra pounds, needed by those as sensitive and aware as he. Those qualities are attributes that serve us all. They keep him humble and accessible. Good qualities to have on a site like this, where he sits as sort of a Super Dad to all us grumblers.
Its never good when a big firm does badly. The fact is, Skadden has more global presence than Cravath or S&C, and if they are doing badly, EVERYONE will do badly. They are pent up on corp or stuck in a redonkulous lease like Cravath, and are certainly more open about their situation than S&C. So I think how skadden does is a true indicator of the global work for lawyers.
The fact that they are holding steady is our last hope. If they start cutting (salaries) and running (out associates through layoffs), we are in BIG BIG trouble.
49 - "irregardless" is not a real word
Is there a minimum billable hour expectation? N
Can they now change this too, since it's NOT true?
Does the NALP form mean anything? My firm's NALP form says 160k, but when I asked them directly the told me nothing has been decided regarding salary.
Promissory Estoppel Guy
Elie, I love you too!
Elie, I love you too!
64--
No, it doesn't mean anything. The 1Ls and 2Ls that rummage around on this site think it does, though.
this is like that scene in the new WGWAG movie, "Ramen Girl" the DVD starring Brittany Murphy, when the acolyte finally does a good enough job in the eyes of the master. continue the good work elie!
62 -- of course "irregardless" is a word. What planet are you from?
I hope you aren't a lawyer.
Don't let Skadden fool you, that was not an oversight. Also, a significant number of Skadden associates had their salaries frozen at last year's levels. Skadden pulls the same slimy crap as every other firm, they just don't own up to it.
@70, you are right, the same happened to a lot of people i know as well. Skadden froze salaries, and paid full bonuses to less than half of the associates. Is everyone else blind or what??
Absolutely, 70 &71. They also dress up goats with one sparkly glove each and sacrifice them to the moon. if the goat moonwalks, a staff attorney is fired.
so racist.
you fat fuck.
20 - people care about Skadden and other top firms for two reasons: a) Skadden can move or set the market, and b) people like to see those at the top stumble
LOL @ 70 - 72, aka, the same poster. You're probably the same guy who writes SkaddenDC is having layoffs. Your trolling is getting old Skadden has not frozen salaries and did pay full bonuses to everyone who billed more than 1600 hours including pro bono. Those under 1600 hours were given half or in some cases, full bonuses.
It's not even worth signing this post as "V5 associate not at Skadden" because everyone just assumes that anytime you correct misinformation, you must be from the firm's PR department. Nevertheless ...
-V5 associate not at Skadden
49, 69 -
while "irregardless" might be a word, I hope you aren't using it as a lawyer.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/irregardless
74-Believe what you want but, why do you care so much if you don't work there? How the hell would you know what Skadden pays anyone if you're at another firm?
76 - I care because what Skadden does could affect my firm's decision (granted, we didn't follow their bonuses, but still).
Also, when you actually graduate law school and your friends start working at big firms, you'll learn a lot from talking to them. Back when I graduated law school, we didn't have this fancy ATL gossip blog - we learned about firms the old fashion way . . . from our friends that worked there.
I am at Skadden and I know that you don't necessarily learn a lot from talking to people because people don't necessarily tell the truth because they are ashamed to come out and tell their friends that they are the person who didn't get a raise or get a bonus. Skadden's not folding but, they do a lot of shitty underhanded things to people and god help you if your firm starts to make decisions based on what is deemed acceptable at Skadden.