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Career Center: What's in Store for New Associates

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Last week’s Career Center survey asked whether you think there will be enough work for the class of incoming associates at your firm.  The good news is that, despite the all the hype about some firms indefinitely deferring new associates, the vast majority — 91% — of new associates are starting at their firms in Fall 2009 or are scheduled to start in the first half of 2010.   The bad news is that a majority of respondents think there won’t be enough work for all this new blood, at least not in the practice areas they want to work in. 
Check out the full survey results after the jump, and visit the Career Center, powered by Lateral Link , for more on which firm unexpectedly pushed up start dates, the latest firm to offer new associates "walk-away" money, and a firm that has made major changes to their lock-step compensation structure. 
Survey results, after the jump.


Reports of deferred start dates get a lot of press, but the majority of new associates have either already started at their firms or will be starting over the next few months:

  • 54% of new associates are scheduled to start in Fall 2009;
  • 37% of new associates are scheduled to start in the first half of 2010;
  • 6% of new associates are indefinitely deferred; and
  • 3% of new associates are scheduled to start in the second half of 2010.

But over one-third of respondents said that existing associates are struggling to find enough work to make their own hours, so they do not expect there to be enough work for new associates.  Another 27% of respondents said that there will only be enough work if associates take on assignments outside of their chosen practice area.  Less than 40% of respondents felt there would be enough work to go around for the new associates in their preferred practice area.  

However, the majority of respondents — 70% — say they will make their hours this year.  As might be expected, an even higher percentage of litigators — 83% — expect to make their hours.  But almost a third of respondents won’t be making their hours this year: 20% said they are “way under,” and another 10% said that they are somewhat short of the magic number. 

As always, we encourage to send information about your law firm experience to careercenter@abovethelaw.com.
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