Deferral Stipend, Start Dates

Nationwide Start Date Round-Up: Who's making contact in 2010?

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The big day is almost here for many young lawyers. Recent law grads nestling up in their beds have visions of Blackberries dancing in their heads.
January 2010 will bring start dates for many bound for Biglaw firms. But some firms have had second thoughts. Winston Strawn and Nixon Peabody recently informed incoming associates of more deferrals.
This has made lots of young lawyers nervous. Brian Baxter at AmLaw Daily wants to help calm your nerves, so he surveyed over 40 top firms to ask whether their little associates can count on start dates coming down the chimney. Over half responded.
We’ve noticed that Paul Hastings-bound associates have been especially vociferous in our comments section. They can stop flipping out. According to a spokesman there, the firm plans to start them “on time” in January.
Given recent news and the AmLaw survey, we’ve decided to update our start date round-up. After the jump, we’ve got a new list of start dates at firms nationwide, sorted two ways: alphabetically by firm name and chronologically by start date.


We consider this 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.
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 FIRM
  • Akin Gump – January 2010 ($10,000 stipend), or March 2010 ($15,000 stipend); September 14, 2009 for some Houston associates
  • Allen & Overy – September 21, 2009

    • Sponsored

  • Alston & Bird – January 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)
  • Baker Botts – November 16th, 2009 (Houston office)

    • Sponsored

  • Baker Hostetler – October 15, 2009
  • Baker & McKenzie – January 2010 (no stipend)
  • Bingham McCutchen – January 28, 2010 ($10,000 stipend). Ten associates started earlier though — in October — reports AmLaw Daily.
  • Blank Rome – January 2010 for most, indefinite deferral for others, reports AmLaw Daily
  • 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 & Dodge – March 1, 2010
  • Faegre & Benson – October 2009 for some; January 2010 for others ($7,500 stipend); Indefinite for others, reports AmLaw Daily
  • 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). Four lucky new associates started in October 2009, reports AmLaw Daily.
  • Greenberg Traurig – January 2010
  • Hogan & Hartson – November 30, 2009
  • Holland & Knight – January 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) and October 2010, per a summer announcement.
  • Kaye Scholer – January 11, 2010
  • Kilpatrick Stockton — April 2010 ($17,000 stipend)
  • King & Spalding – January 19, 2010. Eighteen of the 44 deferred started earlier though, reports AmLaw Daily.
  • 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); and October 2010, with a $5K monthly stipend, per a December announcement.
  • McDermott Will & Emory – Deferred indefinitely with a $5,000/month stipend, per a December announcement.
  • 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)
  • Nixon Peabody – January 2010 for one third of incoming class. The other 2/3 are deferred indefinitely, per a December announcement.
  • O’Melveny & Myers – December 2009
  • Orrick – January 2010; March 2010; or Winter 2010 ( $60,000 “honorarium”)
  • 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 – January 2010 for 32 incoming associates with another 22 deferred until January 2011, reports AmLaw Daily
  • 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 & Gray – January 2010 (no stipend)
  • Schiff Hardin – January 2010
  • Schulte Roth & Zabel – January 28, 2010 ($20k stipend); Limited number of public interest deferrals until Fall 2010 ($70,000 stipend)
  • Seyfarth Shaw – October 2010 with a $2K/month stipend, per a November announcement
  • 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 Sanders – January 19, 2010 ($10,000 stipend)
  • Steptoe & Johnson – has not yet announced
  • Stroock – January 2010
  • Sullivan & Cromwell – November 2, 2009
  • Sutherland – January 2010 ($7,500 stipend)
  • Troutman Sanders – January 2010 (no stipend and no health insurance); Twelve associates will start later in the year, reports AmLaw Daily
  • 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 – February 1, 2010; June 1, 2010; or October 4, 2010. ($15k stipend + health insurance) The firm originally had a January start date but announced new deferral in November, and will give late starters a $3,300 monthly stipend.

    • START DATES, ORGANIZED BY DATE
    Ed. note: Some firms appear on multiple dates, as they’ve offered a mix of dates and deferral options
    Deferred Indefinitely
    * McDermott Will & Emory – $5,000/month stipend, per a December announcement.
    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
    * Bingham McCutchen
    * 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
    * 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
    * 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 — one third of class starts. The other 2/3 are deferred indefinitely, per a December announcement.
    * Orrick
    * Paul Hastings – $10,000 stipend, optional health insurance coverage
    * Pepper Hamilton
    * Perkins Coie – $7,500 stipend
    * Pillsbury
    * Proskauer Rose – $10,000 stipend
    * Quarles & Brady
    * Ropes & Gray
    * Schiff Hardin
    * Schulte Roth & Zabel – $20,000 stipend
    * Squire Sanders – $10,000 stipend
    * Stroock
    * 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
    FEBRUARY 2010
    * Arent Fox – $5,000 stipend
    * Buchanan Ingersoll
    * Foley Lardner – $10,000 stipend
    * Katten – $15,000 stipend
    * Winstead
    * Winston and Strawn – $15,000 stipend + health insurance
    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
    June 2010
    * Winston and Strawn – $15,000 stipend + health insurance, plus $3,300 monthly stipend starting in February
    “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
    * Katten
    * Latham & Watkins – $75,000 stipend
    * Mayer Brown – $5,000 monthly stipend
    * Morgan Lewis
    * Seyfarth Shaw – $2,000 monthly stipend, per a November announcement
    * Sonnenschein – $5,000 stipend
    * Wiley Rein – $5,000 monthly stipend
    * Winston and Strawn – $15,000 stipend + health insurance, plus $3,300 monthly stipend starting in February
    “WINTER 2010”
    * Orrick – $60,000 “honorarium”
    JANUARY 2011
    * Pillsbury
    * Proskauer Rose – $60,000 stipend with pro bono work
    * Sonnenschein – $10,000 stipend
    * Weil Gotshal – $75,000 stipend with public interest work

    We got confirmation that Paul Hastings will be starting new associates in January. Baxter at AmLaw Daily got confirmation from these firms:

    Incoming classes at Andrews Kurth, Bryan Cave, Cooley Godward Kronish, Davis Wright Tremaine, Dewey & LeBoeuf, DLA Piper, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, K&L Gates, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, Quarles & Brady, Ropes & Gray, Schiff Hardin, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, Venable, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati are all on track to begin working at their respective firms in January, those firms told us.
    Katten Muchin Rosenman is starting its incoming class on February 1, the first day of the firm’s fiscal year, while Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe newcomers are still slated to begin at their firm in January and March…
    Another spokeswoman for Greenberg Traurig told us that the firm’s individual offices make their own decisions about start dates, but that most first-years would start by January.

    For those firms starting new associates in January, we hope you’re excited to bring them in. For those getting ready to start, enjoy your last month of freedom. And for those lucky associates who have been slaving away for a few months already, congrats!
    Earlier: Previous Start Date Coverage on ATL
    Tales of the Deferred: Will Other Firms Follow Nixon Peabody? [AmLaw Daily]

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