Compensation
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Evan Caminker, Law Professors, Law School Deans, Law Schools, Money
Michigan, Your Law Dean Earns How Much a Year?
Three years at Michigan Law prices out to $194,148, and that's assuming that Michigan doesn't raise tuition while you are there. One would expect a significant amount of that high tuition goes toward making Michigan Law what it is, and keeping the professional opportunities rolling for Michigan graduates. Apparently, keeping Michigan Law what it is involves paying Michigan Law Dean Evan Caminker quite a tidy sum.... -
Associate Bonus Watch 2011, Biglaw, Bonuses, Job Survey, Money, Reader Polls
Bonus Season Blues
Perhaps you’ve already heard that Cravath announced its 2011 bonus scale on Monday (swiftly followed by Skadden and Milbank), and apparently it’s 2009 all over again. We can’t help but wonder if this bonus season’s dyspepsia is typical of lawyers and law students generally.... - Sponsored
Early Adopters Of Legal AI Gaining Competitive Edge In Marketplace
How to best leverage generative AI as an early adopter with ethical use. -
Associate Bonus Watch 2011, Biglaw, Bonuses
Associate Bonus Watch: Milbank Matches -- or Beats? -- Cravath and Skadden
Milbank Tweed matched the Cravath bonus scale for 2011. But wait -- did Milbank perhaps beat the Cravath and Skadden bonus scales? Let's look at the details of the Milbank bonus announcement....
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Associate Bonus Watch 2011, Biglaw, Bonuses, Holy Crap, Money
Breaking: Cravath Bonuses Are Out; Welcome to the 2011 Bonus Season!
It took a little longer than most of you expected, but Cravath, Swaine & Moore just announced its 2011 associate bonuses. Barring something very unforeseen, these bonuses are what many Biglaw firms, in New York and across the land, will pay out this year to their people. Historically Cravath has set the market with respect to year-end associate bonuses at major law firms. Let's take a look at the official memorandum, and engage in some analysis.... -
Associate Salaries, Biglaw, Money, NALP, National Association for Law Placement (NALP), Texas
NALP 'Buying Power' Index Says Everything Is Bigger in Texas
The National Association for Law Placement has produced an extremely useful chart for people trying to figure out where to start their Biglaw careers. They've listed the cities that give you the most bang for your buck if you land a high paying Biglaw job. And boy, are New York City associates going to feel stupid.... -
In-House Counsel, Job Searches, Money
House Rules: In-House for Life?
So you’ve decided to take the plunge in-house. You have likely had to accept a pay cut. Not the worst thing to have happen, given that you’re about to get your life back. But most in-house counsel do not make the mid-six figure salaries of senior associates, or junior partners.... -
Associate Bonus Watch 2011, Biglaw, Bonuses, Citigroup, Money, Partner Issues
Biglaw Starts To Manage Expectations About Bonuses
The first bit of bonus news has leaked out of Biglaw. We're not talking about spring bonuses, and we're not talking about random mid-year bonuses. We're talking about regular, end-of-the-year, take-it-to-the-champagne-room bonuses. And sure, the early news is bad, but that's to be expected. This first report is just what Biglaw wants you to hear. But if the past year in bonus news proves anything, it's that Cravath sets the bonus market, even when they do it late.... -
9th Circuit, Clerkships, Diarmuid O'Scannlain, Federal Government, Federal Judges, Money
Federal Law Clerks: No Pay Raise for You!
People don't clerk for the money. Sure, clerkship bonuses can be considerable -- but in most cases, a graduate who goes straight into a law firm will do better financially than her classmate who clerks after graduation. If you're planning to clerk or interested in clerking for a federal judge, you should be aware of the latest news about law clerk compensation.... - Sponsored
The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
ChatGPT ushers in the age of generative AI – even for law firms. -
Biglaw, Bonuses, Clerkships, Fabulosity, Money, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Supreme Court Clerks
Supreme Court Clerk Bonuses Are Heading Higher
As in past years, many of the October Term 2010 Supreme Court law clerks are joining private law firms -- which welcome them with six-figure signing bonuses. These bonuses are paid on top of base salaries reflecting their seniority, as well as the usual year-end bonuses. For the past few years, law firm signing bonuses for members of The Elect have hovered around $250,000. But this year, at least a few firms are offering even more. So how much are we talking about? -
Associate Salaries, Biglaw, Money, Schiff Hardin, Summer Associates
Nationwide Pay Raise Watch: Schiff Hardin (Plus offer rate news.)
August is a boring month, but we still have pockets of law firm news to report, here and there. Today's dispatch comes from Schiff Hardin, which earlier this month announced an associate pay raise.... -
Feminism, Gender, General Counsel, In-House Counsel, J. Michael Luttig, Money, Rankings, Women's Issues
Who Are America's Best-Paid General Counsel?
Who are America's most well-paid general counsel? Corporate Counsel magazine has just released its annual list - and women have made some major strides forward. -
Small Law Firms
Size Matters: Time To Get All Nancy Grace On You
It has been a while since I took the S.A.T, but here goes. Nancy Grace: Casey Anthony Verdict; Valerie Katz: ________. A. Ramona Singer Pinot Grigio; B. Biglaw Spring Bonuses; C. Closed Compensation Model in Small Firms; D. All of the above; E. None of the above. Correct Answer: C. I, like Ms. Grace about […] -
Job Survey, Money, Small Law Firms
Size Matters: Salary Survey Results
I know that all of you have been anxiously awaiting the results of the salary survey. I had envisioned the results post to be equal in excitement to the results shows for American Idol or Dancing With The Stars. Indeed, in anticipation of this monumental post, I commissioned a group of MIT grad students to […]
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Early Adopters Of Legal AI Gaining Competitive Edge In Marketplace
How to best leverage generative AI as an early adopter with ethical use.
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Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
The rise of remote work has dramatically reshaped the relationship between Lawyers and Law Firms, see how Scale LLP has taken the steps to get…
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Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
If 2023 introduced legal professionals to generative AI, then 2024 will be when law firms start adapting to utilize it. Things are moving fast, so…
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The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
ChatGPT ushers in the age of generative AI – even for law firms.
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Education / Schools, Job Searches, Money, Paralegals
The Value of a Paralegal Degree: Experts Weigh In
One week ago, in our advice column, Pls Hndle Thx, Marin and Elie tackled the topic of paralegal education. The question presented: the usefulness of an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree in Paralegal Studies in securing gainful employment as a paralegal. For the record, Pls Hndle Thx should not be viewed as a straight-up advice […] -
Advertising, Job Searches, Law Schools, Money, Practical Law Company (PLC), Shameless Plugs, Summer Associates, This Is an Ad, Videos
ATL Webcast: Career Advice for This Summer (Part 6):What NOT to do: potential pitfalls for summer associates.
In prior installments of our Above the Law webcast offering career advice for this summer, graciously sponsored by our friends at the Practical Law Company, we’ve focused on what law students should do in order to make the most of their summers. We’ve discussed such subjects as how to find summer jobs, how to network, […] -
Biglaw, Job Searches, Money, New York Times
Not on the Partner Track -- and Maybe That's Okay
Today’s New York Times has a front-page story by Catherine Rampell entitled At Well-Paying Law Firms, a Low-Paid Corner. The article focuses on the phenomenon of “career associates” or “permanent associates” at large law firms. These lawyers are not eligible for partnership consideration and earn less than traditional associates, but they do enjoy a better […] -
Law Professors, Law School Deans, Law Schools, Money, Student Loans, Texas
Your Tuition Dollars Hard At Work
We know that tuition keeps going up at American law schools. And, for the most part, we know where the money goes. Law schools use tuition money and alumni donations to fund capital projects and law professor salaries. And, at some schools, the law school kicks back some money to the larger university. Law schools […] -
Money, Small Law Firms
Size Matters: Show Me The Money Part Deux
If you ask me, I think that the insights offered in this column are all that you need to succeed as a small-firm attorney. I have received many emails, however, suggesting that facts might be as valuable as my opinions. Of course, that’s crazy. Recently I received an email from a young small-firm associate who […] -
Associate Bonus Watch 2010, Associate Salaries, Biglaw, Bonuses, Constitutional Law, Gay, King & Spalding, Legal Ethics, Money, Partner Issues, Politics
King & Spalding: More DOMA Drama, Plus Salary and Bonus News
Some people, including crisis communications experts, think that King & Spalding should just shut up already about the DOMA debacle. The firm agreed to represent the House of Representatives in defending the controversial Defense of Marriage Act, and then almost immediately turned around and withdrew from the representation. This prompted the departure from the firm […] -
Associate Salaries, Biglaw, Career Center, Job Survey, Killing Lockstep, Money, Shameless Plugs, This Is an Ad
Career Center Survey Results: Comparing Compensation Systems
Back in 2009, when killing lockstep was all the rage, a number of large law firms announced that they would be moving to some form of a merit-based compensation system. Now that we’re a few years into those systems, how many firms have stuck with the plan? And which systems do associates prefer? Of the […]