Clerkships, Federal Government, Money, Salary Freeze

All Rise: Promotion and Pay Freeze on Federal Law Clerks Has Been Lifted

By Elie Mystal

Oh yes, it’s time federal clerks got back to the good life. A memo went out yesterday from Senior Judge Thomas Hogan who heads the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Hogan informed the system that the freeze on promotions, step increases, and cash awards for federal clerks has been lifted for this year. It’s cool to be a federal clerk again! Well, it’s cool to be a federal clerk on a two-year or long term clerkship, again. But maybe only for this moment. Austerity could rear her ugly head right around the corner….

Associate Bonus Watch 2010, Associate Salaries, Biglaw, Bonuses, Money, Salary Freeze, Silicon Valley

Associate Salary Watch: Wilson Sonsini Restores Pay to Pre-Freeze Scale

By David Lat

It appears that Larry Sonsini, chairman and name partner of the high-powered Wilson Sonsini law firm, is a very good golfer. Earlier this year, while playing golf to celebrate his 70th birthday, the legendary lawyer scored a hole in one. Sonsini isn’t the only one who’s scoring over at 650 Page Mill Road. His partners […]

Clerkships, Department of Justice, Federal Government, Money, Salary Freeze, Wall Street

Federal Lawyers: Hope You’ll Still Enjoy Your 2010 Salary in 2012

By Elie Mystal

There was a time in this country where the holiday season was a time to be rewarded for a good year of work. People received bonuses. People received pay raises, so their salaries could keep pace with their growing experience and maturity (or at least keep up with inflation). The America where that kind of […]

Associate Bonus Watch 2009, Associate Salaries, Bonuses, Killing Lockstep, Money, Salary Freeze

Nationwide Pay Raise Watch: Pillsbury Winthrop

By David Lat

Back in February, we wrote about various compensation developments over at Pillsbury Winthrop. At the time, the firm said it was considering moving away from a lockstep model in favor of a more performance-based compensation system. The firm has not yet killed killed lockstep — a move that has historically generated mixed to negative reviews […]

Associate Salaries, Killing Lockstep, Salary Cuts, Salary Freeze

Winston & Strawn Kills Lockstep and Adopts a ‘Black Box’ Compensation System

By David Lat

Friday brought good news and bad news for Winston & Strawn associates. The good news is that the double salary freeze, which has apparently resulted in first- through third-year associates at Winston all earning $160,000, may be thawing. Managing partner Thomas Fitzgerald sent a memo — this time to its intended recipients — indicating that […]

Associate Bonus Watch 2009, Associate Salaries, Killing Lockstep, Money, Salary Freeze

Pillsbury: Raises, Bonuses, and Other Sundries

By Elie Mystal

It looks like Pillsbury is back to communicating important information via firm-wide memo, instead of via cell phone conversation on the Acela. Yesterday, the firm indicated that it is thinking about moving away from lockstep associate compensation, but it is not killing lockstep just yet. Instead, Pillsbury announced lockstep raises — they’ll be true up […]

Associate Bonus Watch 2008, Layoffs, Salary Freeze, Staff Layoffs

Nationwide Layoff Watch: Major Downsizing at Wilson Sonsini (45 Lawyers, 68 Staffers)

By Elie Mystal

Major news coming out of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. The firm just announced that 45 attorneys and 68 staff were laid off: [I]t is with regret that we announce that the firm will be downsizing our associate, legal support, and administrative ranks, with 45 attorneys and 68 staff directly affected. Members and staff managers […]