UPDATE (12/21/2016, 10:55 a.m.): Thanks, Kirkland tipsters, for all the additional data points on K&E bonuses.
Kirkland & Ellis has started spreading holiday cheer, making calls and scheduling meetings with associates to inform them of exactly where they sit on K&E’s naughty and nice list. The good news is that associates seem to be getting above-market bonuses. The bad news is that we don’t know if these reports are universal or not.
Because, of course, Kirkland is one of those firms that distributes its bonuses individually, making it harder to report on. But with your help we’ll bust this closed system wide open. If you’re at Kirkland, let us know what you’re getting or what you’re hearing from others. We keep everything anonymous and we’ll obscure identifying details.
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But until we get more intel, here’s what the first tipsters have reported:
Midlevel with above class rating, 2400-2500 hours. Got 1.3x market. Not thrilled. People with a lower rating and sub-2000 hours are still getting above market bonuses, which is great for them, but I feel like a sucker for working harder.
But work is its own reward! This is precisely why I never liked individualized bonuses. With a lockstep system, everyone feels like they’re treated fairly even if the fickle billable gods mean you work 2500 hours one year and merely 2100 the next.
Kirkland associates getting bonus calls and meetings. As always, individualized, but medians are over market. Class of 2011, average hours… just north of $100k.
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As a reminder, the Cravath-dictated market scale for 2011 is $80K, so that’s a nice premium.
But give us more tips to work with, Kirkland people! Email us (subject line: “[Firm Name] Bonus”) or text us (646-820-8477) with your bonus experience. We’ll keep you anonymous, but everyone benefits the more information we have.
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UPDATE (12/21/2016, 10:55 a.m.): For more info on K&E bonuses, see here.
Joe Patrice is an editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news.