Get ready for the new $190K normal!
Yesterday Milbank — shall we say Thrillbank — rocked the Biglaw world by announcing associate raises across the board — to the tune of $10,000 to $15,000 depending on class year. Yesterday the litigation boutique of Hueston Hennigan matched, and today we’ve gotten word that Proskauer matched. Now Winston & Strawn is on board as an early adopter of the new pay scale, and it’d fair to say that three Biglaw firms make a trend!!
Winston associates will now be making the new market scale:
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Classes 2018/2017: $190,000
Class 2016: $200,000
Class 2015: $220,000
Class 2014: $250,000
Class 2013: $275,000
Class 2012: $295,000
Class 2011: $315,000
Class 2010: $330,000
Oh, and summer associates are getting in on the bigger payday too.
It remains to be seen exactly how many firms are ready to get on board with the new salaries. There’s been a growing gap between the very top of the Biglaw world and the rest. But if firms aren’t ready to pony up with what amounts to slight raise over a cost of living adjustment… that says a lot about their financial situation.
But for now, we know that Winston is ready to play with the big kids.
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Read the full Winston memo on the next page.
Kathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).