Biglaw

Biglaw Firm Disappoints With Convoluted Bonus Formula With High Billable-Hour Requirement

But even the highest billers might not make market bonuses.

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Dear all: Good afternoon.

We would like to acknowledge your hard work under very difficult circumstances.  Your creativity, collaboration, and grit – and continued focus on knowing our clients and their business needs – have helped the firm achieve better than expected results this year.

We are pleased to announce the following discretionary bonus scale for the 2020 associate billable year:

2013 (and senior) $100,000
2014 $  90,000
2015 $  80,000
2016 $  65,000
2017 $  50,000
2018 $  25,000
2019 $  15,000

Bonuses will be paid to all eligible associates who meet our quality, firm citizenship, and minimum hours expectations.  Associates will need to have achieved a minimum of 2,000 billable hours, which includes unlimited pro bono hours if you achieved at least 1,850 billable hours.

As is our standard practice, bonus awards may be adjusted upward to reflect outstanding contributions significantly in excess of expectations.

We are also pleased to announce that this year we will pay a special bonus to associates in good standing.  The special bonus will be paid to all first and second year associates, and to those third year and more senior associates who have achieved at least 1,900 billable hours.  Amounts up to $40,000 will be awarded and will vary by class and level of achievement.  Our senior associates at the top of the scale have the potential to receive a total bonus amount of $160,000.

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You will receive a separate communication later this month regarding your individual bonus amounts as well as your compensation level for 2021.

Bonuses will be paid on December 31, 2020.  Associates will need to be employed and in good standing, which includes entering and closing time on a timely basis, at the time bonuses are paid.  Associates who joined the firm between November 1, 2019 and July 31, 2020, who have a reduced billable hour expectation, or who were on leave during a portion of the year will be eligible to receive pro-rated bonuses, provided they otherwise meet our firm’s expectations.

Again, your contributions are critical to the success of our firm — and that is all the more true this year, which has been a year unlike any other. On behalf of our partners, we sincerely thank you for your many efforts.

Best, Richard

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