Biglaw

Top 25 Biglaw Firm Hands Out Even More Money (On Top Of Bonuses)

This firm cares about its everyone's mental health, and they're paying for it.

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Members of the legal profession are keenly aware that the pandemic has brought about even more stress and anxiety than usual. Working from home thanks to the coronavirus crisis completely stripped down the illusion of work-life balance, and many associates have found themselves forced into a situation where they’re constantly “on duty,” even more so than before the COVID-19 crush began.

But with a renewed focus on mental health, some Biglaw firms are trying to invest more heavily into their attorneys’ well-being. As luck would have it, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this week is Well-Being Week in Law. One top law firm, Goodwin Procter, is showing its lawyers the love this week, in the form of a $1,000 well-being payment for all eligible non-partner lawyers, science advisors, and science law clerks in good standing in the U.S., U.K., Hong Kong, and Luxembourg. Here’s an excerpt from a memo the firm sent out yesterday afternoon (full memo available on the next page):

As you continue to work extremely hard on behalf of our clients, we want to ensure that you are also taking care of yourself. To this end, we are awarding a one-time $1,000 wellbeing payment to all eligible non-partner lawyers, science advisors and science law clerks in good standing. The gross payment of $1,000 (minus applicable taxes) will be paid in the May payroll to those employed on this month’s payroll date who have not given notice.

You may use this $1,000 payment however you would like to engage in self-care and to defray costs you have incurred during this extended period of remote work – like takeout meals while working long hours or new exercise equipment. You will not need to submit receipts.

Goodwin is continuing to make an effort to support its employees during these trying times. If you recall, the firm previously handed out $1,500 in two separate payments to defray the costs of working from home (e.g., well-being, meals, technology, supplies, and other expenses incurred due to remote work). At the same time, the firm announced special bonuses for paralegals, ranging from $8,000 to $20,000, depending on seniority and hours billed (memo available on the next page). The firm is really doing its part to make up for the fact that it earlier conducted a series of staff and attorney layoffs during the height of the pandemic.

As always, we depend on you when it comes to bonus news at other firms. As soon as your firm’s bonus memo comes out, please email it to us (subject line: “[Firm Name] Bonus”) or text us (646-820-8477). Please include the memo if available. You can take a photo of the memo and send it via text or email if you don’t want to forward the original PDF or Word file.

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Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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