Many associates on the West Coast seem to be waiting for Godot when it comes to their firms announcing the adoption of new $205K market salaries, but other firms have quickly gotten in gear and decided to pay associates what they owe them for their intense dedication.
One of those firms is Munger Tolles & Olson, a preeminent Am Law 200 firm that we’ve likened to the Wachtell of the West for attracting top talent. Today, perhaps in celebration of winning the Affordable Care Act case before the Supreme Court, the firm decided to match the new salary scale. If you’ve somehow forgotten, this is what it looks like at the firm:
- 2021: $202,500
- 2020: $205,000
- 2019: $215,000
- 2018: $240,000
- 2017: $275,000
- 2016: $305,000
- 2015: $330,000
- 2014: $350,000
- 2013+: $365,000

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In even brighter news, the firm is making its match for summer associates retroactive to the beginning of the summer. That’s a pretty nice hike.
Congratulations to everyone at Munger Tolles on their raises — especially the law students, who will now be the highest paid of all summer associates on this pay scale. Will any other law firms match Munger Tolles & Olson’s generosity towards summer associates? We certainly hope so!
(Flip to the next page to see the full memo from Munger Tolles & Olson.)
We depend on your tips to stay on top of this stuff. So when your firm matches, please text us (646-820-8477) or email us (subject line: “[Firm Name] Matches”). 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 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.