Biglaw

Elite Biglaw Firms Are Offering More Special Rewards To Keep Their Stressed-Out Associates Happy

A kind way to thank associates and staff for their nonstop work during the pandemic.

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Remember last spring, when Biglaw firms were not only offering their associates piles of special bonus cash, but some were also offering additional perks like free food, up to $15K for any purchase toward rest, recreation, and relaxation, and a curated selection of high-end items and experiences? Rewards like this definitely help with recruiting and retaining associates during white-hot lateral markets, and with associates still working harder than ever, those special thank-you gifts are making a big return.

Kirkland & Ellis, for example, recently announced that it would be offering $1,000 vouchers for both associates and nonequity partners around the world to spend on activities outside of work. Staff received a bonus and an additional holiday as their rewards for working so hard. The American Lawyer has more details:

In a statement, firm chairman Jon A. Ballis said time off is “essential,” and that the firm also intended it as a thank-you for its lawyers’ hard work during a difficult time.

“We are committed to their wellbeing and focused on offering innovative benefits and initiatives to support their lives both at work and at home. We are really pleased to see them taking time to connect with family and friends, travel, pursue hobbies, and rest and recharge,” Ballis said.

Wilson Sonsini, on the other hand, is offering both lawyers and staff up to two weeks of special paid time off (time off that comes in addition to their regular vacation days). Perhaps most importantly for lawyers, that special time off will count towards their billable hours. The firm is also offering free, on-demand support for employees’ mental health needs in the form of virtual appointments with behavioral health coaches.

“All of those things tie into retention too, because if people are going to burn out, they’ll feel compelled to go somewhere else or leave the workforce,” [Cherie Beffa, director of attorney recruiting at the firm,] said. “Especially in this hyper-competitive recruiting market right now, people are reexamining: ‘Do I want to keep doing this? Or go in-house?’ So taking time you need and time to have conversations, I think, absolutely does help with recruiting and retention.”

When cash isn’t enough, it’s time to show associates that the firm actually cares about their well-being during these unprecedented times. What will your firm do to compete in the intense hunt for attorney talent?

What’s Driving Top Firms to Pay Lawyers More to Do Less? [American Lawyer]

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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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