Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day.
This really is supply and demand. If the demand is there, then we’re going to continue seeing the signing bonuses. And then when the market cools off and associates have fewer options, firms won’t have to offer the signing bonuses.
— Stephanie Biderman, a partner in the associate practice of Major, Lindsey & Africa, in comments reported by the ABA Journal, concerning the recent resurgence of signing bonuses for lateral associates. As firms compete for talent in high-demand practice areas, some associates are once again being offered extra cash to make the jump. But as Biderman notes, those lucrative offers may disappear just as quickly when the lateral market cools.
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of 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 Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.