Individualized bonuses are always a bit of a mixed bag. Sometimes associates are happy — even beating the market standard — and other times the lack of transparency come bonus time is designed to lowball associates. But the reports we are getting out of Sidley Austin seem to be glowing.
On Friday, the firm gave word that the annual bonuses were on their way, and now we are getting feedback based on those numbers. So far, it has been universally positive.

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Our tipsters’ paydays have ranged from market levels to above market, setting up a very happy holiday indeed:
I’m pleased it’s market. Rumor was it wasn’t going to be market until the
AT&T merger.
Everyone I know is pleased, at or above market (for higher billers)
Sidley associate reporting in… got market bonus in LA with about
2100 hours
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I billed well over the minimum for bonus (2400+) and got $10k over market.
[R]eceived full Cravath scale despite some extenuating circumstances that caused me to miss hours. Very happy.
So, Sidley attorneys, is everyone as happy as our assortment of tipsters? Feel free to sound off by email, by text message (646-820-8477), or by tweet (@ATLblog). All complaints (or additional praise) will be kept anonymous — and could find its way into an update to this story.
Please help us help 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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Kathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).