Big Law Bonus Continues, Law Blog above the low Most of the big companies paid $115,000 for the 2015 class, but smaller boutiques often beat the big low. Competitors in terms of payments.
The so-called Cravath Scale also showed that the law firm of the same name paid $105,000 less than that figure.
The ATL table changes regularly, but the 2015 class cap is $115,000. Baker McKenzie was the first big company to announce bonuses, followed by Boyes-Shiller Flexner.
Cravus, Swain & Moore; McDermott Will & Emery; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Marr & Fromm.
small business bonus
Smaller firms such as Selendy Gay Elsberg outperformed larger law firm rivals in seniority-based awards in the 2015 class with as much as $126,500 and associate bonuses. Litigation shop workload continues to increase post-Covid and bonus payments are increasing.
Selendy Gay bonuses for around 50 associates start at $16,500. Typical bonus rates for large law firms range from $15,000 to $115,000.
And Selendy Gay’s attorneys will receive an unspecified additional bonus based on an unusual “holistic assessment of performance and commitment.”
Another boutique law firm that beat out larger legal rivals is Susman Godfrey (paying senior associates an average of $160,000). Wilkinson Stekloff; Reid Collins & Tsai also beat big law firms in year-end bonuses.
business hours
As always, working hours affect the bonus amount. Not all companies publicly disclose their requirements, but typically there is a special bonus for exceeding 2,300 to 2,500 hours and a special bonus for exceeding 2,400 to 2,600 hours. (when using Boies Schiller terminology) or “supplemental” (when using Fried Frank terminology).
Companies also count pro bono hours.
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