O: Class of 2005

We are pleased to advise you that we are increasing base salaries retroactive to January 1, 2007. The salary for
most associates in the class of 2005 will be increased from $155,000 to
$170,000. Increases will be reflected in paychecks of February 15th and
retroactive payments will be made only to those attorneys who are employed
with the Firm on February 15th.

Annual bonuses will be determined at year end based upon individual performance, levels of activity in the Firm's practice areas and the economic environment as it affects our Firm.

We thank you for your continued commitment and
dedication.

SASM&F

"Most associates" probably refers those who didn't make billables in one or more of the previous years and thus didn't get the full raise? Just guessing.

O: Class of 2005

We are pleased to advise you that we are increasing base salaries retroactive to January 1, 2007. The salary for
most associates in the class of 2005 will be increased from $155,000 to
$170,000. Increases will be reflected in paychecks of February 15th and
retroactive payments will be made only to those attorneys who are employed
with the Firm on February 15th.

Annual bonuses will be determined at year end based upon individual performance, levels of activity in the Firm's practice areas and the economic environment as it affects our Firm.

We thank you for your continued commitment and
dedication.

SASM&F

The Dude: most firms just don't give those people a bonus I thought? At my firm you don't get a bonus if you don't make your hours, but you ALWAYS get the standard class year raise.

What?:

My firm doesnt give a bonus if you dont hit 2000, but you dont advance a class year if you dont hit some lesser number (maybe 1700?).

"most associates" means the rest will be shown the door?

Also I really hope that someone does a reply-to-all on that e-mail.

"Most associates" is probably a reference to part-time associates. I highly doubt Skadden is signaling anything. You people are pret-ty excitable.

Also, what is the summer associate salary status?

Anyone other than STB announce?

Is the raise for all offices? Do all skadden offices also get the same bonuses?

David: How about redacting the names of the Skadden associates while keeping the essential info? I'm sure some of those people would not appreciate having their salary AND their name (in the same document) broadcast to the world. Let your clever readers deduce who is making what, if they really want to know.

I'm sure Richard J Zuromski Jr. wants everyone to know that, even though he went to Loyola Law School, he made it.

"most" is probably used because some of the 2003 associates make more than their peers due to an advanced degree or the like.

Anon at 8:14: I don't think firms make those distinctions. I think if anything they just make you a higher class year. Anyone at a firm that actually pays different salaries to full time associates of the same year? Just curious.

From the memo posted with names, I went to Skadden's website. There are associates from every office on that list. Thus, the raise is for all offices.

"most" has no underlying meaning - no one would get paid less than this amount.

Class of 1999 on up moved from $250,000 to $280,000. As always, Skadden has no matched at the senior levels.

class of 2006 got a memo raising to $160,000

I'm just glad to see my old boyfriend from the Fernald School in Waltham is doing so well!

I'm just glad to see my ex-boyfriend from Fernald is doing so well!

I am just a simple landscaper from the midwest but these salaries seem sinful.

Clay, I too used be a landscaper (and it was fun). But then I decided to go to college and law school (both also fun). Now I herd sheep, but my classmates who work all the time deserve a lot of money. It's not sinful, it's fun!

OK, I am a SASMF '03 and I have no email. I also have no idear why.

Better call Jodie Garfinkle

Never mind. Silly me. My outlook has been down since Wednesday morning. Glad the gun wasn't loaded.

Ok, why do we care about Shanetta Cutlar right now? Eyes on the prize David Lat.

"most" means some will get more, some will get less, most will get the same. now, that's an idear.

I think "most" means all but those who work less than 3000 hours a year. Slackers!

Given the sinfulness of these salaries, would anyone be willing to donate anything to my community's house of worship, Cedarville Baptist Church? We've needed a new roof for years, and it really is the center of our community. Thanks in advance for your kind responses.

Anonymous 11:53: Why do you care so much about money?

Anonymous 11:53: Why do you care so much about money?

Hey there "anonymous." Thanks for compounding the issue by using my name in your post. If you are going to make your comments personal, at least get some balls and use your name.

Hey there "anonymous." Thanks for posting my name a second time - I really do appreciate it. But if you are going to make these posts a personal attack, why not get some balls and use your real name.

Hey there "anonymous." Thanks for posting my name a second time - I really do appreciate it. But if you are going to make these posts a personal attack, why not get some balls and use your real name.

Hey there "anonymous." Thanks for posting my name a second time - I really do appreciate it. But if you are going to make these posts a personal attack, why not get some balls and use your real name.

I think you should remove the names of the people in the email.

I doubt Lat will do that. Names and other proper nouns generate Google and other search engine traffic.

Anyway, why? These people are all on the Skadden website. This is all public information, available to anyone with an internet connection.

any word on if the raise will apply to summers as well?

of course it will apply to summers

Here's a thought: when I started law school - starting salary in NY was 125K. Now the starting salary is 160K and it's a change that reflects the market value of recent graduates. However, the bonus given to people who clerk has remained at 15K. Every year law firms raise their salaries only increases the amount of money students give up in order to clerk. That amount is now more than 110K. True that clerks benefit from the prestige of clerkships on the resume, but most have just as many loans to pay and I refuse to believe the value of an associate has appreciated but the value of a law clerk has not. If law firms want to attract clerks, it's about time that they raise the clerkship bonus to reflect the change in market.

futurelawclerk: what are you going to do if clerkship bonuses don't increase? i bet you'll still end up at a firm. base salaries in new york went up because of pressure from the non-legal market. but i-banks don't really care if you clerked.

futurelawclerk:

I'm not sure what level of clerkship you are talking about, but I know some firms will now give between $30,000 - 40,000 for circuit court clerks. In fact, almost every firm I have researched is giving at least $20,000 for a circuit court clerk.

regarding the "most associates" language, I believe it is the equivalent of the language in other firms' memos indicating that associates "in good standing" will receive the increase (ex. see Milbank memo). Those associates who are not "in good standing" were likely put on notice of that fact and know who they are.