Now its only a matter of time for the rest of the DC top 20 to fall in line. Williams and Connolly will have to, I should think.

Thanks Wilmer! Covington and A&P are the next to fall. W&C should think about keeping its salary where it is (already at or over the 160 scale) but actually add a bonus.

Get on it Chicago!

Nice. Now the rest of DC BigLaw must fall in line.

Texas is a shoe in now. Yee haaahhh!!!

Any word on the Bingham match that another poster said was to be announced today?

W&C has to raise (I hope) since there's no way they will be adding a bonus. As it now stands, they are lagging the market significantly.

The problem is, they just raised a few months ago in response to every other firm going to $145k. What do you all think?

Any word on the Bingham match that another poster said was to be announced today?

Let's start a rumor that one of the Chicago big 3 matched 160 just to force the other two to match! It will be like Parent Trap, except instead of Lindsey Lohan getting her parents back together, I will get more money.

Zzzzzzzzzzz

Great Parent Trap reference

CA list of shame:

1) Sheppard Mullin
2) Pillsbury
3) Thelen Reid
4) McDermott
5) DLA Piper
6) Reed Smith
7) Morgan Lewis
8) Bingham
9) Perkins Coie

DC?
1) Covington
2) Arnold & Porter
3) ?????

Outstanding 6:11.

Great Parent Trap reference

I would think now Covington and A&P will both match - this will force K&E - which will not allow itself to be below every NYC, DC, LA and Boston branch in DC - to raise, at least in DC - once that happens Sidley and Mayer will fall in line - i would think that by June 1 every major firm with an office in Chicago, LA, DC, Boston, and NYC will be at 160 in those markets - save for the firms with significant Texas overlap, however, I don't see this effecting Texas.

It's 6:23 - do you know where your Summer Associates are?

NY to 190!!!

Minimum Billables to 2500!!!!

6:29 - Sandman, is that you?

I would hope that raising minimum billables to 2500 would cause some kind of mass riot among associates.

A firm (at least in dc) will never be able to have a stated minimum in excess of 2200 - this is both because most firms do not have enough work to actually keep their associates busy at that pace and because the attrition rate at that level would be so substantial that it would defeat the purpose of increasing hourse (20 associates at 2000 hours makes a firm more than 10 or probably 5 at 2500). The most likely result is that firms that are sub 2000 will raise to 2000, firms at 2000 may, and I reiterate may, go closer to the 2100-2200 range and there will probably be an effect on bonuses (at least the "merit" portion of the bonus). This actually presents an interesting scenario to firms - who can't raise client rates right now (after 2 in 1 year - and clients are already bitching) - they can't really raise the hour minimum (for reasons mentioned above) and they can't really hit the bonus pool too hard (this will hurt lateral recruiting, where bonuses matter - and firms care more about senior associates then they do first and 2nd years) - so basicially, at long last, partners will have to fork a little out of their pockets. Of course don't except this to go unpunished - more bitter partners, longer partnership tracks and some incremental associate layoffs (desiguised through severance packages so no one knows that associates are being laid off) may be a result - but I for one am not too worried.

Dixon, Cox to $190K!!!!!!!

How bad does Arnold & Porter look right now? Under market for salary and way below market on clerk bonus. Does anyone in DC take them seriously anymore?

Geene Parm? Is that you?

No and they should have taken them seriously for the last 5 to 10 years - they are and have been for some time, a has been firm resting off the laurels of their past - A&P and Crowell & Moring - are now in the same league, hahahahahahahaha

No, and no one should have taken them seriously for the last 5 to 10 years - they are and have been for some time, a has been firm resting off the laurels of their past - A&P and Crowell & Moring - are now in the same league, hahahahahahahaha

Where's my raise? It's been two whole months since I got my last one.

Wow, this is really going to determine the big from the wannabees. The top 10-15 DC firms will probably follow, but all those firms that barely made it to 145 will probably finally throw in the towel and accept second class status.

I miss GeeneP. He'd know just what to say right now.

Bryan Cave LLP should be added to the CA list of shame.

A part of me hopes my firm accepts its second class status, rather than give a raise that it can't afford and then start lay offs.

Seems like Chicago has accepted its second class status.

Texas to $160K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wow, so now Wilmer has matched Akin Gump!

7:00 PM = James Sandman

Kirkland, where are you???

Kirkland will raise in Cali and DC. It's the headquarter's associates that won't feel it.

a part of ME hopes my firm will accept its second class status and lower our monthly billable requirements to 1800.

7:34

Wow-- 1800 a month? That SUCKS! You have to double- and-a-half bill all day long at that rate . . .

A healthy serving of crow is in order for Sandman, methinks.

oops. yearly. my bad.

Bingham is screwed...and I revel in the thought.

Regarding the "individual notification" that associates received - sounds fishy to me. Presumably, Wilmer didn't want a memo posted online. But typically firms would send a mass voice message, rather than notify them individually. Do we know how this individual notification was made? How do we know that all associates were given raises? Maybe I'm overlawyering this a bit - but this is a curious departure from how all the other raises were announced, and I would like to see some proof.

What big LA and DC shops still haven't raised? Is it just the Chicago based firms that are still considering following Winston's lead?

What big LA and DC shops still haven't raised? Is it just the Chicago based firms that are still considering following Winston's lead?

Kirkland has got to raise in Chicago - how else does it keep its "big dog in down" reputation?

7:58 This is how Wilmer raised last time.

Winston sealed in the deal in Chicago. A few hundred attorneys in outpost offices aren't going to swing the whole market to $160.

7:58 -- I don't think individual notifications is necessarily weird. There are firms that treat salaries as "confidential" even though everyone knows the deal.

To answer one of your questions though, I think you'd hear about it if some people didn't get raises.

7:58 -- Wilmer is big on the individual notifications. Managing partners of each office walk door to door with salary letters every January, prior to the first pay period, stating associates' new salaries. In NYC, they gather all associates into a room to announce bonuses orally.

Frankly, it's bs that partners complain about associate pay raises. ppp goes up 10% a year every year. associate pay freezes for several years then jumps and everyone is like "oh my god." they should just raise associate pay a reasonable amount every year and avoid this drama

One more firm off the list of shame: Lebuff raised to 160 in SF, LA (and was already at 160 in DC).

Three key questions:
1. Is it really possible that Kirkland won't raise in DC?

2. Assuming Kirkland must raise in DC to avoid becoming a below-market payor, must Kirkland also match Latham in Chicago? Would Chicago associates go bonkers if they miss out on this pay raise while the DC associates get paid?

3. Is Kirkland willing to let the top Chicago-bound recruits view Latham as the class of Chicago? Or watch their 70-90 summer associates clamor to get their resumes into Latham?

8:38 - Winston is not a market mover. Winston did not "seal the deal" in Chicago. Winston proved to Chicago that it is second tier.

To 8:59

1. No.

2. No and maybe not.

3. Latham's Chicago office isn't small, but it isn't huge, either. Of the 70-90 summers clamoring to get their resumes into Latham, maybe 10 will make it.

Isn't Chicago "second city"? indeed!

NYC to 190k

8:49 is clearly a law student.

Associates get 8-10% raises every year just for showing up.

Somebody help me finish this, would you?

Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream.
Make it the largest that I've ever seen. Give me _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
And tell me my impoverished days are over!

9:18--ppp goes up 8-10% overall--meaning at every level. you're comparing apples to oranges idiot

So 9:40, what you're saying is that associates deserve 16-20% raises every year -- an 8-10% bump just for being one year older and another 8-10% bump reflecting revenue increases?

Please help this idiot understand.

9:12, you have no idea what the phrase "second city" actually means.

Chicago to a gazillion jillion dollars!!!!

Chicago is the fourth city.

NYC to 190!

Are you there 9:40? Help me understand.

Say I'm a second year and I make $155 plus a $15k bonus for billing 2000 hours. Then in my third year I make $170 and because I stepped it up a notch, I get a $30k bonus for billing 2200 hours.

Also assume that ppp at my firm goes from 900k to 990k from year 1 to year 2.

So, ppp goes up 10% and my total comp goes up 17.6%.

Yeah, I'm totally getting screwed.

"Second city leads second tier!"
"Second City slips to 5th City in Associate Pay"
"Windy City fails to Bluster or Muster associate pay raises"
"Chi-town or Cheap-town?"
"Cubs losing streak spreads to Law Firm Associates"
"The Chi-Sox and Bears up; Cubs, Bulls and Law firm associates down!"
(headlines in the morning)

Besides, if you aren't making 160k by now, you are third tier! 1 Jun for 160k is lame 2nd tier action. If you didn't get retroactive to 1 Jan you are second tier.

"Second city leads second tier!"
"Second City slips to 5th City in Associate Pay"
"Windy City fails to Bluster or Muster associate pay raises"
"Chi-town or Cheap-town?"
"Cubs losing streak spreads to Law Firm Associates"
"The Chi-Sox and Bears up; Cubs, Bulls and Law firm associates down!"
(headlines in the morning)

Besides, if you aren't making 160k by now, you are third tier! 1 Jun for 160k is lame 2nd tier action. If you didn't get retroactive to 1 Jan you are second tier.

"Second city leads second tier!"
"Second City slips to 5th City in Associate Pay"
"Windy City fails to Bluster or Muster associate pay raises"
"Chi-town or Cheap-town?"
"Cubs losing streak spreads to Law Firm Associates"
"The Chi-Sox and Bears up; Cubs, Bulls and Law firm associates down!"
(headlines in the morning)

Besides, if you aren't making 160k by now, you are third tier! 1 Jun for 160k is lame 2nd tier action. If you didn't get retroactive to 1 Jan you are second tier.

10:12 - while your total comp went up 17.6%, your workload also increased 10% (from 2000 to 2200 hours). This is like the cashier who makes $10/hr, but now works 33 hours a week instead of 30 hours a week. If the total comp sees a 10% increase, it's not because they got a raise.

In year 1, you made $85/hr. In year 2, you made $90.90/hr. You got a 6.95% raise.

That's why you're an idiot.

You must be kidding me, 10:12 (or are a 2T). Profits PER partner increase at 5-10% in DC. That means salary PER associate should increase by that amount. Just because your personal comp goes up by that amount does not mean that the average associate salary went up by that amount. If you don't understand this you seriously need to go back to 6th grade math. Just like a particular partner's salary does not stay steady and just go up by the same amount as ppp increase.

Mr. Sandman, show me the green,
Make it the largest raise that I've ever seen;
12(b)6 motions and third-party joinder,
Give me the raise or I will move over!

More seriously, W&C will almost always be the last to move in DC. Call it slow "administration" and prestige and they know it. And, I'm guessing, you do too because you've already accepted knowing that the raises are going up.

Not 9:40-

Let's say my hours don't increase and I get the lockstep 15k increase and the same 15k bonus. In that case I've seen a raise of 8.8% for doing exactly the same amount of work.

I guess I don't see how that's as unfair as 9:40 and 8:49 claim.

so ropes and wilmer are at 160... when will the rest of boston fall in line? take it out of bonuses if you need to, i don't feel like billing enough to get one of those anyway

10:22--

Isn't that what bonuses are for? Why should it be an across the board 5-10% increase for the salaries of incoming first-years, who have contributed nothing to the bottom line of the firm?

You all don't understand the concept of increasing earnings. If earnings increase by 10%, then a first year partner's profits should increase by 10% and a first year associate's salary should increase by 10% (all things being equal). It doesn't matter how many hours they bill; it doesn't matter what your lock step increase was. 10% increase in earnings = 10% across the board raises--for each year.

first 10:33--you are right that it can be made up with bonuses. but in non-ny markets that is typically not the case. The bonusus remain pretty constant and increases in earnings are distributed through salary

You hit the nail on the head -- "all things being equal."

They're not. A first-year (or fifth year) associate hasn't put in 20 years building a practice and developing a client base, nor is first-year capable of doing the work of a partner.

Not to mention the fact that an equity partner has an ownership stake in the firm -- unlike the associate. So a partner reaps the benefits of increased earnings because he or she is a shareholder as opposed to just an employee.

6:02 Any word on the Bingham match that another poster said was to be announced today?

they were too busy turning everything orange to care about salaries.

truly embarassing.

The Vault/American Lawyer rankings are going to rip Sidley, Kirkland, etc., if they don't move in time. When no one moves in a week, two weeks, fine...but once a month comes and goes, there is going to be some seriously upset associates grumbling, and some costly laterals. Should mean good business for headhunters, at least.

It's not even about the money, though it's always kind of about the money. It's about prestige. If your firm pays the third best salary in the city, it's not the best in the market, period. And your firm shouldn't say it pays salaries competitive with top market if salaries are in fact $15k lower than at least two others in your market (employing a combined 300 attorneys or so).

Anyone know what Wilmer's bonus scale looks like? What is the base number of hours you need to work to get the $160k?

Well, to be fair, the added value of a partner, years or work, client base, etc. is all factored into the fact that we're talking about percent increase

DC and to a lesser extent LA remained split markets for months longer than the Chicago firms have been waiting, and far fewer firms in Chicago have gone up to $160 than was the case in DC and LA a month ago. Skadden has always been higher, and it never bothered Kirkland and Sidley before.

At this point, were Kirkland, Sidley, Mayer, or dark horse Jenner to move to $160, it would be a huge boost for morale and bragging rights, the first "real" Chicago firm to move to $160. The firm to go first would be considered a market mover....which is evidence that the market has not yet moved.

Thelen sent out a firm-wide email today, saying that revised:

a) salary ranges;
b) bonus structure; and
c) pro bono policy

would be announced mid-June, with meetings in the offices from June 19-28. All under the rubric of bringing the TRP and Brown, Raysman, name, name, name and name policies into alignment post merger (in December - they're taking their time).

I understand now. Everyone's problem is that management is profiting off the backs of labor -- you're all Marxists!

That's great. I assume that associates in firms that have raised have all redistributed an appropriate percentage of their increased earnings to the secretaries and paralegals with whom they work.

10:12 OUT!!!

good point about the waiting game, 10:54. An important difference between right now and several months ago, though, is recruiting. Nothing went on recruiting-wise from December until now. But law students at top schools will start submitting resumes for early interview dates in just a month. And you can bet they're scouring the internet and gaining their first impressions right now.

10:40 -

I for one am not about "fairness" in the marketplace, I don't believe the concept should exist. I agree that equity partners should get the lion's share of the cash (because they can, and any rational person would do the same).

That said, I'm also a firm believer that there's no such thing as selfishness in the marketplace. If it did exist, it applies to everyone. And calling everyone selfish is the same thing as calling no one selfish.

That said, I don't believe Simpson or Orrick handed out raises because they believed it was the fair thing to do. No, they did it because that's what it took for them to recruit and keep the talent they want. They think the raises *will make them money.* Maybe only in the long term, and hey, maybe in the not so long term as well. But these firms did not get to where they are by blindly burning cash. Every business decision a firm makes is in the interest of making money.

So if you're a believer in concepts such as "selfishness" in the market, then you have to accuse those partners who did raise, as well as those who didn't, of the same thing. Decision-makers at Simpson are every bit as selfish as Mr. Sandman. We might call him a worse manager, but time will tell on that one.

At the same time, associates aren't selfish for wanting what they believe the market will bear. There is no *right* number for associate compensation, other than what the market is willing to give them. If Smith, Jones, and Anderson opened up tomorrow, and announced they would hire 500 associates at $300k a pop - guess what - the market just moved for a lot of firms. Others simply cannot compete with that, and they would react accordingly.

What I have a problem with is not the decisions of law firms. It's Sandman's firm, he can run it how he chooses. What I have a problem with is that he's accusing associates of the very same greed that he himself exhibits. He tells the clients that it's our fault that their rates go up. Nevermind that between 2001-2005, his clients never got a letter that said "because associate salaries have remained stagnant, so too will your rates." His PR campaign to slander associates was shameful.

If we all assume what we know to be true - we're all (partners and associates) money-grubbing bastards who want the most money for the least work, the debate becomes clearer. Law firms shop at law schools, and they want the very best products. Well, those products are priced at the high end of the scale. They can either pay for it anyway, or they can go with the cheaper stuff. Maybe that's a good decision, maybe it's not. In the next few weeks, we'll find out where everybody stands on that issue. But that's what is facing law firms now. It's not a sudden rash of associate greed.

sandman is no longer the managing partner/chairman of a&p. I'm pretty sure he hasn't been since 2005. He's the president of the dc bar. and some sort of full time pro-bono partner at a&p. rip him all you want, but he no longer runs the show at a&p.

8:48, 9:40, not 9:40 et al.

If your salary increases $15K on the lockstep system - the amount of associate salary a firm pays (and thus "costs" the partners) would remain the same from year to year if the number of associates remains the same. When they start paying you as a 2nd year, then they are hopefully paying someone new a first year salary and kicking an 8th year out the door....

Therefore, with a steady number/year distribution of assocciates, the cost of associate salaries to the firm would remain constant.

Outstanding post, 11:04

Just took a look and saw that it took W&C 1.5 months to move after Wilmer's last move.

at firms that only pay bonuses if you reach a certain min hours level, this salary increase is the best news... come on boston! most boston roll like this, so this is quality news :)

time for me to buy that 330i i wanted

the best is that this should shut up all the idiots who maintained that chicago was a better legal market than boston... boston is #3 after NY and LA... maybe tied for 3 with DC but probably #3 by itself

poor pwsp dc :(
the merger was so promising until people jumped ship. from partners to first yrs, that place emptied out quicker than a whorehouse in kansas.
RUN DOUGHBOY RUN!! RIGHT TO A&P!! oh wait, they haven't bumped either. what's their excuse??
do you think pwsp is going to merge with a&P??

I'm embarrassed for this entire board that it took someone almost 5 1/2 hours for someone to summarize the issue as well as 11:04.

The debate over whether partner and associate comp goes up in tandem is equally silly. Yes, ppp may only be going up 10% per year, but that doesn't mean the average partner is only making 10% more per year. Just like associates, partners have a natural career cycle. It may not be as obvious as 1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year, etc, but that doesn't mean it's not there. It's just embarrassing to have to point out that the average junior partner doesn't make as much as the average senior partner. Partners (on average) experience an increase in compensation that is wholly unrelated to increases in ppp as a matter of course.

How is it possible that Lat got scooped on Charney's amended complaint?

9:27 -- how about this?

Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream.
Make it the largest that I've ever seen.
Let me tell those partners to just bend over,
And tell me my impoverished days are over!

Arnold and Porter hates America.

I'll ask again - does anyone know about the bonus structure at Wilmer?

Great news everyone! I finally got a job offer, and in a major market, too!

Now, does anyone have any information on QOL, required billables, and proper attire at Arnold & Porter LLP in the DC office?

I've heard that Wilmer bonuses are paid at 2000 hours, with amounts scaling up every couple hundred hours and also scaling up by class year.

1:04 AM, it's because Lat has no "in" or sources on this story. As he previously stated, he waits for the Google alerts. I think that both the mainstream legal media and Charney's lawyers have shunned him.

L2L- You must mean "Arnold's Porters" in DC. You'll need a tux, a shine rag, and plenty of witty remarks.

QOL is average. No billables, but you will be expected to work 9-5 M-F.

Congrats!!!

Is it unheard of for a SA, if extended an offer, to then apply elsewhere? How long are offers made to summers typically left open?

Does anyone know what Wilmer's bonus is at 2000 hours. I've heard its 15k for 1st-2nd years. Confirm? Come on guys - while its always nice to get more money in salary than bonus, these raises mean substantially less if bonuses are being eliminated. We need to track total comp...

11:04pm... couldn't have said it better.

though, i'm amazed no one has yet made the point that 1st year salaries aren't the only prestige factor. i'm at a 160 firm in DC and i think long-term everyone will have to move, but i consider a lot of my "peer" 160 firms far lesser than some of the 145 firms around town... of course, if the difference were there for a long period of time, this wouldn't be true, but there's a hell of a lot more to reputation than salary... back when skadden was 10k above everyone else, no one considered it a superior firm...

best. loyala. 2l. post. ever.

best. loyala. 2l. post. ever.

9:29 a.m. :
What do you mean by 1st/2nd years?
Last year the bonus for the 2004 class at 2000 hours was 30k and at 1850 was 15k (that's what I think of as a "2d year").

Thanks for whoever posted that bonus info. I take it to mean that a 3rd who billed got 15k for billing 1850 or 30k for billing 2000. Is that correct?

I meant a 2nd year there...

What's up with Winston? Did they raise or not?

someone is saying on the Greedy Associates board that Wilmer raise does NOT apply to Boston. I find that hard to believe!

Anyone here have any real information on this or is it all banter all the time in here?

10:10 - - Winston raised in CA . . . not in DC.

re Winston, and I assume not in Chicago?

Boston sucks. Has for a few years. Will never be good again. It's so far from the 3rd best legal market that I laughed and nearly fell off my seat when I read that. I think Detroit, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh and maybe Nashville are the current markets Boston should focus on competing with.

"the best is that this should shut up all the idiots who maintained that chicago was a better legal market than boston... boston is #3 after NY and LA... maybe tied for 3 with DC but probably #3 by itself"

There are so many idiotic things in this statement I don't even know where to begin.

1029: that's right. But since I don't work in Chi, I don't care if they raised there.

if tomorrow tulsa started paying 165, clearly that would make tulsa the "best" legal market in the country.

great logic from the boston crowd... need any more proof the town is overrated?

Back.

Tulsa to 90K NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

can anyone confirm: Wilmer Hale, boston, 160?

Arnold & Porter is an enemy of freedom.

I heard Winston and A&P will be meeting in Yalta to discuss raising associate pay and reviving the Soviet Union.

Bell Biv Devoe just raised.

I heard Winston and A&P will be meeting in Yalta to discuss raising associate pay and reviving the Soviet Union.

11:16 - - that's what they told the associates, but I never trust a big butt with a smile.

"Boston sucks. Has for a few years. Will never be good again."

Geez I wonder what happened. Only a few years, huh? So it's sucked since 2004 or so? Must've been quite a catastrophe. It'll never be good again? Damnit, I was just starting to like it here, too.

my little buttercup....has the sweetest smile.

sweet little buttercup...won't you stay awwwwhile?

Would you say there are a plethora of Boston-haters on this board?

I don't think there are too many Boston-haters. I personally only hate Boston-lovers. And robots.

Number 1 in teamocil.

Bi-Weekly Paycheck (assuming no federal or state allowances):

$160K in Boston: $3,906.31
$160K in DC: $3,734.43
$160K in Cali: $3,692.35
$145K in Chicago: $3,668.94
$160K in NYC (assuming living in NYC and no city allowances): $3,562.95

I am feelin' a Chicago move this week!

Bone Thugs & Harmony just raised.

Cash Money Millionaires as well as Chamillionaire have raised.

Dixon, Cox, Upinya, Atbothins just went to 160.

Wilmer, Boston, 160? Hellooo?

Come on people - can we get some real information here?

Oh, and Another Bad Creation raised to $160.

Screw Boston . . .

The associate salaries in Boston should be second to NYC - - just like the Red Sox payroll is second to the Yankees.

Lil' Flip and Crew just raised.

This is utterly unfair. Wilmer associates in Boston and DC get all sorts of perks the NY associates don't get, and they have a lower cost of living to boot. Now they get paid the same too? It's only fair to raise NY associate salaries above those of DC and Boston.

Dear Wilmer NY,

Grow a dick you pussy.

Truly yours,

ATL readers

12:41 - Can you confirm the boston raise or what?

And I agree with you, it is unfair. If I were you I would either move somewhere you can afford to live better or join the "NYC to 190" movement

12:41, if it's unfair, then do something about it (i.e. move to another office or another city). and convince others to do the same.

but, if you all decide that you'd rather stay in nyc, then concede that you don't really care and that you will resign yourself to paying the nyc premium that every single person, business and entity pays to live/do business in nyc. and then stop whining.

Has Williams and Connoly raised?

Meye Johnson has raised.

Has Bone Thugs & Harmony been confirmed? Is there a memo, or were there individual notifications?

Yes, Wilmer Boston raised to 160K.

1:03 - - BT & H has been confirmed. No memo . . . raises were communicated through freestyle song.

no mention of patton in this thread. any word on whether they'll go to 160?

What is the deal with Williams and Connoly? If they pay 160k w/ no bonus and the others pay 160k w/ some bonus, how are they the premier DC firm? IS this no longer the case? Im confused.

no mention of patton in this thread. any word on whether they'll go to 160?

What is the deal with W&C? Arent they the premier DC firm? IF they pay 160k w/ no bonus and the others pay 160k wit a bonus, how can they retain this status? Im confused.

What is the deal with W&C? Arent they the premier DC firm? IF they pay 160k w/ no bonus and the others pay 160k wit a bonus, how can they retain this status? Im confused.

no mention of patton in this thread. any word on whether they'll go to 160?

So, I'm currently splitting between two biglaw Chicago firms. However, I'm now confused as to the market leaders.
Kirkland, Jenner, Sidley, Mayer, Winston (clearly not Winston, I guess)? Please help. Being in law school and surrounded by SAs obscures these questions.

2:09...whichever one raises first is market leader. so far they're all imposters.

c'mooooonnnnn kirkland. step. it. up.

Traditionally, W&C has paid 15K more than other DC firms but does not pay out a bonus...The firm's prestige, plus the disincentive to bill crazy hours just to achieve a bonus makes it attractive (though, from what I hear, associates there work tireless hours).

My guess? W&C will eventually move to $170 or $175 base for 1st years but will continue to pay no bonus.

confirmed that W&C's associates bill crazy hours; most would qualify for the 60k bonus at Wilmer or A&P

Boston, ugh. That place needs to just shut down in the winter. Note: winter in Boston ended last month.

a W&C summer would know that "Connolly" is spelled with two "l"s, not one.

Whoops.

Magic Johnson has raised

Magic Johnson has raised

we need to get a list of DC firms stuck at $145k or lower going here...

1. W&C
2. A&P
3. Covington
4. Kirkland
5. Sidley
6. McDermott
7. PWSP
8. ???

8. Winston

Dickstein
Howrey
Wiley Rein

venable, crowell and moring

DC Firms/Offices NOT at $160,000

1. W&C
2. A&P
3. Covington
4. Kirkland
5. Sidley
6. McDermott
7. PWSP
8. Winston
9. Dickstein
10. Howrey
11. Wiley Rein
12. Arent Fox
13. Venable
14. Crowell & Moring

W&C raised to $165k about a month ago. Keep up. All that remains to be seen is whether they will bump again.

Two months ago actually:

http://www.abovethelaw.com/2007/03/skaddenfreude_williams_connoll.php

Current DC list of shame ($145K)

1. A&P
2. Covington
3. Kirkland
4. Mayer Brown
5. Sidley
6. McDermott
7. PWSP
8. Winston
9. Dickstein
10. Howrey
11. Wiley Rein
12. Arent Fox
13. Venable
14. Crowell & Moring