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What is WilmerHale's bonus policy? Does it vary by office?

12:35 --> who cares about that 3rd tier firm. get a real job

Lat: please do SF before you close this off!

Ropes NY matches NYC lockstep bonuses, and then Ropes Boston, CA and D.C. pay $5000 less. Last year was different, though, b/c NY was still being paid $10K more than Boston ($145/135), so the Boston, CA and D.C. offices actually paid $5K MORE to those offices than to NY, to keep the total comp difference at $5K more in NYC. Last year, Ropes Boston 1st years got $40K while Ropes NYC matched market at $35K.

Now that both pay $160K base, Boston should once again be $5K behind in bonus from what Ropes NYC pays. If last year's 1st year level in NYC remains 35, expect 30 in Boston.

It all depends upon the first few NYC firms to announce.

What about paralegal bonues? My billing rate is only a few dollars less than a first year and I've billed 2100 this year (not including pro bono or bus. dev.).

That's interesting - thanks, Mr. Roper.

A $5K difference between Boston and NYC is pretty negligible (although Boston is an expensive city).

how about something for minneapolis

how about something for minneapolis

how about something for minneapolis

Does anyone know how Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge does their bonuses? Boston is their biggest office so there has to be someone out there that has an idea. Thank you!

1:02

not compared to NYC

While it would be nice to get the exact same pay as our NYC colleagues, I think Ropes Boston (and CA + D.C.) associates fully realize that the $5K difference in total comp is more than offset by the lower cost of living, absence of city tax, etc.

Does anyone expect bonuses to be cut in response to the hikes in our base salary?

Seconded for SF.

bingham?

1:35

5k extra in nyc won't even cover the city tax.

NYCers take home less, not to mention cost of living.

how can you say that we don't think bonuses should be big? salaries went up, but not to the degree that our billing rates did. we are expecting at least the same bonus scale this year as last, even more considering it is a boom year.

Thanks Lat, for these threads. I'm one who is desperate for bonus info, but don't really have any info to share. Imagine others are in the same boat: We're all curious (or hopeful), and really want our firm to not be below market (some may dare to hope that their firm beats market), but don't know anything.

SFers: Check out the LA thread. I think bonuses across CA are pretty much the same within firms. Of course, no one really knows what any firm is doing -- or if bonuses are affected by the bump in pay -- so that's a bit more problematic. The really interesting wrenches are MoFo, Heller, Bingham and WSGR, all of which supposedly have changed their bonus structure due to salary increases. Whether this will lead to high performing associates at these firms being paid less in total compensation (base + bonus) than associates doing the same amount of work at Orrick, LW, GDC, OMM, and Kirkland remains to be seen.

Boston sucks.

WilmerHale paid out 30k to first years last year, if I recall. Ropes did 35k.

I *may* be wrong about the actual figures, but that's really close. I do *know* Ropes paid 5k more than WilmerHale.

Do smaller markets like Denver, Hartford, or New Jersey pay bonuses??

Goodwin Procter matched NY bonuses last year. Expect roughly the same numbers this year. Won't be announced until Jan. 24, or so.

WilmerHale bases bonuses mostly on hours and includes all pro bono hours toward its bonus benchmarks. In rare cases it will bump someone up or down a notch if their work is unusually bad or exceptional. This is WilmerHale's scale for every US office except New York:

1st Years:
$15,000 for 1850
$30,000 for 2000
$35,000 for 2200
$40,000 for 2400

2nd Years:
$15,000 for 1850
$30,000 for 2000
$37,000 for 2200
$45,000 for 2400

3rd Years:
$15,000 for 1850
$35,000 for 2000
$42,000 for 2200
$50,000 for 2400

4th Years:
$15,000 for 1850
$35,000 for 2000
$42,000 for 2200
$50,000 for 2400

5th Year:
$15,000 for 1850
$38,000 for 2000
$45,000 for 2200
$55,000 for 2400

6th Year:
$15,000 for 1850
$40,000 for 2000
$50,000 for 2200
$65,000 for 2400

Boston Biglaw Bonuses = two cups of Legal seafood's clam chowder...

I mean, I know you guys get paid a lot, but working that much SUCKS. Factor in the fact that there is no God, and you have a pretty miserable existence. Ha!

Anyone have information on Proskauer's bonuses?

anyone know about Mintz, Foley Hoag, or Goodwin?

Any info on Gunderson's bonuses?

Foley Hoag and Choate both require that you hit 2,000 hours before you can make a bonus. I believe that Choate pays 30K once you hit that target. No idea about FH.

Proskauer gives associates a percentage of the market bonus based on their billables.

< 1800 hours: 0%
1800-1999: 85%
2000-2299: 100%
2300-2599: 110%
2600+: 115% + 1 week of vacation

Pro bono counts towards billables, but you need to bill 1800 of regular client work before PB can count towards the bonus, i.e. 1799 hours + 50 pro bono = no bonus.

Shadowing time also counts towards billables.

What is current market bonus? 30k?

Goodwin gave lock-step to junior associates last year, starting at $40,000 for first-years.