K&E Bonus Multiplier Data Points Forum

[Anonymous User]

2nd/3rd year, 2100-2300 hours, 1.3x market, same as last year with same figures.

[Anonymous User]

2nd-4th year, with class, 2700-3000 hours, 1.7x (on market base)+ special -- happy camper

[Definitely Not North]

are all of you guys in restructuring/BK or are these 2500+ hours just the norm at K&E?

[Anonymous User]

K&E was ..... busy. One of the above anons, lit.

[Anonymous User]

Jr, 3, 2500-2700, 1.7x.

[POPTOP]

5th year, 2 rating, little over 2100: 1.3x base + special bonus.

Less than I've gotten in the past, but can't complain; sounds like the truly high billers are getting paid as they should.

lmao woof. 1.3x says more than a 2 there my dude. start looking

source: am k&e nsp

[dyemond]

5th year, 2 rating, little over 2100: 1.3x base + special bonus.

Less than I've gotten in the past, but can't complain; sounds like the truly high billers are getting paid as they should.

lmao woof. 1.3x says more than a 2 there my dude. start looking

source: am k&e nsp

also a ke nsp. 1.3x @ 2 for 2100 is about right. it's a straightforward calc, this year they just removed the brakes on the upper levels so people hitting 2500+ don't feel dogged.

[POPTOP]

5th year, 2 rating, little over 2100: 1.3x base + special bonus.

Less than I've gotten in the past, but can't complain; sounds like the truly high billers are getting paid as they should.

lmao woof. 1.3x says more than a 2 there my dude. start looking

source: am k&e nsp

also a ke nsp. 1.3x @ 2 for 2100 is about right. it's a straightforward calc, this year they just removed the brakes on the upper levels so people hitting 2500+ don't feel dogged.

idk what team or office you're dealing with but in NY that is walk or be walked territory

[Anonymous User]

What's the distinction between "merit bonus" and "hours bonus" in the comp memo? I don't understand how each is calculated (for example, is there a max per class year for the "merit bonus"?) and the interplay. Also does anyone know if laterals/clerks who start X months after the bonus year begins have their hours annualized across the 12 month bonus year? Seems like a total waste to have worked hard over 12-X months if the hours aren't annualized.

[Anonymous User]

Is this true? I thought it was a chart calculation. Is there more nuance? As a midlevel with a 1.2-1.3x, with class at 2500ish and only 1.2-1.3x market, I’m concerned?

[Anonymous User]

I am convinced that there’s more to it than simply “find the chart for Lawyer’s class year and rating, and go along the X axis to their hours to find the number.” I don’t think all hours are treated equally. I have higher hours than some folks here along with a slightly lower bonus - but my high hours both include lots of pro bono (in lit) and lots of work for a client that negotiated steep discounts. So I’m curious if there’s some sort of “How much money Lawyer brought in” factor. I know we are told pro bono counts hour for hour toward bonus eligibility, but perhaps not for determining amounts.

Or maybe it’s on the merit side, and the partners secretly have more to say about each associate’s performance than simply giving them a 3 or a 2.

[Anonymous User]

5th year, 2 rating, little over 2100: 1.3x base + special bonus.

Less than I've gotten in the past, but can't complain; sounds like the truly high billers are getting paid as they should.

lmao woof. 1.3x says more than a 2 there my dude. start looking

source: am k&e nsp

also a ke nsp. 1.3x @ 2 for 2100 is about right. it's a straightforward calc, this year they just removed the brakes on the upper levels so people hitting 2500+ don't feel dogged.

Yeah 1.3x for those hours seem right. I keep forgetting how our rating system works though, 4 and 5 means on track for NSP, correct? Do third and fourth years get 4s or 5s?

[Anonymous User]

5th year, 2 rating, little over 2100: 1.3x base + special bonus.

Less than I've gotten in the past, but can't complain; sounds like the truly high billers are getting paid as they should.

lmao woof. 1.3x says more than a 2 there my dude. start looking

source: am k&e nsp

also a ke nsp. 1.3x @ 2 for 2100 is about right. it's a straightforward calc, this year they just removed the brakes on the upper levels so people hitting 2500+ don't feel dogged.

Yeah 1.3x for those hours seem right. I keep forgetting how our rating system works though, 4 and 5 means on track for NSP, correct? Do third and fourth years get 4s or 5s?

You’re going the wrong direction - 4 means you’re gonna get pushed out and 5 is probably used only to paper up actually firing an associate for gross misconduct. I believe 4th year is the earliest people can break away from getting 3s to get a 2 (maybe some rock star 3rd year out there will correct me), and my understanding is that by the time you’re a 6th year you want to have a 2 (or 1) before hitting NSP.

[Anonymous User]

NSP, 2300 hours, 1.5x base + special

[Anonymous User]

What's the distinction between "merit bonus" and "hours bonus" in the comp memo? I don't understand how each is calculated (for example, is there a max per class year for the "merit bonus"?) and the interplay. Also does anyone know if laterals/clerks who start X months after the bonus year begins have their hours annualized across the 12 month bonus year? Seems like a total waste to have worked hard over 12-X months if the hours aren't annualized.

Also curious about this. Anyone know?

[Anonymous User]

What's the distinction between "merit bonus" and "hours bonus" in the comp memo? I don't understand how each is calculated (for example, is there a max per class year for the "merit bonus"?) and the interplay. Also does anyone know if laterals/clerks who start X months after the bonus year begins have their hours annualized across the 12 month bonus year? Seems like a total waste to have worked hard over 12-X months if the hours aren't annualized.

Also curious about this. Anyone know?

Tangentially related but I was a clerk that started in September and got the COVID bonus but not an hours bonus, which makes sense given no stub year bonuses at K&E/started after end of bonus year. Curious whether the straight from law school class of 2020 1st years also got the COVID bonus?

[Anonymous User]

What's the distinction between "merit bonus" and "hours bonus" in the comp memo? I don't understand how each is calculated (for example, is there a max per class year for the "merit bonus"?) and the interplay. Also does anyone know if laterals/clerks who start X months after the bonus year begins have their hours annualized across the 12 month bonus year? Seems like a total waste to have worked hard over 12-X months if the hours aren't annualized.

Also curious about this. Anyone know?

Very interested in this too because there are definitely are other factors besides class year and rating. I just don’t know what and how it is determined.

[Anonymous User]

1.05+special, 3rd year with very good reviews, low 1300 hours in the last review cycle due to COVID but a high biller before and after that. Not sure what to feel about this.

[Anonymous User]

Do we know if there’s anyone who received the year end bonus but not the special bonus?

[Anonymous User]

Do we know if there’s anyone who received the year end bonus but not the special bonus?

Did you not attend the associate call on Friday? They were very clear that 99% of associates are in good standing AND all 99% of those associates are getting above market bonuses AND the special bonus.

So, sure, I guess, maybe some associate in bad standing got a year end bonus but not a special? But who cares? Don't be in bad standing.

[Anonymous User]

1.05+special, 3rd year with very good reviews, low 1300 hours in the last review cycle due to COVID but a high biller before and after that. Not sure what to feel about this.

Corporate? Low 1300 is wild to me (restructuring).

[Anonymous User]

Do we know if there’s anyone who received the year end bonus but not the special bonus?

Did you not attend the associate call on Friday? They were very clear that 99% of associates are in good standing AND all 99% of those associates are getting above market bonuses AND the special bonus.

So, sure, I guess, maybe some associate in bad standing got a year end bonus but not a special? But who cares? Don't be in bad standing.

Yep, cuz some of us were billing 15+ hours on the day of that

[Anonymous User]

Junior associate. 3 rating. 2100-2200 hours. 1.3-1.4x regular plus special

[Anonymous User]

What's the distinction between "merit bonus" and "hours bonus" in the comp memo? I don't understand how each is calculated (for example, is there a max per class year for the "merit bonus"?) and the interplay. Also does anyone know if laterals/clerks who start X months after the bonus year begins have their hours annualized across the 12 month bonus year? Seems like a total waste to have worked hard over 12-X months if the hours aren't annualized.

Also curious about this. Anyone know?

Tangentially related but I was a clerk that started in September and got the COVID bonus but not an hours bonus, which makes sense given no stub year bonuses at K&E/started after end of bonus year. Curious whether the straight from law school class of 2020 1st years also got the COVID bonus?

I’m a stub, didn’t get anything. Understandable but already billing 200+ a month and didn’t get a break after the bar, so also kinda miffed we didn’t get at least a token.

[Anonymous User]

Mid-level, 2200 hrs, 1.3x + special, very positive reviews. On par with last year so the ‘best ever’ narrative was misleading at best since they're clearly just talking about no cap. Pretty positive it’s just an excel spreadsheet and that when your numbers don’t line up with other stuff you’re hearing, it’s because those people are padding their numbers (either hours or multiplier).