2012 Biglaw Bonuses Thread Forum

[Anonymous User]

Given the above speculation that the rest of the V10 will fall in line, are there any guesses about how that will impact Kirkland's tendency to pay above market bonuses? Should we expect the same K&E : CSM ratio as last year?

Not a Kirkland associate, but even last year's bonuses at K&E would have kicked the ass of the new, larger Cravath bonuses. It's always tough to tell exactly how much Kirkland bonuses are though (since they're not uniform), so I think you're going to have a somewhat tough time drawing a precise comparison.

Kirkland associates: When do bonuses typically get announced there?

The week of Christmas.

[Anonymous User]

Most relevant part:

Class Year — 2011 — 2012
1st Years (stub) — $0 — $10,000 prorated
1st Years — $10,000 — $10,000
2nd Years — $17,500 — $14,000
3rd Years — $25,000 — $20,000
4th Years — $35,000 — $27,000
5th Years — $45,000 — $34,000
6th Years — $50,000 — $40,000
7th Years — $57,500 — $50,000
8th Years — $57,500 — $60,000

Bonuses actually went DOWN for the most part this year if you include spring bonuses.

Except the spring bonuses in 2011 were meant to make up for low bonuses in 2010, not in 2011. So it's down somewhat from 2010, including 2011 spring, but up from 2011.

[Anonymous User]

Assuming everyone follows suit, the takeaway seems to be cautious optimism ... ?

Disagree. Firms will follow suit regardless of their outlook. They have to to appear to be financially sound.

Sound to whom? Law students??? Latham is back to only accepting top 1/4-1/3 at my T-14...

Really? They're lucky to get even one person above median at my T6.

[Anonymous User]

Skadden matched: http://abovethelaw.com/2012/11/associat ... cravath-3/

Show's over folks.