Firm Benefits Forum

[Anonymous User]

Kirkland DC: I pay $130ish a month for a health plan with a $3500 annual deductible. That deductible did not apply to the primary care visit I went to this year (nice surprise). Wondering if this is average or if our benefits are stingy.

There are two dental plans; the cheaper $20 one has a very narrow network; getting the more expensive one (I forget how much is was) is probably a much better call.

No tech stipend; they'll pay for part of your phone if you don't use KE work phone though.

There is a cafeteria; and it's probably subsidized a little, but it's still $8/ish for lunch.

$40 budget for overtime meals. DC and NY have later requirements for dinner ordering than Chicago; DC is 7:30 PM.

They also give you a "networking" budget with very loose strings on reimbursement, which is nice. For younger associates I think it's $250; for midlevels it's $500.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone for Winston & strawn?

[tbp140]

Not volunteering but maybe a Google spreadsheet or Google doc of this info would be useful.

[BasilHallward]

Isn't all of this information on each firm's NALP page?

No.

[QContinuum]

Isn't all of this information on each firm's NALP page?

No.

It's precisely because the information isn't generally public that there is significant variation between law firms re: what benefits they offer. These differences - particularly differences in tech allowance and insurance premiums - can easily add up to hundreds of dollars of post-tax money per month (multiple thousands of dollars per year).

[Wild Card]

I'd love to donate to my high school and college. My high school recently published a list of companies that match donations, and much to my shock only Paul Weiss was listed (i.e., the only law firm listed).

Are there any firms that unconditionally match any donations made to any non-profit, or did some associate at Paul Weiss go through a long-winded process to get my high school put on some green-light list?

Just curious.

[5ky]

FYI in most states, "no vacation policy" just screws you out of $. if a firm has set vacation days, in most states, those days have to be paid out to you when you leave -- at your current salary.

days don't usually roll over, but i got a $12k check when i left based on unused vacation at the time of my departure

[QContinuum]

FYI in most states, "no vacation policy" just screws you out of $. if a firm has set vacation days, in most states, those days have to be paid out to you when you leave -- at your current salary.

days don't usually roll over, but i got a $12k check when i left based on unused vacation at the time of my departure

Yes. Also, "no vacation policy" doesn't mean "unlimited vacation" at all in practice - far more often it means something closer to the opposite, "no vacation."

[Anonymous User]

white & case nyc? whats the office situation?

[Anonymous User]

Any info on Fried Frank?

[Anonymous User]

I'd love to donate to my high school and college. My high school recently published a list of companies that match donations, and much to my shock only Paul Weiss was listed (i.e., the only law firm listed).

Are there any firms that unconditionally match any donations made to any non-profit, or did some associate at Paul Weiss go through a long-winded process to get my high school put on some green-light list?

Just curious.

I don't know about "unconditionally," but I didn't have a problem getting Gibson Dunn to match my donations to a few (non-legal/political) non-profits when I was working there.

[Anonymous User]

Anything on Kelley Drye?

[Anonymous User]

Anything on Goodwin (NY)?

[soft blue]

What's up with Quinn NY? I've heard they're cheap, but want to know how much they're screwing me (and want to learn more about this whole profit sharing deal.)

[Anonymous User]

Any details on Covington?

[Anonymous User]

Baker Botts?

[Anonymous User]

Does Kramer Levin make you share your office?

[Anonymous User]

Does Kramer Levin make you share your office?

Yes. Though third years get a sunless internal office. 4th years and up get window office.

[Anonymous User]

Can someone share the details on covington benefits?

[Anonymous User]

Details on willkie? Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Anything on Jones Day? I know they have a lot of offices, but any info is helpful

Would also like to know.

Jones Day (pretty sure this is firmwide but who knows):

Bar Stipend/Signing Bonus: 10k stipend (less taxes), paid late May/early June and bar expenses paid. If you leave before two years, you have to pay back a pro-rated amount (1/24th for every month before two years). Not sure if they actually collect this in practice.

Relocation Benefits: They contract with Armstrong Relocation for a full move. They pack your stuff in boxes, load it onto the truck, and bring the boxes to your new place. They do not unpack. The firm does not cover storage costs, but they have some kind of container program that lets you store them at a reasonable price. They will also pay for a plane ticket from where you live to your new place, or the mileage to drive there. My move was over $10k, so this was a nice benefit. Not subject to reimbursement, but if you don't stay 39 weeks, the IRS treats it as taxable income.

Health Benefits: Here are the (expensive) health insurance options:

Prices are single/single+1/family per month:

Cheapest plan is 310/655/990
HDHP is 360/757/1140
1700/3400/5100 deductible is 620/1250/1870
Zero deductible is 1020/2045/2990

Nationwide PPO coverage.

Dental (relatively decent coverage) is $29 single, $61 single +1, $86 family.
Eyemed vision - $8.59 single, $16.31 single +1, $23.95 family.

That is the cost to employee before taxes (as in you will ultimtely pay less because you use pre-tax dollars, but that is the sticker price).

Salary Advance - never asked because of the stipend.

Gym Stipend: my building has a gym, not sure how it works elsewhere.

401k: Plan through Wells Fargo, several Vanguard funds to choose from. No match.

$200 phone allowance every 2 years.

$50 per month reimbursement for data plan.

Dinner: not exactly sure but I've heard of you bill 10 hours to one client matter that day, limit is probably $25-30 depending on client. I don't stick around that late. Face time is not a big deal at my office.

Plus a few other random benefits/minor insurance things not worth mentioning.

Is JD's health plan still that expensive?

Anon because I'm going to be a summer at JD and my previous posts would out me.