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Is there a generally-accepted rule regarding whether it is kosher to leverage permanent job offers against each other? Suppose, hypothetically, that your 1L firm starts out at $120,000 and your 2L firm starts out at $128,000. You have offers from both firms and prefer your 1L firm -- would it be bad form to negotiate with your 1L firm? I know that in other job industries, this would be acceptable; however, with the lockstep nature of law firms combined with the bad economy, I am curious what the standard would be for law firms.

The lockstep nature generally leads to a take-it-or-leave-it mentality from what I understand. If one firm is paying more, there's a reason for it. You either take less money to not work there, or you take more money to work there.

It can't hurt to try. No one is going to be offended.

It also probably won't work though.