2015 MidLaw Bonus Thread Forum

[LA Spring]

Last year our firm announced before the thanksgiving break. We still have not heard anything definitive about bonuses. Just wondering what’s up with bonuses release dates at other ML firms.

(We heard rumors that a couple other ML firms (under 150 attorneys) were slashing bonuses … just rumors, but a bit concerning.)

[General_Tso]

What is a typical bonus for a large/mid firms?

[WillitBlend]

subscribed - i'm actually more interested in hearing about this than the biglaw bonuses

[Anonymous User]

Little off topic, but I always wonder if I work in midlaw or biglaw. Firm with a handful of offices on one coast, about 300 attorneys....

[thermidor9]

Do you make market in your city? If you do, then sure.

[Anonymous User]

Little off topic, but I always wonder if I work in midlaw or biglaw. Firm with a handful of offices on one coast, about 300 attorneys....

sounds like regional biglaw to me

[twenty 8]

What is a typical bonus for a large/mid firms?

Depends if you are a second, third, etc. year. While anecdotal, $15k for second years. Thing is, we won’t know until this Friday (or Monday). There are numerous midlaw firms (having less than a stellar year) where the second year bonus might be around the $5k level.

To me midlaws are firms not in the V100, of have fewer than 100 lawyers.

[LA Spring]

I heard today that our bonus (for 2nd years) will be $7.5k. I assume this is about half of what a BL second year with 1900 in billables would receive. True, or not?

[pa1901]

I heard today that our bonus (for 2nd years) will be $7.5k. I assume this is about half of what a BL second year with 1900 in billables would receive. True, or not?

The Davis Polk scale for "market" BigLaw bonuses last year had 2nd years at $25k

[LA Spring]

The Davis Polk scale for "market" BigLaw bonuses last year had 2nd years at $25k

What is it for first years? Thx.

[Abbie Doobie]

The Davis Polk scale for "market" BigLaw bonuses last year had 2nd years at $25k

What is it for first years? Thx.

15k

[Byakuya769]

15k for big law first years.

[Saddle Up]

My sis, a first year in Atlanta will receive $10k. I have no idea on her billable level. I know she works a lot of hours, including many weekends. I'm fairly sure that her firm is midlaw since she claims that some of her friends at other firms pay more.

[LA Spring]

I have a very good PA friend whose boutique firm is not paying a bonus. Damn.

Even though she had V150 offers (from firms that actually pays bonuses and give raises) she was lured into this established boutique claiming that they worked with F500 clients and they always compensated their associates better than most. Believing is not always such as good thing.

[Abbie Doobie]

bump for any new midlaw bonus news?

[Anonymous User]

Are Midlaw bonuses (I'm thinking sheppard mullin, fox rothschild, lowenstein sandler, schiff hardin, etc.) typically similar to plaintiffs boutique bonuses (Lieff, G&E, Labaton, Robbins Geller, etc.)?

[Abbie Doobie]

Are Midlaw bonuses (I'm thinking sheppard mullin, fox rothschild, lowenstein sandler, schiff hardin, etc.) typically similar to plaintiffs boutique bonuses (Lieff, G&E, Labaton, Robbins Geller, etc.)?

bruh what's with the anon? and sheppard mullin and schiff hardin are biglaw (pay market salaries, 250+ lawyers, located in major markets, etc.)

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know what the plaintiff boutique bonuses typically are for young (1st-3rd year) associates?

[LA Spring]

I know of two first years who said that if they receive a bonus it will be minimal to none. Do not know if this is typical or just extends to firms where business (or collections) are problematic. While there are a lot factors, I’d say that $5k (or slightly more) is likely typical.

[kings84_wr]

Does anyone know what the plaintiff boutique bonuses typically are for young (1st-3rd year) associates?

Depends a lot on the firm, the work-product, and the firm's success that year. In my experience, the successful Plaintiffs' firms give much higher bonuses. For example, my bonus this year was 100% of my base salary. Last year, it was closer to 40%.

[Danger Zone]

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