Law Firm Appreciation Forum

[tlsadmin3]

How does your law firm show their appreciation to their associates? Is it only monetary? With the Coronavirus, some law firms might not be able to pay a bonus. Would you leave a law firm if you didn't receive a bonus?

[Anonymous User]

Monetary bonus or raises are certainly a number one preference. But I think relationships matter. I've held off on lateral applications to firms that would pay me $50k more per year because of how strong my relationship is with the main Partner I work for. He's a great guy and has treated me very well, gives me tremendous flexibility in work schedule, and done a lot to teach me and give me meaningful work. So I know I have job security and low stress in terms of Partner relationship at my firm and that is a strong form of appreciation in my mind. Of course, a free gift from the firm would be cool too. Shiny trinkets are always good.

[Scallion]

Would you leave a law firm if you didn't receive a bonus?

No, although it depends on what you mean by leave.

Not to anger the mob, but unless you're moving to another firm, throwing away a roughly 190K-340K position because you didn't get a bonus is one of the most privileged things you can do. Even among biglaw associates, most of us have expenses that keep us tied to our firms. Should you get a bonus if you work hard? If everyone else who worked as hard got one, yes. But leaving biglaw altogether because no bonus? Seems short-sighted or egotistical, although you can also argue it's a sign of self-respect (which is also rooted in ego).

[malibustacy]

Not to anger the mob, but unless you're moving to another firm, throwing away a roughly 190K-340K position because you didn't get a bonus is one of the most privileged things you can do.

Or... you know, you can move to a firm that pays you 200K to 390K...

It's not really about the money. It's that the firm you're at is either too poor or too greedy to pay market compensation, while they're doing their level best to wring every ounce of value out of you.

[Scallion]

Not to anger the mob, but unless you're moving to another firm, throwing away a roughly 190K-340K position because you didn't get a bonus is one of the most privileged things you can do.

Or... you know, you can move to a firm that pays you 200K to 390K...

It's not really about the money. It's that the firm you're at is either too poor or too greedy to pay market compensation, while they're doing their level best to wring every ounce of value out of you.

Hence unless you're moving to another firm.

[malibustacy]

Not to anger the mob, but unless you're moving to another firm, throwing away a roughly 190K-340K position because you didn't get a bonus is one of the most privileged things you can do.

Or... you know, you can move to a firm that pays you 200K to 390K...

It's not really about the money. It's that the firm you're at is either too poor or too greedy to pay market compensation, while they're doing their level best to wring every ounce of value out of you.

Hence unless you're moving to another firm.

Eh. In-house jobs are cushy as hell these days. Corporate associates in big cities from top firms basically make what they make in big law for far less stress and hours. People I personally know have made the jump and love it.

Partnership is impossible these days and the compensation gap is shrinking. There's not much firms can do to show "appreciation" other than to bump up salaries more or drastically improve the incentive structure.

[Scallion]

Not to anger the mob, but unless you're moving to another firm, throwing away a roughly 190K-340K position because you didn't get a bonus is one of the most privileged things you can do.

Or... you know, you can move to a firm that pays you 200K to 390K...

It's not really about the money. It's that the firm you're at is either too poor or too greedy to pay market compensation, while they're doing their level best to wring every ounce of value out of you.

Hence unless you're moving to another firm.

Eh. In-house jobs are cushy as hell these days. Corporate associates in big cities from top firms basically make what they make in big law for far less stress and hours. People I personally know have made the jump and love it.

Partnership is impossible these days and the compensation gap is shrinking. There's not much firms can do to show "appreciation" other than to bump up salaries more or drastically improve the incentive structure.

I don't mean to derail the thread. My last comment on this is that I have former colleagues and mentors who took the corporate counsel roles and have dispelled the notion that it's necessarily more lax. It's not.

[Pulsar]

In-house positions may be harder for associates depending on practice area, though. Litigators may find it tricky to go in-house.

[Anonymous User]

There are some other ways they show appreciation, but paying market bonus is the most preferred way just because it's the market norm. Nothing will make up for not paying you a full market bonus if you billed just as much as your friends at other firms that all got full market bonuses did. In a different world where firms don't pay bonuses or where only a select few pay bonuses, associates wouldn't care this much about bonuses, of course. But we don't live in such a world. If your firm has not paid any high-biller a full market bonus in any year, that associate will leave to a different firm as soon as he or she can.

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

Nice try, Proskauer recruiting department.

[jarofsoup]

Respect vacation time

[kaiser]

Not sure if any firms are doing this, but allowing full rollover of unused 2020 vacation would be a real solid idea this year and would probably buy a lot of goodwill from associates.

[M458]

Not sure if any firms are doing this, but allowing full rollover of unused 2020 vacation would be a real solid idea this year and would probably buy a lot of goodwill from associates.

Paying it out would also be okay, IMO. Might be operationally difficult to allow rollover and end up with like 30+ days of vacation in 2021.

[kaiser]

Not sure if any firms are doing this, but allowing full rollover of unused 2020 vacation would be a real solid idea this year and would probably buy a lot of goodwill from associates.

Paying it out would also be okay, IMO. Might be operationally difficult to allow rollover and end up with like 30+ days of vacation in 2021.

That would be a nice alternative as well. I agree that having associates take double vacation in 2021 isn't really feasible in biglaw, so paying it out is the least they can do.

[jarofsoup]

I would love if my law firm did not expect me to work the same hours for less money.

[Winter is Coming]

Nice try, Proskauer recruiting department.

+1

[Anonymous User]

Respect vacation time

This is the only non-financial answer for me (financial including salary and bonus plus benefits, dinner budgets, etc.). I am at an "unlimited vacation" firm too which is just a way for the firm to prevent paying out unused PTO upon departure. There is so, so much pressure from certain partners to be available during vacation. I know certain associates who have had vacations derailed without their matters blowing up - they just had partners who expected them on this or that call, or to turn a certain document, in the normal course. To these partners - "vacation" means "not as responsive during the day, but I'll still get you the same amount of work overnight." And there are other associates who probably average 1 week or less of actual vacation per year (not counting time off around holidays). For a job this demanding, it's unsustainable.