Giving notice before getting bonus Forum

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know whether you can still get above market bonus at the rate you deserve if you gave notice before the year end? Say for people who have 3000+ billables but are leaving, will the firm give out significantly less than what they would?

[2013]

The firm will give you nothing.

Edit: I don’t know why people on here keep thinking that their firms will give them a bonus AFTER they give notice.

[Anonymous User]

I don't think you understand what a law firm bonus really is. Our industry's bonuses are not really a reward for past work (though its often framed and measured that way), that is your salary. If it was strictly about past work, there would be a set rubric based on profits from the last year (or something like that), like profit sharing agreements you see at corporations.

A law firm bonus is about retention. The firm made a lot of money by having you employed, and they want to make sure they incentivize you to stay there rather than needing to go through the expense of getting someone to replace you, to keep making money for them. So, they lump all this extra, discretionary money into a lump sum payment, to incentivize you to stay and see how much you can get. They might, depending on your firm, vary the ammount based on past work to also incentivise people to work hard, but the primary purpose is to keep you working at the firm.

If you are leaving, what would be the point of the firm going ahead and paying that bonus to you? If they go ahead and do it, good for you, and that might be the best thing for the firm for future client development if you are going in house with a company they want to represent/keep representing. But I wouldn't go in thinking they for sure will if you give notice before they are paid out.

See also, viewtopic.php?f=23&t=309572

[ExpOriental]

Does anyone know whether you can still get above market bonus at Kirkland at the rate you deserve if you gave notice before the year end? Say for people who have 3000+ billables but are leaving, will the firm give out significantly less than what they would?

Adorable

[publius365]

The firm will give you nothing.

Edit: I don’t know why people on here keep thinking that their firms will give them a bonus AFTER they give notice.

[Anonymous User]

Not going to start a new thread but I have a related question.

How much notice should I give in biglaw, generally speaking (completely taking bonus/bonus timing out of the equation)? I'm thinking between 2-4 weeks but curious to hear any advantages to giving more or less notice within that window.

[WFGhallager]

The firm will give you nothing.

Edit: I don’t know why people on here keep thinking that their firms will give them a bonus AFTER they give notice.

I'm always in awe that people who ask such dumb questions end up in biglaw. How?!

[Anonymous User]

The firm will give you nothing.

Edit: I don’t know why people on here keep thinking that their firms will give them a bonus AFTER they give notice.

I'm always in awe that people who ask such dumb questions end up in biglaw. How?!

Because it's biglaw where people with lack of common sense get hired.