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Do most big law firms offer a signing bonus to 2L summer associates who sign to take a post graduation offer? Also, any word on if salaries are expected to go up for big law in 2022?

I have absolutely no inside info, but I would be very surprised if salaries went up again. I think this was a very unusual year. Also, signing bonuses aren't a thing for summers are they? I always thought of them as enticements for needed laterals, not a run-of-the-mill recent grad. Could be wrong, though.

I think a select few do signing bonuses but vast majority do not. Couldn't remember which ones. I believe most give you an advance that is paid down during your first year, and often some moving reimbursement.

Some may give you a bar stipend to cover living expenses for your post-3L summer, but it's not normally very much.

Several firms give JD-MBAs signing bonuses.

No personal experience with this, but it seems that the only 3Ls I’ve seen get a signing bonus are JD/MBAs (and even then I think they’ve usually been trading up, not going to the firm they summered with). But again, limited knowledge.

As is often noted on this site, some firms will give a bar summer stipend, while others will give a bar summer salary advance. The stipend is extra money; the advance is later deducted from your paycheck when you begin full time. This is a big enough difference IMO to be a reasonable tiebreaker between two offers that are perceived as equal. I think my stipend was $10,000, but maybe it has since gone up.

As a data point - Skadden gives $25k to 1L scholars returning for their 2L summer, and then another $25k when they return as 1st year associates.

However, I don't think there's a signing bonus for 2L summers (not from the 1L scholars program) returning to the firm. There's a salary advance and reimbursement for moving costs though.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 12:03 pm

As a data point - Skadden gives $25k to 1L scholars returning for their 2L summer, and then another $25k when they return as 1st year associates.

However, I don't think there's a signing bonus for 2L summers (not from the 1L scholars program) returning to the firm. There's a salary advance and reimbursement for moving costs though.

I was a 1L Scholar at Skadden last year. My offer was 15k + 15k after I sign with the firm FT. Are you sure it's 25k...should I be asking for more?

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 1:10 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 12:03 pm

As a data point - Skadden gives $25k to 1L scholars returning for their 2L summer, and then another $25k when they return as 1st year associates.

However, I don't think there's a signing bonus for 2L summers (not from the 1L scholars program) returning to the firm. There's a salary advance and reimbursement for moving costs though.

I was a 1L Scholar at Skadden last year. My offer was 15k + 15k after I sign with the firm FT. Are you sure it's 25k...should I be asking for more?

Yup, 100% sure. We just got the materials for this year's 1L scholars program, and they increased the amount to $25k + $25k. Might be worth a shot asking if they are willing to match this year's increase, but I'm not sure if they actually have the discretion and/or approval to do so.