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3rd/4th year lit associate at a NY/DC V20, moving to Boston for family after a clerkship. As of 2022, where can I make the most money? I know Kirkland has significantly above-market bonuses, which I assume also applies firm-wide in all major markets. But I don't know how hungry KE Boston is for lit associates. I heard Choate Hall pays market + market bonus + additional retention bonuses paying out $25k/$37.5k/$50k for 2/3/4+ years in a row meeting hours. Anywhere else I'm missing re: above-market comp in Beantown? All I care about is maxing out my comp; career dev/nice people are nice-to-haves.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 21, 2022 10:37 pm

3rd/4th year lit associate at a NY/DC V20, moving to Boston for family after a clerkship. As of 2022, where can I make the most money? I know Kirkland has significantly above-market bonuses, which I assume also applies firm-wide in all major markets. But I don't know how hungry KE Boston is for lit associates. I heard Choate Hall pays market + market bonus + additional retention bonuses paying out $25k/$37.5k/$50k for 2/3/4+ years in a row meeting hours. Anywhere else I'm missing re: above-market comp in Beantown? All I care about is maxing out my comp; career dev/nice people are nice-to-haves.

In no particular order, of firms that have boston offices, I’ve heard through grapevine that Skadden Quinn Dla do as well. Quinn is high hours req.

WilmerHale also pays above market for extra hours and/or based on merit (https://abovethelaw.com/2022/01/wilmer-match-22/). Generally an extra $5k for 2200, an extra $10k for 2500, and then an extra $10k for every 200 hours above that. In the past it's been less than K&E, but this year K&E's multipliers were down and I think WH took the lead for at least some years, depending on hours of course. The flat numbers across all classes work better for juniors (I made double market bonuses for a couple years), but end up leaving seniors making less than K&E peers.

Two other relevant points for WH: (1) I believe they don't have any time commitment for the clerkship bonus (though that might just apply to SCOTUS, so check me on that) and (2) when it comes to litigation, it's pretty much the top of the top in Boston (though you seem more interested in $ than preftige), which could have an impact on long-term prospects (though I'm not sure it makes much of a difference if you're looking at other firms like Quinn, K&E, Choate, Ropes, etc.).

Just wanted to note that while Quinn pays above market to some associates, they only do so for high billers. I think you need 2100 hours just to make market.

I don’t think Kirkland has litigation in Boston unless that’s changed more recently. It was mainly PE/corporate a couple of years ago.

If you care about money, Choate will probably be the best bet. Wilmer will be up there too.

Unfortunately Boston doesn’t have the insane market shattering litigation boutiques you’re probably hoping for.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 22, 2022 9:25 pm

I don’t think Kirkland has litigation in Boston unless that’s changed more recently. It was mainly PE/corporate a couple of years ago.

If you care about money, Choate will probably be the best bet. Wilmer will be up there too.

Unfortunately Boston doesn’t have the insane market shattering litigation boutiques you’re probably hoping for.

Yup, still no lit at Kirkland Boston.

Light hijack. Besides Quinn, are there any above market clerkship bonuses in Boston lit? D.Ct -> CA1 here.

Kirkland Boston has IP lit but its a small group

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Tue May 10, 2022 11:22 am

Light hijack. Besides Quinn, are there any above market clerkship bonuses in Boston lit? D.Ct -> CA1 here.

Bump

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri May 20, 2022 9:26 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Tue May 10, 2022 11:22 am

Light hijack. Besides Quinn, are there any above market clerkship bonuses in Boston lit? D.Ct -> CA1 here.

Bump

An above market boutique might let you work remote. You could also give Jones Day I&A a try.