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Does anyone know what the current "market" signing bonus is for a mid-level associate? (I am not in M&A, in case that matters). What would be a reasonable number to ask for?

I just signed an offer letter. Initially I didn’t receive a signing bonus, but I asked for $30K and the firm (Amlaw 10) agreed. I’m a third year associate in a specialty group.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Mon May 16, 2022 3:41 pm

I just signed an offer letter. Initially I didn’t receive a signing bonus, but I asked for $30K and the firm (Amlaw 10) agreed. I’m a third year associate in a specialty group.

Did the bonus come with a full year clawback?

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Mon May 16, 2022 3:53 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Mon May 16, 2022 3:41 pm

I just signed an offer letter. Initially I didn’t receive a signing bonus, but I asked for $30K and the firm (Amlaw 10) agreed. I’m a third year associate in a specialty group.

Did the bonus come with a full year clawback?

Got 45k as soon-to-be third year. Non-NY major market, switching practice groups into a non-M&A transactional practice from a V10 to a V30. They started around the 30k mark but once I got some other matches I was able to negotiate it up. I had several offers and each and every one came with a one-year clawback.

One thing to negotiate for as well is a guaranteed market-rate bonus with prorated hours requirement. I only have to bill ~1000 hours from Mid June to January to get a full market-rate bonus instead of the usual 2000.

Mid-level corporate associate looking to lateral. Any firms still handing out $100k signing bonuses?