Law School Discussion Forums
https://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/
https://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=314728
This stuff is kind of goofy. The firms that guarantee bonuses tend to be the busiest ones (and probably wouldn't tolerate someone coasting in with 1600 billables like you seem to suggest); the firms with hours cuts tend to be places where it's not certain that you'll have enough work. It's kind of like unlimited PTO: it doesn't, actually, mean you take more time off.grandedestroyer wrote: ↑Sat Sep 09, 2023 7:49 amI've tried to search the site, and I've seen people comment that 15-20 firms guarantee bonuses, so which biglaw firms do so regardless of hours? (Or have a low target e.g. 1800 or one that can be stacked with 200+ pro bono hours)
Perhaps theoretically, but market bonuses being zero have never happened as long as "market" has been a thing. Even 2008/9 had market bonuses that were not zero. Things would have to be grim indeed for that to happen.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Mon Sep 11, 2023 10:19 amSo that we're being clear: no firm guarantees bonuses; some will guarantee market bonus regardless of hours. But market bonus could be zero in a recession.
What do these places do if a woman worked like 8 months and billed maybe 1500 that year, but then misses the last four for the birth of her child? Full bonus still? Could see it mattering for situations like that.soft blue wrote: ↑Sat Sep 09, 2023 2:19 pmThis stuff is kind of goofy. The firms that guarantee bonuses tend to be the busiest ones (and probably wouldn't tolerate someone coasting in with 1600 billables like you seem to suggest); the firms with hours cuts tend to be places where it's not certain that you'll have enough work. It's kind of like unlimited PTO: it doesn't, actually, mean you take more time off.grandedestroyer wrote: ↑Sat Sep 09, 2023 7:49 amI've tried to search the site, and I've seen people comment that 15-20 firms guarantee bonuses, so which biglaw firms do so regardless of hours? (Or have a low target e.g. 1800 or one that can be stacked with 200+ pro bono hours)
Not all firms that guarantee bonuses without any target are that busy. I'm in an overseas market, and I know someone at a V20's overseas office (with no target for bonus) that just billed around 1300 or so last year but still got a full market bonus. I also know someone at another V20 that billed clearly above their firm's target, but only ended up getting a partial bonus. The firms with targets can still mess up with your bonus regardless of whether you meet their targets or not. It's much better to be at a top firm with no billable requirement. What's important is the firm's PPP, not whether or not the firm has a target.soft blue wrote: ↑Sat Sep 09, 2023 2:19 pmThis stuff is kind of goofy. The firms that guarantee bonuses tend to be the busiest ones (and probably wouldn't tolerate someone coasting in with 1600 billables like you seem to suggest); the firms with hours cuts tend to be places where it's not certain that you'll have enough work. It's kind of like unlimited PTO: it doesn't, actually, mean you take more time off.grandedestroyer wrote: ↑Sat Sep 09, 2023 7:49 amI've tried to search the site, and I've seen people comment that 15-20 firms guarantee bonuses, so which biglaw firms do so regardless of hours? (Or have a low target e.g. 1800 or one that can be stacked with 200+ pro bono hours)