Jones Day Compensation Data Points Forum

[2013]

Not wishing to move discussion away from the potential discrimination issues (which are serious and ought to be fully explored), but on the flip side are there associates who earn more under the JD black box than what they would under the Cravath/Milbank (whatever it is now called) scale?

I recall an article some years ago about a federal official whose disclosure indicated he pulled 800k (or a similarly unusual figure) as a JD associate.

Lol the guy making 800k was not getting that as a base salary. He was paid a one-time departure bonus of something like 300k when he left to work for the Trump administration. This is disclosed somewhere in the gender discrimination lawsuit papers, but I can’t remember which filing (something by Jones Day, because they were rebutting that his base salary was that high by saying he got a one-time bonus). Super sketchy that the only bonuses going out at Jones Day are to attorneys heading to the Trump administration.

Also - I’m a current JD mid level in major market that did not get a raise this year. This means we didn’t get 2019 bonuses either because those should have been “baked in” to this new salary. Feeling very under appreciated.

Also, that guy’s father-in-law was the managing partner of Jones Day’s SF office or something.

[jackshunger]

Not wishing to move discussion away from the potential discrimination issues (which are serious and ought to be fully explored), but on the flip side are there associates who earn more under the JD black box than what they would under the Cravath/Milbank (whatever it is now called) scale?

I recall an article some years ago about a federal official whose disclosure indicated he pulled 800k (or a similarly unusual figure) as a JD associate.

Lol the guy making 800k was not getting that as a base salary. He was paid a one-time departure bonus of something like 300k when he left to work for the Trump administration. This is disclosed somewhere in the gender discrimination lawsuit papers, but I can’t remember which filing (something by Jones Day, because they were rebutting that his base salary was that high by saying he got a one-time bonus). Super sketchy that the only bonuses going out at Jones Day are to attorneys heading to the Trump administration.

Also - I’m a current JD mid level in major market that did not get a raise this year. This means we didn’t get 2019 bonuses either because those should have been “baked in” to this new salary. Feeling very under appreciated.

Also, that guy’s father-in-law was the managing partner of Jones Day’s SF office or something.

You are discussing James Burnham, and he is hardly emblematic of anything. He's extremely well connected, was in the running for a 9th Circuit judge spot, and Gorsuch just hired him to be a SCOTUS clerk.

[ChairmanKaga]

You are discussing James Burnham, and he is hardly emblematic of anything. He's extremely well connected, was in the running for a 9th Circuit judge spot, and Gorsuch just hired him to be a SCOTUS clerk.

He's at least emblematic of the possible benefits of Jones Day's black box system in rare cases, isn't he? The point being almost no other firm would pay a sixth year associate $810,000 bonus-inclusive.

[LBJ's Hair]

You are discussing James Burnham, and he is hardly emblematic of anything. He's extremely well connected, was in the running for a 9th Circuit judge spot, and Gorsuch just hired him to be a SCOTUS clerk.

He's at least emblematic of the possible benefits of Jones Day's black box system in rare cases, isn't he? The point being almost no other firm would pay a sixth year associate $810,000 bonus-inclusive.

I think black box sucks and would never work at Jones Day, but if you're gonna paint their compensation system as unfair, "the guy who was in the running for a CA9 judgeship got paid a lot" is an odd example.

[jackshunger]

You are discussing James Burnham, and he is hardly emblematic of anything. He's extremely well connected, was in the running for a 9th Circuit judge spot, and Gorsuch just hired him to be a SCOTUS clerk.

He's at least emblematic of the possible benefits of Jones Day's black box system in rare cases, isn't he? The point being almost no other firm would pay a sixth year associate $810,000 bonus-inclusive.

I'm not a fan of the black box system, but pointing to him as an example of anything replicable or ordinary at JD isn't a good idea. He's a SCOTUS clerk and superstar on the rainmaker partner track, who I assume could pull high figures at other firms that have 6-year partnership tracks. Presumably, they paid him to keep him from jumping ship.

[Anonymous User]

Bump to say that with other firms getting fall bonuses, associates who are friends of mine are squirming. No raise for most this year. Already below market. No bonus. And now no fall bonus.

[Anonymous User]

Bump to say that with other firms getting fall bonuses, associates who are friends of mine are squirming. No raise for most this year. Already below market. No bonus. And now no fall bonus.

Is there a chance we’re made whole (at least kind of)? I know that people have gotten raises effective January 1 in the past...

I’m sure that’s very unlikely but apparently the firm is doing even better this year than last year.

[Anonymous User]

Bump to say that with other firms getting fall bonuses, associates who are friends of mine are squirming. No raise for most this year. Already below market. No bonus. And now no fall bonus.

Is there a chance we’re made whole (at least kind of)? I know that people have gotten raises effective January 1 in the past...

I’m sure that’s very unlikely but apparently the firm is doing even better this year than last year.

Seems unlikely. Nothing from firm leadership so far. The fact that the firm is having a good year just makes it worse I think. It’ll be interesting to watch morale when other firms start announcing bonuses.

[Anonymous User]

Bump to say that with other firms getting fall bonuses, associates who are friends of mine are squirming. No raise for most this year. Already below market. No bonus. And now no fall bonus.

Is there a chance we’re made whole (at least kind of)? I know that people have gotten raises effective January 1 in the past...

I’m sure that’s very unlikely but apparently the firm is doing even better this year than last year.

Seems unlikely. Nothing from firm leadership so far. The fact that the firm is having a good year just makes it worse I think. It’ll be interesting to watch morale when other firms start announcing bonuses.

The lack of transparency is just staggering. I’m sure you’re right and we won’t hear a thing on pay. I don’t know a single associate happy with the system/their pay, and it will only get worse as “peer firms” hand out massive bonuses again.

[Anonymous User]

Would not be surprised at all if associates are not made whole—and not really even told anything—in the firm’s offices in secondary markets. Even without raises this year, those associates are still ahead of most peers in those cities. But I can’t imagine this sits particularly well with any associates in $190K cities. As other firms in those cities do away with cuts and some give fall bonuses, the gap is just getting bigger and bigger.

[Anonymous User]

For people considering firms in secondary cities. Can anyone provide salary data points? For non-190k cities?

[Anonymous User]

For people considering firms in secondary cities. Can anyone provide salary data points? For non-190k cities?

1st - 170; 2nd - 180; 3rd - 200; 4th - 215. No raises this year for most associates, some cuts, very few raises. Would be curious if others have data points for more mid- to senior-level associates.

[Anonymous User]

For people considering firms in secondary cities. Can anyone provide salary data points? For non-190k cities?

1st - 170; 2nd - 180; 3rd - 200; 4th - 215. No raises this year for most associates, some cuts, very few raises. Would be curious if others have data points for more mid- to senior-level associates.

Don’t have much other than my friend who is a third year. She was at 180 with no raise this year.

[Lestersandy]

For people considering firms in secondary cities. Can anyone provide salary data points? For non-190k cities?

1st - 170; 2nd - 180; 3rd - 200; 4th - 215. No raises this year for most associates, some cuts, very few raises. Would be curious if others have data points for more mid- to senior-level associates.

Whoa. You’ve heard of cuts?

[Anonymous User]

Reminder that not only does Jones Day glaringly underpay its associates and discriminate against women and minorities, but on top of that they are now actively seeking to undermine this country's faith in the democratic process.

[jackshunger]

Reminder that not only does Jones Day glaringly underpay its associates and discriminate against women and minorities, but on top of that they are now actively seeking to undermine this country's faith in the democratic process.

Glad to see the Lincoln Project has moved from grifting people on Twitter to anon posting on TLS

[lawlo]

Reminder that not only does Jones Day glaringly underpay its associates and discriminate against women and minorities, but on top of that they are now actively seeking to undermine this country's faith in the democratic process.

One of the first things you learn in law school is not to make conclusory statements. None of this has been proven, and investigating election fraud contributes to the integrity of the democratic process. Regardless, the no bonus thing sounds shitty.

[Anonymous User]

I have a close friend at a secondary $190K market and they said morale is terrible right now and will only get worse once other firms start announcing bonuses. They seem extremely unhappy with firm leadership.

[lolwutpar]

Reminder that not only does Jones Day glaringly underpay its associates and discriminate against women and minorities, but on top of that they are now actively seeking to undermine this country's faith in the democratic process.

One of the first things you learn in law school is not to make conclusory statements. None of this has been proven, and investigating election fraud contributes to the integrity of the democratic process. Regardless, the no bonus thing sounds shitty.

lol is this the account of Mr. Jones or Mr. Day?

[lawlo]

M. Jones-Day, thank you very much.

[Anonymous User]

My friend at JD in secondary city received a 5k raise. He blamed himself: always entering time late despite constant warnings from partners, missing deadlines, and barely making his target hours.

Not a very useful DP but figured I'd throw it out there.

[da.goat]

My friend at JD in (secondary city) received a 5k raise last year. He blamed himself: always entering time late despite constant warnings from partners, missing deadlines, and barely making his target hours.

Not a very useful DP but figured I'd throw it out there.

Maybe edit your post so that your friend is not outed.

[The Lsat Airbender]

Maybe edit your post so that your friend is not outed.

*complains that a post might out someone*

*quotes it in its entirety*

[Anonymous User]

Maybe edit your post so that your friend is not outed.

*complains that a post might out someone*

*quotes it in its entirety*

And then re-mentions the office and the person's class year in their post.

[da.goat]

Major idiot moment on my part, sorry for that. This is what Friday biglaw brain looks like. It won't let me edit, but if there's an admin reading, please delete/edit my previous post