Monday, April 17, 2006

More Big Firm Salary Increases

This just heard through the grape vine: more salary increases at big U.S. firms are apparently underway. The latest bump is from $135,000 to $145,000. Not a huge bump, but not peanuts, either.

Does this mean that big firm associates will be subject to even greater pressures to perform? Yes. Does it make it more likely that first year associates will be loss leaders? Yes. Do I like the idea of yet more raises? No. Check out some of my previous posts here, here and here.

For those of you considering starting your careers at big firms, the money is great, and depending on the firm and the practice area the work can be exciting (mine was, anyway). But don't for a minute think that this latest raise is free money, and that the firm can't make you work even harder to pay for it. I'm not warning people away from big firms; I just think anyone joining a big firm should go in with their eyes open.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Do you think that this will cause law firms in smaller markets to raise their starting salaries too?