In today’s dynamic legal market, it’s possible to change jobs without leaving your desk—whether your desk is at home or in a commercial office building, or both, depending upon the day. With the increasing pace of partner moves, practice group acquisitions, spin-off firms, and law firm mergers, you might find yourself working for a progression…
Avoiding your supervising partners’ pet peeves is easy as long as you conform to their idea of the perfect lawyer. What top partners from prestigious law firms say they are looking for in the ideal associate also applies to lawyers at all levels of seniority, and is a roadmap to success. This is what they…
You need a vacation. You’ve earned it. But can you manage to get away? A March 2023 Pew Research Center survey shows that only 48% of U.S. workers use all their allotted vacation days each year. It’s a good bet that the percentage is even smaller for lawyers. According to a July 12, 2022 Forbes article, the benefits of…
Money shouldn’t be the primary motive for a career move, but it’s an important factor. In a down market, lawyers have little bargaining power; but in good times, law firms compete financially for the best and the brightest. Historically, elite New York law firms led the pack in associate salary increases, and other firms struggled…
Law firms pay associate bonuses not only to incentivize excellent performance and high productivity, but also to entice lawyers to join them and stay. Firms may pay discretionary bonuses predicated on excellent associate work and strong financial performance of the firm, hours bonuses requiring a minimum number of annual billable hours for any bonus eligibility…
Law firm lawyers live by the billable hour, but there are many other types of hours—not all of them billable—expected of you by the firm. In addition to performing work for clients, partners (and aspiring partners) also must squeeze into their busy workdays other essential functions such as attorney training, mentoring and development, client development…
