Bonus Waiting Game Reveals Shift in Big Law Compensation Race

The dog days of summer bring a measure of respite for junior lawyers at the country’s largest firms.

The human billing machines are still expected to crank out hours, but many can do it without senior partners hovering over them or lurking down the hall. Those folks are on the golf course, at the beach, or wherever else the well-heeled take their leisure.

Big Law associates are using the extra breathing room to ponder life’s important questions, like: Are we going to get more money?

It’s been more than two weeks since Milbank LLP announced summer bonuses, up to $25,000 ...