We’ve previously shared highlights from the 2015 Report on the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge®, such as information about attorney charitable giving and participation by firm size. Challenge signatories visibly acknowledge their institutional, firm-wide commitment to provide pro bono legal services. They agree that they “will use [their] best efforts to ensure that a majority of both partners and associates in the firm participate annually in pro bono activities.” Participation rates in 2015 increased for both partners and associates: 66.0% of partners and 83.6% of associates participated in pro bono, with an overall attorney participation rate of 74.6%. Many law

In the Spring, PBI’s Law Firm Pro Bono Project released its 2015 Report on the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge®, which examines the pro bono activities of Challenge signatories. We’ve previously shared highlights about pro bono time devoted to those of limited means and law firm charitable giving. This year, for the first time, we analyzed pro bono performance by firm size. Firms with headcounts of more than 1,000 attorneys had the highest average pro bono percentage in 2015 (3.77%): Similarly, attorney participation rates steadily rose as firm size increased: We are thankful to all signatories, regardless of headcount, for

Here we go again.  In early June, Cravath, Swaine & Moore announced that it was increasing starting salaries for associates from $160,000 to $180,000, the first material hike in almost a decade.  (The last time law firms made significant changes to the associate compensation scale was in 2007, and before that it was 1999.) Predictably, Cravath’s move triggered similar raises with firms announcing matching compensation scales. As the legal market continues to evolve, the consequences of the pay increases remain unsettled, including their impact on minimum billable hour requirements. Whatever actions law firms take, it is critically important that they