COVID-19 keeps on messing up… everything. And with a whole mess of states not even close to controlling the outbreak, well, it isn’t going to end any time soon.
In normal times, the Biglaw year has a certain rhythm to it. The Summer Associates start in June, on-campus recruitment starts in August, the class of new associates begin in September/October after they’ve taken the July bar exam… but the coronavirus has thrown a wrench into all of this. Sumer programs — to the extend they’re happening — have been thrown into chaos, and are mostly happening online. My colleague Joe Patrice has made a veritable cottage industry out of writing about how various states are changing (or not, yikes) the bar exam to deal with this new reality.
Now we’re focusing on when Biglaw firms will welcome their newest class of associates. Since firms are taking distinct approaches, it’s appropriate to start a chart to track exactly which firms are doing what.
As always, our vast network of tipsters is part of what makes Above the Law thrive. If you have any additional information about new associate start dates, please let us know. We’ll be updating this chart daily. You can email us or text us (646-820-8477).
| Firm Name | Start Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Baker Botts | 2021 | |
| Baker McKenzie | January 25, 2021 | |
| Benesch Friedlander | February 2021 | |
| Clark Hill | January 2021 | |
| Cleary | January 2021 | The firm will increase the salary advance from $10,000 to $20,000. |
| Cravath | October and November 2020 | |
| Debevoise | September 21 or October 19, 2020 | Associates in the NY office are not expected to go to the office immediately, but are expected to work from a quiet location from at least 8:45 am to 7:00 pm during orientation. |
| Dickinson Wright | January 2021 | |
| Eversheds Sutherland | January 2021 | |
| Foley & Lardner | February 1, 2021 | The firm will offer a second salary advance of $10,000 to be distributed in October. |
| Fox Rothschild | January 2021 | |
| Hogan Lovells | January 2021 | Additional stipend of $25,000 to deferred associates. |
| Mayer Brown | January 2021 | |
| Milbank | October 12, 2020 and a date in January 2021 | Associate option on start date. Associates do not have to arrange housing near office at this time. Notice will be provided before new associates are required to be physically in the office. |
| Nixon Peabody | February 2021 | Deferred fall associates will receive a $10,000 salary advance. |
| Reed Smith | January 2021 | Associates “will receive a stipend for the Fall 2020, paid bar exam and study costs as planned, and will receive health insurance beginning in September 2020.” |
| Seyfarth Shaw | January 2021 | |
| Simpson Thacher | Mid-late January 2021 | Contingent on associates taking the bar exam. Associates may received up to a $20,000 salary advance. |
| Squire Patton Boggs | January 2021 | |
| Troutman Pepper | January 2021 | The firm “will provide our entry-level associate class with financial assistance to help defray living expenses and costs associated with taking and studying for the bar exam this fall, as well as the ability to enroll in the firm’s health insurance plan.” |
| Vedder Price | January 2021 |
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).