Clifford Chance (CC) is set to pay out a new spring bonus to its US associates, following the trend seen in the US legal market in recent months.

The magic circle firm informed its New York and Washington DC associates today (10 March) that they will receive a bonus ranging from $2,500 (£1,600) to $20,000 (£12,400), depending on post-qualification experience.

The scale starts at $2,500 for associates who qualified in 2010, with the top figure of $20,000 awarded to associates who qualified in 2006 or earlier. The bonuses will be paid out at the end of April.

The info was announced in an internal memo from US managing partner Craig Medwick, which thanked associates for their client work and dedication to the firm, but also said that the bonus payment will be subject to an assessment of each associate's overall performance, including quality of work, contribution, teamwork and volunteer efforts.

CC's bonus scale matches that of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, which became the first UK firm to announce US spring bonuses last month (15 February).

Freshfields' decision was followed by Linklaters, which announced a week later that it would also pay spring bonuses. The magic circle rival's bonus scale begins with its 2009 qualifiers, who will be paid $7,500 (£4,700).

However, CC's scale is more generous to mid-level associates than Linklaters, with Linklaters only handing out the top $20,000 award to associates who qualified in 2003 or earlier.

News of the magic circle spring bonuses in the US comes after several leading US firms – including Cravath Swaine & Moore, Sullivan & Cromwell, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Davis Polk & Wardwell and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton – announced similar payouts.

Allen & Overy has also said that it is considering a spring bonus for its US associates.

CC spring bonus scale in full

Year qualified – bonus
2010 – $2,500
2009 – $7,500
2008 – $10,000
2007 – $15,000
2006 – $20,000
2005 – $20,000
2004 – $20,000
2003+ – $20,000