Contrary to nobody’s belief, Big Law associates like money—it’s the reason they deal with a lifestyle that could be described as Sisyphean. In addition to base compensation, they can earn bonuses for exceeding billable hour targets.
But what about the associates who actually bring clients into the firm? What is the reward for flying so close to the sun—a pat on the back or a shaky implication that your odds of making partner just went up slightly? With no standardized method of rewarding origination outside the partnership at most Big Law firms, associates are hoping for a change that benefits them if they manage to land a new client or two.