For financial growth, interest rate increase, inflation, high price and tax rise concept. Arrow up sign on wooden cube blocks above stack of coins including copy spaceAfter Cravath, Swaine & Moore set the new market rate for associate salaries and bonuses last month, dozens of firms in the Am Law 100 predictably followed suit.  

It's all part of the semi-regular Big Law cycle. 

Pack mentality? Herd mentality? Pick whichever analogy works for you.