The average starting pay for first-year associates in Pennsylvania will be noticeably higher for this fall's class, with several firms increasing pay to $160,000 or just below, according to the National Association for Law Placement and data submitted by the firms.

Dechert formally increased its pay in Philadelphia and Princeton, New Jersey, in April to $160,000 to match what it had already been paying in other offices. Technically, DLA Piper had raised Philadelphia office starting pay to $160,000 a year earlier, but didn't have any first-year associates at the time. So Dechert's announcement, which affected about 90 associates in the region, forced other firms to analyze their own compensation scales.

Unlike in previous years, when one firm's salary increase had a domino effect on other firms, most Am Law 200 firms said in April they were reviewing their compensation levels but hadn't made any decisions on adjustments. It appears things have changed in the ensuing months.