$10K Raises For Philadelphia Associates

Three more Philadelphia law firms have joined in the parade to raise starting salaries. Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin and Saul Ewing both moved their starting wage from $105,000 to $115,000, and Fox Rothschild is jacking its rate from $100,000 to $110,000.

Six other firms ' Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, Blank Rome, Duane Morris, Pepper Hamilton, Reed Smith and Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen ' raised their salaries to $115,00 earlier this fall while Cozen O'Connor moved up to $110,000. Dechert and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius had already established a starting salary of $125,000 2 years ago while Drinker Biddle & Reath moved to $115,000 soon after.

Hangley Aronchick managing partner David Pudlin said the decision was made so that the firm could be competitive in the entry-level recruiting process. But he added that all of the firm's associates will receive $10,000 raises.

Saul Ewing Chairman Stephen Aichele says the market shift also precipitated the increase at his firm. Like Hangley Aronchick, all Saul Ewing associates will receive $10,000 raises. “It's been a while but the marketplace has changed and we can't afford to be left behind,” Aichele says. “This is not only for recruiting but also to keep our existing associates.”

Fox Rothschild managing partner Abraham Reich said the move to $110,000 will keep the firm competitive with its large-firm brethren. He said while there will be some ripple effect on the firm's more experienced associates; not all of them will receive $10,000 raises. He did say the firm will focus on its merit-based bonus program to supplement base salary.

Wolf Block's previously announced plan is similar: lockstep raises for second- and third-year associates vs. merit-based salary and bonus increases for those in their fourth year and above. According to Phil Garber, Wolf Block's human resources partner, there is no exact formula for the merit-based raises, but it will include quality of work, the amount of billable hours, pro bono efforts and firm citizenship. Wolf Block plans to pay for the raises through a combination of billing rate adjustments, partner profits or having associates bill more hours.

Three more Philadelphia law firms have joined in the parade to raise starting salaries. Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin and Saul Ewing both moved their starting wage from $105,000 to $115,000, and Fox Rothschild is jacking its rate from $100,000 to $110,000.

Six other firms ' Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, Blank Rome, Duane Morris, Pepper Hamilton, Reed Smith and Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen ' raised their salaries to $115,00 earlier this fall while Cozen O'Connor moved up to $110,000. Dechert and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius had already established a starting salary of $125,000 2 years ago while Drinker Biddle & Reath moved to $115,000 soon after.

Hangley Aronchick managing partner David Pudlin said the decision was made so that the firm could be competitive in the entry-level recruiting process. But he added that all of the firm's associates will receive $10,000 raises.

Saul Ewing Chairman Stephen Aichele says the market shift also precipitated the increase at his firm. Like Hangley Aronchick, all Saul Ewing associates will receive $10,000 raises. “It's been a while but the marketplace has changed and we can't afford to be left behind,” Aichele says. “This is not only for recruiting but also to keep our existing associates.”

Fox Rothschild managing partner Abraham Reich said the move to $110,000 will keep the firm competitive with its large-firm brethren. He said while there will be some ripple effect on the firm's more experienced associates; not all of them will receive $10,000 raises. He did say the firm will focus on its merit-based bonus program to supplement base salary.

Wolf Block's previously announced plan is similar: lockstep raises for second- and third-year associates vs. merit-based salary and bonus increases for those in their fourth year and above. According to Phil Garber, Wolf Block's human resources partner, there is no exact formula for the merit-based raises, but it will include quality of work, the amount of billable hours, pro bono efforts and firm citizenship. Wolf Block plans to pay for the raises through a combination of billing rate adjustments, partner profits or having associates bill more hours.