Biglaw salaries just keep going up, up, up. Much like the viral Huntrix anthem that’s been stuck in everyone’s head, compensation in the legal industry seems determined to hit ever higher notes. The only question now is which firm will be the next to join the chorus and send associate pay soaring even further.
Earlier today, Milbank announced it was upping the compensation stakes for associates, increasing its salary scale by an impressive $10,000 to $20,000, depending on class year. Now McDermott Will & Schulte — less than a year after its merger — is here with its own salary news, announcing that the firm will be matching Milbank’s new compensation grid. Attorneys at the firm are thrilled about the super-quick match.
Here’s what the new salary scale looks like at the firm:
- Class of 2026/2025: $235,000
- Class of 2024: $245,000
- Class of 2023: $270,000
- Class of 2022: $320,000
- Class of 2021: $385,000
- Class of 2020: $410,000
- Class of 2019: $440,000
- Class of 2018: $455,000
Congratulations to everyone at McDermott!
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Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
