Ben W. Heineman, Jr., former GE senior vice president-general counsel, is currently distinguished senior fellow at Harvard Law School’s Program on the Legal Profession and senior fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He is also senior counsel to Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr. He writes occasional commentary for The American Lawyer on developments in the law and the legal profession.David B. Wilkins is Kirkland & Ellis Professor of Law and director of the Program on the Legal Profession and Center on Lawyers and the Professional Services Industry at Harvard Law School.
At the 250 largest law firms, the arrows are pointing up for many associate indicators. Summer internships are up. Incoming associate classes are up. Recruiting costs for both summer and first-year associates, in dollars and in partner time, are up. Salaries are up ($160,000!). Bonuses are up ($50,000!). Concierge services are up. Stress management services are up. Twenty-five percent of the 40,000 graduating law students today go to these 250 firms, by some estimates.
