The 200-attorney Los Angeles law firm Irell & Manella has announced associate bonuses that are not only more generous than those being handed out by many national firms, but, for senior associates, represent an increase over last year’s bonuses.
The bonuses, announced last week during a meeting between associates and managing partner Elliot Brown, ranged from $15,000 for the class of 2008 to $70,000 for the class of 2002. Those sums contrast sharply with the far less generous bonus scale of $7,500 to $35,000 adopted by other leading firms in light of the economic downturn. Irell’s bonus scale was first reported on the legal news blog Above the Law.
