Unfortunately for the hopeful Class of 1999, 1998 was an aberration – most first-year associates won’t be receiving a raise over the typical $90,100 starting salary the new kids got last year.

A survey of 25 of the largest firms in Texas also reveals that the number of associates in the 1999 first-year class, while larger than last year’s, does not represent as significant a jump as the 1998 class did.