After multiple rounds of associate pay hikes, several Southeast law firms, including large and midsize law firms in Atlanta, have starting associate salaries that now reach the top of the industry standard, while many others in the region still have pay below the median for their size, according to a National Law Journal survey of firms.

Across the nation, law firms en masse increased their associate pay in the last two years, in mid- 2021 and then again in early 2022, after a battle for talent and soaring demand. Most Southeast large law firms also raised their pay, according to results of an NLJ 500 survey, with one firm raising it by 20% between 2022 and 2023.