Associate lockstep is a simple way of making sure that junior lawyers are, by and large, remunerated according to their level of experience and client exposure. And it’s easy to see the attraction for law firms given the degree of certainty that comes from knowing exactly how much your associate salary base will cost.
The problem is it is also very crude. As many managers will attest, the standard of employees at any level of the lockstep can vary wildly. And while an individual may be outstanding at one part of their job, they may well be lacking in another.
