Biglaw firm Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer (A&P) has been criticized for its recent holiday bonus policy, which requires associates to burn the midnight oil to receive a special bonus. The firm’s market-standard year-end bonuses are seen as a good start, but the added short-notice hour requirements have left many associates unhappy.
According to A&P’s scale, associates need at least 2000 hours (with 1800 of those being client billable) and 2200 hours (with 2000 hours being client billable) to hit their base bonuses. However, a last-minute announcement with only 11 days left in the calendar year has raised concerns about the firm’s priorities.
Associates are expected to work non-stop during the holiday season, forgoing winter holidays and billing at least 18 hours per day until Christmas Eve. This policy is seen as demotivating and devaluing the well-being of A&P associates.
The move has sparked outrage among law students and professionals alike, who feel that their firm is more focused on profit than people. As one insider put it: “A&P sends a clear message: unlike at peer-ranked firms, we only value you when you’re billing.”
Source: https://abovethelaw.com/2024/12/biglaw-firm-celebrates-holidays-by-encouraging-associates-to-burn-the-midnight-oil