Incoming associates at Kaye Scholer will all start in January, right on (deferred) schedule. The only thing is, half of them will be paid $100,000 less per year than their colleagues. The class was divided based partially on practice group preference and to a certain extent, arbitrarily. Instead of extending the deferrals for half the class, Kaye Scholer is putting them to work in the pro bono department and paying them $60,000 per year plus benefits. This mirrors the stipends being paid by several other firms, who are turning the deferred associates out on the street to do public service law.
Is this an improvement? Tell us what you think.
