A new caste system for lawyers

This article contains some interesting insights on the state of play in the legal services industry after the recession. The main thrust of the article is a description of a new 'caste system' for lawyers made up of three groups. Firms are increasingly drawing a distinction between a partner track and a non-partner track for associate career development, with few star summer associates offered a $160,000 position, while ‘staff lawyers’ are offered between $65,000 and $90,000. These staff lawyers do the same work the $160,000 associates are doing, but with less expectations from the firm. The third group of associates are the contract or temporary lawyers who work per diem on a set project with no benefits and no promise of work beyond the one project.

A new caste system for lawyers law.com Wed, Oct 6, 2010