The New BigLaw Salary War Is Really a Test of Associate Value

Rising associate salaries may look like a win for lawyers, but they also raise a harder question for law firms, clients, and associates: what makes a lawyer worth the investment?

BigLaw is paying more again.

For law students and associates, that sounds like good news.

Higher salaries mean elite firms are still competing for talent. They mean the top of the legal market remains profitable enough to spend aggressively. They mean that, despite AI, automation, client pressure, and changing workflows, law firms still need lawyers.

But t…