Why BigLaw Pay Raises Are Becoming a Training Problem

Higher salaries may help elite firms compete for talent, but they also raise a harder question: are law firms developing associates fast enough to justify what they now cost?

BigLaw pay raises are usually discussed as a compensation story.

Associates focus on the salary.

Law students focus on the opportunity.

Firms focus on matching the market.

Recruiters focus on which firms move first and which firms fall behind.

But the more important story may not be about pay at all.

It may be about training.

Every time BigLaw raises associate…