McDermott Leads Boston Law Pay Surge | Boston News

McDermott Will & Schulte just shattered the Boston legal pay ceiling by launching a $235,000 starting salary for first-year associates—making them the first firm in town to do so and aligning them with elite New York firms like Milbank. In a fiercely competitive market packed with 230+ law firms and 8,500+ attorneys, this bold move is all about snatching top legal talent and keeping them. Nationally, the median first-year salary hit $200K in early 2025, with $225K being the sweet spot—though McDermott’s new rate is a clear signal they’re aiming for the top tier. And it’s working: a big chunk of their associates are raking in bonuses that rival or even exceed the Cravath scale, proving this isn’t just a pay bump—it’s a full-on talent war strategy. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/caf0a5a4d54c393f