BigLaw associates received a welcome end-of-year boost in late 2025 as Cravath Swaine & Moore set the pace with year-end bonuses ranging from $15,000 (prorated for first-years) to $115,000 for seniors, plus special bonuses of $6,000–$25,000. This brought total payouts to approximately $21,000 for new associates and up to $140,000 for those in the Class of 2018 and above. Within days, a broad swath of elite firms — including Paul Weiss, Davis Polk, Skadden, Debevoise, and others — matched the scale, confirming it as the 2025 market standard.
While most major firms aligned lockstep, several introduced hour-based premiums or discretionary uplifts, and a handful of high-performing boutiques went significantly further. Firms like Wilkinson Stekloff and Cahill stood out with substantially higher year-end and “super” bonuses for top contributors, underscoring how performance, origination, and specialized practices continue to unlock outsized rewards amid fierce competition for talent.
Lawfuel’s 2025 BigLaw Bonus Intelligence Report distills the key data into clear visuals and strategic insights. Use it to benchmark your firm, understand total compensation impact, and prepare for 2026 negotiations or laterals.
