Associate Compensation
The current annual base salary for first-year associates firmwide is $160,000. Compensation for all associates is competitive with those of major law firms in our markets. Cooley generally considers associate bonuses annually in January based on the associates' contributions to the Firm in the previous year. When calculating bonuses, the Firm considers several factors, including quality of work, productivity, ability to work well with clients and other members of the Firm (attorneys, paralegals and staff) and progress towards partnership.
Attorney Benefits
- 401(K) plan
- Accidental death & dismemberment insurance
- Advanced degree credit
- Adoptive leave—paid and unpaid
- Backup childcare services
- Bar exam stipend and fees
- Bar membership dues
- Bereavement leave
- Continuing legal education
- Dependent care spending accounts
- Dependent care referrals
- Employee assistance program
- Employee referral bonuses
- Family care leave
- Firm-paid holidays
- Health care spending accounts
- Health club dues subsidy
- Investment partnership
- Judicial clerkships bonuses and credit
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability insurance
- Medical, dental and vision care benefits (Insurance carrier permitting, same-sex partner coverage available)
- Medical disability leave
- Military leave
- Parenting leave
- Paternity leave—paid and unpaid
- Personal leave
- Pregnancy leave—paid and unpaid
- Relocation expenses
- Sick
- State disability (CA) insurance
- Vacation
- Worker's compensation insurance
- Work/life referrals
Please note that employees share the cost of some benefits.