Strangely, this doesn t seem to really perturb Wilmer associates. One contact reveals feeling downright guilty about making so much money. To keep competition between associates at bay, Wilmer takes the rather white-shoed step of not offering bonuses, a policy that doesn t sit well with everyone. However, others see this policy as a strength. No one receives bonuses, says an attorney in securities, who opines that the lack of bonuses is one of the factors that makes Wilmer such a noncompetitive, collegial place to work.
Strict lockstep is good because it promotes a noncompetitive culture.
Although some associates describe the plan as good and appreciate the firm s 5 percent match, others are not so pleased. The firm makes a concerted effort to hire and promote women and to develop woman-friendly policies, a securities attorney offers. It provides a forum for women to discuss issues and to get to know each other better. Our most recent events were a series of Ask the women partners lunches where women associates either asked the partners questions directly or submitted anonymous questions to the associate moderators of the discussions in advance. As with training, however, some groups lag behind.