Biglaw

Good: Biglaw Firm Encourages Charitable Donations. Bad: Biglaw Firm Reminds Associates They Haven't Gotten Raises.

Charitable giving is great, but maybe there's a more tactful way to ask for donations.

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Poor and rich businessmenIt’s not hyperbole to say associates at Biglaw firms that have *not* matched the new Milbank/Cravath compensation scale are obsessively checking their email hoping for word on raises. This pressure-filled environment is something the powers that be at Biglaw firms must be aware of, and act accordingly. If they don’t they’re likely to step right in it.

Like they did at Allen & Overy.

The firm sent out an email encouraging associates to donate to Women for Women International. No issue there — it’s a solid charity that does important work in conflict areas. But the “how to help” aspect of the call is more than a little tone deaf.

In an internal email seen by Above the Law, the firm asks recipients to “Donate your first hour or first day of January’s pay to support Women for Women International’s work.” Which begs the question: HOW MUCH ARE THEY ASKING YOU TO DONATE? The raises sweeping through Biglaw are widely effective January 1, so whether or not A&O intends to raise salaries is very relevant to that particular call to action.

As a tipster at the firm notes:

Allen & Overy is sending emails asking us to give up a portion of our salaries before sending an email telling us if we are getting bonuses. It’s a good charity but a bad look for the firm, as there is a lot of uncertainty about associates’ futures with the impending merger and the recent defection of several high-profile partners to other firms.

This isn’t the first time a firm has made a similarly ill-advised announcement. So please firm admin, before sending out any firm-wide emails, ask yourself how associates that are desperate for news about raises and bonuses are likely to read them.

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Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.

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