IN THIS ISSUE

CHUCK LOWRY'S Q&A

So, Chuck, what do you have in the database that we should look at when we are doing research?

We have two goodies that are not in the database, strictly speaking, materials we use ourselves, for our own research purposes, but which as a courtesy we make available to subscribers.  These are both downloadable spreadsheets hosted on our blog by Typepad.  Both of them are designed to reflect changes in areas that were normally catalogued once a year, but whose recent volatility indicates the need for a less formal but more current updating strategy.

The first of these spreadsheets traces changes in associate compensation.  It can’t be comprehensive, of course, but to the extent that the first-year compensation policies of major firms in major cities are known or knowable, they will be reflected on the spreadsheet and sourced.  In the most active season, which included much of last year, the spreadsheet will be updated approximately once a week.  When market activity is calm, the updates will not be as frequent.  This spreadsheet is updated by Margaret Daisley, former research director at our flagship publication, The American Lawyer.

The second spreadsheet tracks branch office openings and closings and significant personnel shifts.  It is updated about once a week, and, as with the associate salary update, all entries are sourced.  I do this spreadsheet myself.

Here are a couple things to keep in mind.  Neither spreadsheet is definitive, because they both require exercise of judgment about what to put in and because not all of this information is either public or reliable.  We’ll try to keep to the update schedules, as conditions warrant, but in any case both spreadsheets will have on the top data row the date of the last update.  Whenever you click on the link, you will get the most updated version of the spreadsheets.

Because these are informal updates, by the way, they will not be reflected in the search tree on the ALM Research on-line database.  As always, I am happy to have your comments, questions or suggestions. 

If you are a subscriber and need the links to the Update spreadsheets (Associate Salaries, Firm Office Openings/Closing and Major Personnel Changes), just send me an email.