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WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
STILL HERE - With some “aggressive cost-cutting,” the federal judiciary now estimates it has enough funds to sustain paid operations through Jan. 25. Nate Robson reports that the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts twice has knocked back the date it expects to run out of money while Congress and President Trump fight over border wall funding. Among other cost-saving measures, courts and federal public defender offices have delayed or deferred non-mission critical expenses, such as new hires and some travel.
IN THE HOUSE - Corporations are expanding the perks that come with in-house lawyer jobs, as pay in those departments continues to lag behind law firm positions. Caroline Spiezio reports that chief legal officers and general counsel last year had an average total cash compensation of $333,467 and a base salary of $248,830, according to Special Counsel’s 2019 Salary Guide for Legal Professionals. At the same time, more in-house departments were permitting pets at work, providing car allowances, giving extra days off and allowing for paid sabbaticals.
IN MASS - Bean Town continues its Big Law boom, Meghan Tribe reports. Of nearly 40 managing partners and other senior leaders at Boston law firms ranging in size from 10 to 200 attorneys, 71 percent reported that they were approached to combine with another firm over the past year, according to data provided by Zeughauser Group. About 26 percent of law firm leaders in Boston said they expect the level of competition from non-Boston-based law firms to grow significantly.
