Sidebar: It's almost that time of year again...

Let's cut to the CHASE (sorry, I'm a Phillies fan). (No, I don't care if we are behind. I don't care if we lose. I didn't say phan simply because I don't need that level of harassment at this time of the morning.)

What is happening with bonuses this year? Is your firm giving them out like usual? Are they entirely performance-based? Entirely discretionary and, therefore, probably not likely? Available only if you can perform a select group of tasks, which includes capturing a live baby unicorn for your boss's tween daughter?

Is thinking about this topic making your stomach hurt? Are you going to write [more] hateful things [than usual] in the comments because I am the spawn of Satan and I should be thankful I have a job in this economy and I am the picture of greed?

As usual, we understand that you want to keep it anonymous, but if you are willing to be bold, please include some basics about your firm. Big firm, little firm, type of work, basis of bonus, etc. (If my firm gave bonuses on beautiful blonde hair and pet cuteness, I'd be a millionaire.)

Bonus Round

Now that a New Year is upon us, it is time to (once again) prod all of you for information regarding firm bonuses. Hopefully you have all received yours by now, so here are our questions: What firm do you work for? How does your firm calculate bonuses? Did you get one this year? How much was it? Did your firm cut bonuses due to "economic concerns?"

Let us know in the comments!

Payscale/Bonus Survey--[light results]

Not much response on the lockstep/payscale/bonus survey. Either our readers don't know or aren't interested in sharing. But here's the [sad] results so far. If you have any information to add, please share by posting a comment or emailing at nevadalegal@gmail.com.

Alverson Taylor
Bonus
$40 hr for every billable hour over 2000
(1 1/2 x the hourly billable rate under the new hourly pay system)
Payscale
$12k annual standard ($6k every 6 months)

Holland & Hart
Bonus
bonus acts as lockstep acts to keep associates' pay in lockstep with increase in new associates' starting salaries--i.e. raise in starting salary=annual bonus
Payscale (annual raises)
$2k raise through 4th yr, $4k raise in 5th yr, $10k raise in 6th yr through 10th yr

Lewis Brisbois
Bonus
$4k for first 50 hours over 1950 (2000 total) and then $4k for each additional 100 hours (e.g., $8,000 bonus for 2,100 hours)
Payscale (annual raises)
$4-6k raise annually