In October 2009, Bingham announced its new merit-lockstep compensation structure.  Base salaries remain based on a set lock-step system but bonuses will be contingent on merit and the financial contribution of the associate as well as hours.  The firm enacted a pay freeze for 2009 and salaries will remain at 2008 levels, although the firm's management may revisit the issue mid-year .  Lateral Link Members agree that the firm is a follower in terms of bonus amounts; so much of a follower, in fact, that until recently, Bingham waited until March to pay out bonuses (bonuses are now awarded in February). 

Staffing at Bingham is a hybrid system, whereby associates are assigned to a partner for their first two years who provides some work, with the remainder of assignments coming from other partners the associate wants to work with or by going through the formal workflow system.  Associates are not required to select a primary practice group for their first four years; they instead work generally in either the litigation or corporate department.  In addition to standard associate reviews, the firm conducts an annual upward review process in which associates anonymously evaluate partners and senior attorneys.  Lateral Link Members praise the availability and variety of formal training opportunities but note that "the mentoring program is subpar."

To be eligible for a bonus, associates must hit 1,950 billable hours, 50 of which can be pro bono.  In addition, bonuses increase when an associate reaches the 2100 core hour level, with core hours being comprised of up to 150 hours of firm citizenship, training, business development, and recruiting.  One Lateral Link Member praises this system, saying it is "structured to encourage you to make your hours, but not go over them."  Lateral Link Members say the consequences of not meeting the billable hours requirements vary depending on circumstances, but one insider says that with the economy making the threat of stealth layoffs very real, "I wouldn't want to be low on hours."

Bingham McCutchen offers four weeks of vacation time, which rolls-over to the following year.  Lateral Link Members say that while associates do not take all the vacation time allotted to them, when associates do take vacation, partners generally respect their time away from the office.  Pressure for face time "depends on your practice group," and even on the partners within the practice group, according to Lateral Link Members, with some saying it is more typical for litigators to need to be in the office.

The firm has placed increasing emphasis on pro bono and is a signatory to the Pro Bono Institute's Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge.  Firm-wide, the pro bono hours per attorney have nearly doubled since 2003 to 68 hours annually per associate.  The firm also recently created a pro bono fellowship program to allow associates to pursue pro bono work full-time while remaining with Bingham.  Officially, there is no minimum requirement or maximum allowable number.

Bingham has a one-tier partnership track, with an average of between eight and ten years to reach partner.   Lateral Link insiders have mixed feelings about whether partnership is a realistic goal, with one member noting that "in the last three years, [the firm] elected six partners who were working part-time schedules when elected," but another calling the process "a long and difficult path."

Some of the unique perks of working at Bingham include an emergency child care center for working parents, discounted gym membership, an in-house café, free dinner delivery and car service if working late, and a budget to take fellow associates to lunch.

Summer associates at Bingham McCutchen receive work assignments from a non-attorney summer coordinator and are expected to complete about 15 assignments during the summer.  In addition to offering summer associates the chance to work in various practice areas during the ten-week program, the firm also provides specific pro bono opportunities for summer associates, such as representing indigent clients in Boston on disability benefits appeals and completing one-week rotations in New York public interest organizations.  Lateral Link Members praise the "positive environment" of the summer program, noting the best parts are the "great people, quality assignments, [and] manageable hours and workload."  The firm does not provide summer associates with BlackBerrys, and Lateral Link Members report that they generally leave the office by 7:00 p.m. and they do not typically work weekends, although it can happen at busy times.  In addition to unlimited attorney lunches, the firm holds weekly social events for summer associates, such as outings to sporting events and dinners at partners' homes.  The firm has delayed start dates  for the next class of new associates to January 2010 and is offering a $10,000 deferral stipend as well as an optional $10,000 salary advance.