Salaries at the firm are based on a set lock-step system.  Salaries in the Boston, New York, Washington, DC, Chicago, and Los Angeles offices match New York market salaries, while those in the Newark, Florida, and New Orleans offices are set on a slightly lower scale.  Although the firm is considered a follower with respect to bonus amounts, Lateral Link Members report that it "always pays [New York] market," which in 2008 meant half-Skadden Arps bonuses.  In 2008, the firm moved away from hours-based bonuses, and now all associates in the same class year receive a lock-step bonus.

New associates at the firm participate in the Proskauer Institute, a multi-day training and orientation program.  In addition to in-house and external continuing legal education, the firm has also recently begun holding "Mid-Level Retreats" for all third- through fifth-year associates.  The firm's formal mentoring program is set up so that new associates are matched with advisors during their first year and then invited to select a partner or senior counsel to serve as mentor after they have been with the firm for a year.  Some Lateral Link Members report that training at Proskauer is "hit-or-miss" and that associates "get as much out of it as [they] put in."  Others, however, insist that "firm is very interested in making sure associates are well trained in their practice areas" and training has been on a steady "upswing."  Still, more than one Lateral Link Member says that associates need to take the "initiative" and adopt a more "proactive approach" when seeking associate development.  Associates generally receive two evaluations each year and have the opportunity to provide upward reviews of partners and senior associates.  Associates receive assignments from assigning attorneys in each department, a "top-down assignment system" that one Lateral Link Member complains "leaves me wishing for more control over my areas of practice."  In late 2008, the firm announced layoffs of 35 associates, including some first-year associates, as well as 25 administrative staff.  The firm has deferred the start date for the most of its new associates to March 2010, and new associates in the New York office are being deferred a full year, until November 2010.  The firm has offered an additional voluntarily deferral until January 2011 in exchange for a $60,000 stipend.  The firm has also announced that 2009 summer associates who receive an offer will have their start date deferred until Fall of 2011.  Lateral Link Members report that morale is "low" and many are "nervous" since to the layoffs, with one Lateral Link Member noting that no one "feel[s] 'rah-rah' about the firm" right now.

The firm has no official minimum billable hours requirement, although Lateral Link Members report an unofficial expectation of between 1,800 and 2,000 hours.  Consequences of not reaching this unofficial floor might include no bonus and a poor performance review.

According to Lateral Link Members, face time is "generally not an issue at the firm" as long "as work gets done," though they say associates should try to "guard against invisibility."  The firm provides four weeks of annual vacation, which can roll over with management approval.  Lateral Link Members report occasionally working on holidays and regularly working on weekends, although they usually do so from home.

The firm encourages all attorneys to bill a minimum of 50 pro bono hours annually, and every first-year associate is assigned his or her own pro bono matter when starting at the firm.  There is no maximum on the number of pro bono hours permitted; overall, half of the associates at the firm do some type of pro bono work. 

There are two partnership tracks at the firm, averaging between eight and nine years to eligibility.  Lateral Link Members report that attorneys who are passed over for partner are allowed to remain at the firm.

Benefits at Proskauer include a subsidized cafeteria, associate retreats, monthly social gatherings, subsidized gym memberships in some offices, and emergency childcare.  Associates receive their own offices during their second year at the firm.  New associates receive up to a $10,000 salary advance, as well as a $3,000 to $10,000 starting stipend, depending on their office.

Proskauer Rose offers 10-week summer programs in its Boca Raton, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Newark, and Washington, DC, offices. A non-attorney coordinator assigns work, and summer associates are encouraged to take on assignments in different departments. Summer associates are expected to complete between 10 and 15 assignments during the summer as well as attend weekly training programs. Although summer associates usually can leave the office by 6:30 p.m., more than one Lateral Link Member reports that they work "a lot of late nights and long weekends" and sometimes spend "over 13 hours" in the office. Summer associates are expected to regularly check their firm-provided BlackBerrys. The firm provides a $45 lunch budget, and summer associates generally attend two to three attorney lunches each week. The firm hosts weekly social events that include happy hours, sailing outings, and dinners at partners' homes. Incoming new associates have been deferred until March 2010, and the firm is offering a $60,000 stipend if they take a public interest deferral and start in January 2011, while 2009 summer associates are being deferred until the fall of 2011.