Salaries and bonuses at the firm are based on a set lock-step scale.  Until 2008, although Skadden's lock-step bonuses matched market, the firm was not considered a market leader.  However, its above-average bonuses this past year made the firm a leader despite the negative economic conditions.  Lateral Link Members report that they have "no complaints" about compensation at the firm.  Attorneys on part-time schedules are eligible for a pro-rated bonus equivalent to the percentage of full time hours they bill, while those who do not hit the unofficial minimum hours target may still be eligible for a 50% bonus.

Although Lateral Link Members say the firm offers "generally good" formal training, particularly for first-year associates, they believe that the most effective training takes place "on the job."  Despite this "trial-by-fire" approach, Skadden is known as a collegial place to work, and Lateral Link Members describe most partners as "approachable" and "knowledgeable."   Associates in the corporate department rotate through various practice areas during their first year.  There is a staffing partner in each department who is responsible for distributing assignments, but Lateral Link Members report that most staffing occurs more informally, with associates getting work directly from partners with whom they develop a working relationship.  Associates are expected to take work in another department if their own is slow, and according to a Lateral Link Member, "[as] long as there is adequate work, Skadden will always let associates take assignments from another group or even transfer to another group upon request."  While the firm has a formal mentoring program, a Lateral Link Member says that the de facto mentoring that occurs as associates establish working relationships with a handful of partners "fosters a mentoring environment that is arguably better than any formal mentoring program."  The firm has not made any layoffs to date, and Lateral Link Members report that the feeling at the firm is "cautiously optimistic," although "associates here are concerned about the financial situation generally, as is everyone."  However, the firm recently announced an expansion of its voluntary deferral program, Sidebar, originally intended for attorneys with family obligations, to all associates.

While there is no official minimum billable hours requirement, Lateral Link Members report associates must bill a minimum of 1,600 hours to be eligible for a full lock-step bonus. 

Lateral Link Members overwhelmingly agree that there is "virtually no" pressure to put in face time and that "all that matters is that you get your work done on time and that you do a quality job on it."  The firm provides four weeks of annual vacation, and up to 10 days will automatically roll over until a maximum of 30 days is accumulated.  Lateral Link Members report that they have occasionally had to work during holidays since partners "will be more than happy to keep you busy during your vacation if you do not push back against them."  Few Lateral Link Members report working on holidays, but most say that they work on weekends, sometimes from the office and sometimes from home.  The firm allows attorneys to work part-time schedules. The firm has two policies, Flexible Return from Maternity and Sidebar, designed to allow a more flexible transition back to work from parental leave.

The firm devotes substantial resources to pro bono activities, and all pro bono work is fully credited towards billable hours.  In addition to a 60-hours-per-associate pro bono goal and externships allowing associates to work at public interest organizations for four-month rotations, the Skadden Fellowship Foundation provides two-year fellowships in pro bono work to at least 25 law school graduates annually.  All levels of associates and partners are encouraged to do pro bono work, and 85% of associates perform pro bono work.

The firm has one partnership track, averaging eight to ten years to eligibility.  Lateral Link Members report that "if you are a good associate, even if you do not make partner, Skadden will likely let you stick around until you choose to leave."

Benefits at the firm include subsidized cafeterias in the Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. offices, an annual women's retreat, occasional social gatherings, on-site and subsidized gym memberships, meal and transportation reimbursement if working more than 10 hours and after 8:30 p.m., free tickets to museums, a technology allowance, and backup childcare.  New associates receive a $10,000 salary advance and are eligible for reimbursement of up to $3,000 for pre-approved moving expenses, laterals are eligible for up to $6,000. Part of the moving reimbursement may be used for a house hunting trip, which consists of a two night hotel stay and round trip transportation.

Skadden offers summer associate programs in its domestic offices as well as its London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong offices. Summer associates receive initial assignments through their attorney mentor and subsequent assignments through an assigning coordinator. Although trainings are held once or twice a week for summer associates, multiple Lateral Link Members complain of the lack of feedback on work product. Lateral Link Members report that summer associates leave the office by 7:30 p.m. on average and that weekend work is not uncommon. Associates in the New York office are provided with BlackBerrys. Depending on the office, summer associates can attend between two and five attorney lunches each week. The frequency of social events also varies by office, with multiple events each week in the New York office and once-a-week events in some of the other offices; the activities include happy hours, a party at the MOMA, and a fly-fishing trip.  The firm expects to make offers to 95% of its 2009 summer associates but the earliest they will be able to start at the firm will be sometime in 2011.  The firm reduced its summer program for 2009 to 11 weeks and has announced that it will be cutting the size of its 2010 summer program by half, from over 200 summer associates to approximately 100.  In 2008, the firm hired 27 first-year associates from Harvard, more than from any other law school.