Most of Bryan Cave's U.S. offices pay associates market salary; however, the firm's Kansas City, St. Louis, and Phoenix offices each pay associates on a somewhat lower pay scale.  Additionally, a Lateral Link Member notes that across the board, "in the fifth year, our salaries fall behind our competitors."  The firm has instituted a pay freeze in late 2008 and then announced a 10% across-the-board cut to associate salaries in mid-2009.

In conjunction with the pay freeze, Bryan Cave also announced that it is terminating its Associates' Shared Fee program, a compensation program that encouraged client development by giving associates a small percentage of any business that came in from a new client they generated.  Bonuses at the firm are tiered according to hours, with cut-offs at 1,950, 2,100, 2,250, and 2,400.  Lateral Link Members say that the firm is a laggard in terms of bonus amounts, with one associate complaining that "the bonus structure is pretty grim" and another noting that the firm no longer announces what amount an associate can expect for reaching each tier level.

Lateral Link Members say that the firm's training programs vary widely by group, with the corporate group offering "the most extensive first-year training programs."  The firm also has a formal mentoring program, which pairs younger associates with partner mentors, but Lateral Link Members say not many attorneys take advantage of the program and there is otherwise "little associate development."  In part because Bryan Cave continues to expand-its latest acquisition, in early 2009, was Atlanta-based law firm Powell Goldstein-associates sense a bit of a "culture clash" at the firm.  A Lateral Link Member explains:  "In the big offices in St. Louis and Kansas City...the firm is considered top tier, and associates work harder, yet get paid less relative to the coastal offices, [while in] the coastal offices in New York, Washington, DC, Los Angeles...the firm is decidedly middle-tier, and associates expect better work-life balance, yet are paid more than their Midwestern counterparts."  In spite of its continued expansion, Bryan Cave is not immune to the economic downturn, and the firm announced attorney and staff layoffs , amounting to about 5% of its employees, in February 2009.

Bryan Cave has a minimum billable hours requirement of 1,900 hours, but Lateral Link insiders note that "the 1,900 minimum seems to be nominal, as plenty of people don't make it (particularly juniors)" and "the real minimum that matters is the 1,950 floor for the first bonus tier."

The firm provides four weeks of vacation time on a use-it-or-lose-it basis, but one Lateral Link Member reveals that "no one keeps track" of vacation time actually used.  Although Lateral Link Members say most attorneys do not take all of their vacation time, they also note that there are rarely people working in the office over holidays or weekends.  There is no particular emphasis on face time; as one Lateral Link Member explains, "It's important for people to see you to stay busy, but there's not an emphasis on being in the office."

Bryan Cave encourages its attorneys to work at least 50 pro bono hours per year, but there is no required minimum.  One Lateral Link Member notes that although "pro bono [hours] count toward bonuses," they do not count "towards billables considered for partnership."

The firm has two partnership tracks, with an average of eight-and-a-half years to become eligible for partner.  The consensus among Lateral Link Members is that partnership is an achievable goal.  While the firm has a good track record with regard to making minority partners, some Lateral Link Members think the firm could do more to support minority associates early on, noting that "there is a lack of support in the years leading up to" partnership and that "minority retention is a weak point."

In addition to standard benefits, Bryan Cave provides associates their own offices as first-years, client development allowances of up to $100 without prior approval, and an "associate morale budget," which is basically money for the associates to do fun things with each other and bond.  The firm's past retreats have gained a reputation as lavish events, but they have been on hold since 2008 because of the economy. 

Bryan Cave offers a 10-week summer program in which summer associates receive work in various practice areas and are expected to complete about 15 assignments over the course of the summer.  The firm also holds weekly training sessions for summer associates during the first few weeks of the program.  Even though summer associates are not provided with BlackBerrys, Lateral Link Members report "long hours...even in this economy" and say that they do not typically leave the office until 7:00 p.m. and are expected to be available if necessary on weekends.  Still, Members say they appreciate the "laid-back" culture of the firm and the opportunity to get to know the attorneys, who are "actually pretty cool."  Summer associates can attend unlimited attorney lunches, and the firm holds weekly social events such as karaoke and bowling.  In 2008, Bryan Cave extended permanent offers to and average of 90% of its 2008 summer associates; some offices made offers to all associates, and others made offers to significantly fewer.  In September 2009, the firm announced that incoming associates would split between a January 2010 start date and a January 2011 start date, but as an alternative, the firm would provide a $70,000 "walk-away" stipend to prospective new associates instead of an offer of permanent employment.