Cravath & More - Will Their Moves on Salary/Bonuses Trigger "Norma Rae" Moment?

 It's usually on a Monday or Tuesday in November that market-maker Cravath sets off the compensation/bonus war for large law firms. This year November 27th or 28th could be the date.

If those Cravath numbers, as well as the ones put out there by Kirkland & Ellis, Paul Hastings, Paul, Weiss and more, disappoint associates there could be a "Norma Rae" phenomenon. That is, an open advocacy for unionization. 

The rumblings about taking collective action and the snippets of satisfaction in already doing so in white-collar fields have gotten louder and more strident. Those realities have popped up in everything from establishment publishing (Conde Nast) to banking (Wells Fargo). 

It is not far-fetched to envision unionized junior lawyers threatening a walk-out before a high-profile trial or M&A transaction. Currently, in this slowdown in demand, their power has eroded. But, hey, they can get some of that back. Maybe a lot of it back. 

The lure of being upped to NonEquity Partner might not derail the unionizing momentum. That's a seminal message on professional anonymous networks as well in private conversations. The posters are putting the knock on NEP. Couldn't there be a better fit for a long-term career path in large law firms? Unionization could accelerate such a search. 

UAW head Shawn Fain has transformed unionization from the refuge for blue collars to a sophisticated strategy for financial survival in earning income from your own labor. 

In my coaching, the dominant emotion among clients is anxiety about both employment security and working conditions. 

Data or the gut for your careers and communications? Both of course. Complimentary consultation with intuitive coach, content-creator, and Tarot reader Jane Genova (text 203-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com).


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