SJ Berwin scraps associate lockstep
SJ Berwin has become the latest firm to abandon the associate lockstep model as it moves to a merit-based remuneration system.
Rob Day
Associates at the City firm will be remunerated according to their performance against a range of both legal and business competencies. There will be three bands based broadly on SJ Berwin’s Insight programme, which assesses progress at two, four and six years’ PQE.
The new model, which comes in on 1 May, replaces a lockstep system that saw associates move through seven narrower pay bands based purely on PQE.
Managing partner Rob Day introduced the new system following consultation with the firm’s associate solicitor forum and within individual practice areas.
He commented: “This is the way the market’s moving and we want to move with it. The previous system was inflexible and with smaller bands you end up with angst over smaller differentials.”
The move is designed to better mirror the modified lockstep model used to remunerate partners.
Day added: “We want to get to a situation where there’s a similar approach throughout the firm. It seems silly to pay partners one way and associates another.”
Several other firms, including magic circle duo Allen & Overy and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, have also ditched PQE-based systems in recent years.
Readers' comments (7)
Escape artist | 26-Apr-2011 10:51 am
SJB has been doing secret pay deals with its associates for years - there was never a lockstep worth the name. I should know since I worked there. My head of department even lied to me outright when I asked at one pay review whether anyone at my pqe level was getting paid more. 'No, absolutely not. We can't pay more than you are getting,' I was told. Yet a colleague in my qualification year had just shown me his payslip and, behold, he was being paid more than SJB officially said was possible.
One reason the firm has the reputation it has is that it has a certain atmosphere. One reason it has that atmosphere is that no one trusts anyone. With good reason, so far as I could tell.
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Simon | 26-Apr-2011 10:44 pm
Escape artist- sounds like you're a bit bitter there mate. Put your real name in there and let's see if you deserved it!
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Semper Arrogans, Semper Ignorans | 27-Apr-2011 2:04 pm
I'm great at my job. Where do I sign up?
It must be a pure meritocracy.
Not an oligarchy run for its own perpetuation.
No.
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Anonymous | 27-Apr-2011 4:13 pm
A&O has ditched associate lock-step? That'll be news to anyone at A&O!
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Anonymous | 27-Apr-2011 7:57 pm
"Put your real name in there and let's see if you deserved it!"
This rather proves the point about having "a certain atmosphere", no?
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Anonymous | 28-Apr-2011 4:00 pm
totally agree with escape artist
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Anonymous | 28-Apr-2011 4:23 pm
"Simon | 26-Apr-2011 10:44 pm
Escape artist- sounds like you're a bit bitter there mate. Put your real name in there and let's see if you deserved it!"
?
Deserved what? Being paid less than his colleague, or being lied to by the head of department?
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