Midsize Firms Weigh Salary Cuts

A few years ago, most of California's premium midsize firms lined up to match big firms' top pay for young lawyers. Now, even as some of the biggest firms have begun to slash salaries, many midsize firms claim to be sticking with $160,000 -- though there are some exceptions. As the downturn continues to reshape the legal landscape, leaders at firms like Townsend Townsend and Crew and Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro say they may back off from the top market rate before the year is over.