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Compensation and Benefits

Simpson Thacher believes that we have the finest team of lawyers of any international law firm. We are committed to providing top compensation and benefits to our attorneys.

First-year associates earn a salary of $215,000. All associates in good standing receive a bonus at year-end. To enable new associates to get settled comfortably, the Firm offers a salary advance prior to joining the Firm. Our non-salary benefits are generous and competitive.

Benefits Highlights
  • Four weeks paid vacation
  • Subsidized health insurance for associates, their spouses, same-sex domestic partners and children, as well as dental and vision benefits 
  • Life and disability insurance
  • 401(k) plan participation
  • Healthcare and dependent care pre-tax spending accounts
  • Paid Parental Leave: All parents, regardless of gender and/or caregiver status, are eligible for up to 12 weeks of Firm paid leave to care for and bond with their newborn or newly adopted child. Paid Parental Leave is in addition to any Disability Leave following childbirth, meaning that the total paid leave time for most birthing parents is 18 weeks.
  • Adoption/Surrogacy Leave and Stipend: An additional 6 weeks of paid leave in addition to Paid Parental Leave for all employees who are expanding their families through adoption or surrogacy, resulting in a total of 18 weeks of Paid Parental and AS Leave time. The Firm also offers an Adoption/Surrogacy stipend.
  • Travel and lodging support for those who may need to access certain health care services that are not available within a 100-mile radius of the participant’s home
  • Off-site emergency childcare (two free visits, with additional visits for a nominal fee); temporary in-home child and eldercare services on an emergency basis
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and a variety of wellness programs
  • A variety of flexible working arrangements
  • Reimbursement for incoming associates for relocation costs (including broker fees)
  • Reimbursement for bar review, bar application fees, bar dues and two bar association memberships
  • Free private banking at Citibank
  • Subsidized on-site cafeteria
  • Subsidized health club membership
  • Pre-tax commuter benefits for mass transit and parking expenses
  • Matching donations to law schools
  • Budget for client development (for senior associates, or with partner approval)
  • Social events, including happy hours, coffee hours and practice group outings
  • $2,500 Technology Stipend
  • Visa assistance to associates who are non-U.S. citizens
  • Established relationships with several outside vendors that specialize in student loan refinancing