What Would You Do With A Year Off With Salary?

By Todd Bookman on Tuesday, October 13, 2009.

You know the economy is rocky when even law firms are having trouble making ends meet. To save cash, big firms are delaying the start dates of their new associates - some for several months, others for a full year.

To help young esquires bridge the time, many firms are giving their deferred-hires stipends. Though only about one-third the size of the nearly $200,000 new hires normally make, the stipends ranging from $45,000 to $90,000 are still a pretty big paycheck for not having to show up.

And the time is giving first years' an opportunity to invest in themselves. My friend Lauren spent her two-month delay traveling in Spain. Her roomate is spending the year with a tenants' rights advocacy group. Some are seeking out fellowships, others pro-bono opportunities or work with non-profits.

What would you do with a year off with salary? Leave your thoughts below!

Wall Street Journal: First Task for Law-Firm Hires: Finding an Interim Job First

(Photo by Emilie Eagan via Flickr/Creative Commons)

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Two years ago I would have answered: I'd write. But now, after working so diligently in my volunteer role to bring "Speak Truth to Power" to New Hampshire, I'd like to think I'd dedicate a year of service to a place that could use the help. That place would probably be right here, since my kids and husband are here. Unless we could each have the year's salary option....

Submitted by dana biscotti myskowski on Thu, 10/15/2009 - 13:05.

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