If you are not in L&E, advancement, opportunity and pay are difficult. - Managing Associate Seyfarth Shaw Employee Review

Particularly since the economic downturn, it is difficult to advance unless you are in L&E. Many non-L&E practice groups no longer get the financial support they had prior to the downturn. New compensation structure for associates is ridiculous. Tauted as better than lock-step because people progress at their own pace and the intent is to move people forward faster. Reality does not bear that out. Many senior associates find that the advancement has slowed and more roadblocks are now in place for advancement. Only lower level associates seem to "benefit" from the new system, but they are also paid the least and their salary increases are much lower than senior associates.