Lateral Attorneys
Lateral attorneys have contributed significantly to the growth and development of our firm. We are always interested in talking with attorneys who have superior academic performance records and excellent verbal, writing, and interpersonal skills. We most commonly seek candidates with two to five years of experience in our practice areas.
Associate Compensation
At Scudder Law Firm, our employees are justly rewarded with competitive compensation and an outstanding benefits package. Salaries for first year 2026 associates begin at $115,000 per year with opportunities for bonuses. Our benefits package includes the following:
- Bar dues
- Associate mentoring program
- Bar review stipend of $10,000 for those who have not taken the bar exam
- Reimbursement of most bar preparation courses for those who have not taken the bar exam
- Business casual dress
- Continuing legal education expenses
- Disability/Life/Medical insurance
- Paid parking
- Pre-tax flexible spending accounts (dependent care and medical expenses)
- Simple 401(k) plan (mandatory match of 3% of compensation plus profit-share)
Associate compensation at Scudder Law Firm exceeds the compensation in most major markets, considering cost of living standards. The following table compares our starting 2026 associate compensation of $115,000 annually to markets across the country.
| City | Compensation equivalent to $115,000 in Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | $116,353 |
| Baltimore, MD | $123,241 |
| Boston, MA | $182,524 |
| Charlotte, NC | $124,717 |
| Chicago, IL | $144,642 |
| Cleveland, OH | $114,139 |
| Dallas, TX | $121,027 |
| Denver, CO | $135,294 |
| Des Moines, IA | $102,209 |
| Houston, TX | $114,262 |
| Kansas City, MO | $109,342 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $187,321 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $113,155 |
| New York City, NY | $293,834 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $99,872 |
| Omaha, NE | $110,449 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $129,390 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $128,898 |
| San Antonio, TX | $112,294 |
| San Diego, CA | $181,171 |
| St. Louis, MO | $109,957 |
| Washington, DC | $169,364 |
| Wichita, KS | $107,374 |
*Source: https://https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/cost-of-living-calculator/ Updated February 2026
