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Now I’m sure that many reputable boutique firms pay Biglaw-level bonuses to their associates. But it’s safe to say that most solos and small firms pay whatever bonus they feel like or whatever they can afford. They are not worried about Keeping up with the Cravathians. Or with each other. Also, because of a lack of reliable public information, small firm associates cannot tell whether they are being shortchanged compared to their peers. And even if they are, they will have to take it because their exit options are more limited. click here

Small Law Bonuses. The ATL staff have covered the Biglaw bonus beat quite thoroughly. But not many people know about SmallLaw bonuses. Since solo and small law practices have unique business models, it is different for everyone. But I’ll try to cover some generalities that I have noticed. click here

In a sharp reversal of federal drug policy, Congress has prohibited the Justice Department from interfering with laws in California and other states that allow the medical use of marijuana. And the turnabout caught the immediate attention of federal judges, who want to know its impact on some recent criminal convictions under the federal law that classifies pot as one of the most dangerous drugs. read more

Not far away, lawyers for Harborside Health Center in Oakland, the nation’s largest medical marijuana dispensary, were preparing to invoke the abrupt change in federal law to fend off U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag’s two-year effort to shut Harborside down and forfeit its property. click here

Sponsored by two California congressmen, Republican Dana Rohrabacher of Huntington Beach (Orange County) and Democrat Sam Farr of Carmel, the amendment prohibits the government from spending money to prevent 32 states - California and 21 others that allow the medical use of marijuana, and 10 more that legalize hemp oils - from “implementing their own state laws.” read more