Los Angeles-based midsize law firm Michelman & Robinson announced Tuesday a new associate salary scale starting at $230,000, outpacing Big Law's latest pay rate for first years.

The scale for eighth-year associates will top out at $425,000. Sign up here. The firm will also pay year-end bonuses to associates ranging from $15,000 pro-rated to $115,000 based on seniority ...

Litigation boutiques and other small firms compete for the same top law students as Big Law, so they are likely to move to the new, higher market salary and bonus scales for associates.