jg.thefirm-第6部分

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ppy；　and　either　rich　or　getting　that　way。　And　if　one　wanted　to　leave；　he　couldn't　find　as　much　money　with　another　firm。　They'll　offer　Mitch　whatever　it　takes　to　get　you　down　here。　They　take　great　pride　in　paying　more。〃
　　〃Why　no　female　lawyers？〃
　　〃They　tried　it　once。　She　was　a　real　bitch　and　kept　the　place　in　an　uproar。　Most　women　lawyers　walk　around　with　chips　on　their　shoulders　looking　for　fights。　They're　hard　to　deal　with。　Lamar　says　they're　afraid　to　hire　one　because　they　couldn't　fire　her　if　she　didn't　work　out；　with　affirmative　action　and　all。〃
　　The　quiche　arrived　and　they　declined　another　round　of　daiquiris。　Hundreds　of　young　professionals　crowded　under　the　clouds　of　ferns；　and　the　restaurant　grew　festive。　Smokey　Robinson　sang　softly　from　the　jukebox。
　　〃I've　got　a　great　idea；〃　Kay　said。　〃I　know　a　realtor。　Let's　call　her　and　go　look　at　some　houses。〃
　　〃What　kind　of　houses？〃
　　〃For　you　and　Mitch。　For　the　newest　associate　at　Bendini；　Lambert　&　Locke。　She　can　show　you　several　in　your　price　range。〃
　　〃I　don't　know　our　price　range。〃
　　〃I'd　say　a　hundred　to　a　hundred　and　fifty　thousand。　The　last　associate　bought　in　Oakgrove；　and　I'm　sure　he　paid　something　like　that。〃
　　Abby　leaned　forward　and　almost　whispered；　〃How　much　would　the　monthly　payments　be？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　But　you'll　be　able　to　afford　it。　Around　a　thousand　a　month；　maybe　a　little　more。〃
　　Abby　stared　at　her　and　swallowed　hard。　The　small　apartments　in　Manhattan　were　renting　for　twice　that。　〃Let's　give　her　a　call。〃
　　As　expected；　Royce　McKnight's　office　was　a　power　one　with　a　great　view。　It　was　in　one　of　the　prized　corners　on　the　fourth　floor；　down　the　hall　from　Nathan　Locke。　Lamar　excused　himself；　and　the　managing　partner　asked　Mitch　to　have　a　seat　at　a　small　conference　table　next　to　the　sofa。　A　secretary　was　sent　for　coffee。
　　McKnight　asked　him　about　his　visit　so　far；　and　Mitch　said　he　was　quite　impressed。
　　〃Mitch；　I　want　to　nail　down　the　specifics　of　our　offer。〃
　　〃Certainly。〃
　　〃The　base　salary　is　eighty　thousand　for　the　first　year。　When　you　pass　the　bar　exam　you　receive　a　five…thousand…dollar　raise。　Not　a　bonus；　but　a　raise。　The　exam　is　given　sometime　in　August　and　you'll　spend　most　of　your　summer　reviewing　for　it。　We　have　our　own　bar　study　courses　and　you'll　receive　extensive　tutoring　from　some　of　the　partners。　This　is　done　primarily　on　firm　time。　As　you　know；　most　firms　put　you　to　work　and　expect　you　to　study　on　your　own　time。　Not　us。　No　associate　of　this　firm　has　ever　flunked　the　bar　exam；　and　we're　not　worried　about　you　breaking　with　tradition。　Eighty　thousand　initially；　up　to　eighty…five　in　six　months。　Once　you've　been　here　a　year；　you'll　be　raised　to　ninety　thousand；　plus　you'll　get　a　bonus　each　December　based　on　the　profits　and　performance　during　the　prior　twelve　months。　Last　year　the　average　bonus　for　associates　was　nine　thousand。　As　you　know；　profit　sharing　with　associates　is　extremely　rare　for　law　firms。　Any　questions　about　the　salary？〃
　　〃What　happens　after　the　second　year？〃
　　〃Your　base　salary　is　raised　about　ten　percent　a　year　until　you　bee　a　partner。　Neither　the　raises　nor　the　bonuses　are　guaranteed。　They　are　based　on　performance。〃
　　〃Fair　enough。〃
　　〃As　you　know；　it　is　very　important　to　us　that　you　buy　a　home。　It　adds　stability　and　prestige　and　we're　very　concerned　about　these　things；　especially　with　our　associates。　　provides　a　low…interest　mortgage　loan；　thirty　years；　fixed　rate；　nonassumable　should　you　decide　to　sell　in　a　few　years。　It's　a　one…shot　deal；　available　only　for　your　first　home。　After　that　you're　on　your　own。〃
　　〃What　kind　of　rate？〃
　　〃As　low　as　possible　without　running　afoul　with　the　IRS。　Current　market　rate　is　around　ten；　ten　and　a　half。　We　should　be　able　to　get　you　a　rate　of　seven　to　eight　percent。　We　represent　some　banks；　and　they　assist　us。　With　this　salary；　you'll　have　no　trouble　qualifying。　In　fact；　　will　sign　on　as　a　guarantor　if　necessary。〃
　　〃That's　very　generous；　Mr。　McKnight。〃
　　〃It's　important　to　us。　And　we　don't　lose　any　money　on　the　deal。　Once　you　find　a　house；　our　real　estate　section　handles　everything。　All　you　have　to　do　is　move　in。〃
　　〃What　about　the　BMW？〃
　　Mr。　McKnight　chuckled。　〃We　started　that　about　ten　years　ago　and　it's　proved　to　be　quite　an　inducement。　It's　very　simple。　You　pick　out　a　BMW；　one　of　the　smaller　ones；　we　lease　it　for　three　years　and　give　you　the　keys。　We　pay　for　tags；　insurance；　maintenance。　At　the　end　of　three　years　you　can　buy　it　from　the　leasing　pany　for　the　fair　market　value。　It's　also　a　one…shot　deal。〃
　　〃That's　very　tempting。〃
　　〃We　know。〃
　　Mr。　McKnight　looked　at　his　legal　pad。　〃We　provide　plete　medical　and　dental　coverage　for　the　entire　family。　Pregnancies；　checkups；　braces；　everything。　Paid　entirely　by　。〃
　　Mitch　nodded；　but　was　not　impressed。　This　was　standard。
　　〃We　have　a　retirement　plan　second　to　none。　For　every　dollar　you　invest；　　matches　it　with　two；　provided；　however；　you　invest　at　least　ten　percent　of　your　base　pay。　Let's　say　you　start　at　eighty；　and　the　first　year　you　set　aside　eight　thousand。　　kicks　in　sixteen；　so　you've　got　twenty…four　after　the　first　year。　A　money　pro　in　New　York　handles　it　and　last　year　our　retirement　earned　nineteen　percent。　Not　bad。　Invest　for　twenty　years　and　you're　a　millionaire　at　forty…five；　just　off　retirement。　One　stipulation：　If　you　bail　out　before　twenty　years；　you　lose　everything　but　the　money　you　put　in；　with　no　ine　earned　on　that　money。〃
　　〃Sounds　rather　harsh。〃
　　〃No；　actually　it's　rather　generous。　Find　me　another　firm　or　pany　matching　two　to　one。　There　are　none；　to　my　knowledge。　It's　our　way　of　taking　care　of　ourselves。　Many　of　our　partners　retire　at　fifty；　some　at　forty…five。　We　have　no　mandatory　retirement；　and　some　work　into　their　sixties　and　seventies。　To　each　his　own。　Our　goal　is　simply　to　ensure　a　generous　pension　and　make　early　retirement　an　option。〃
　　〃How　many　retired　partners　do　you　have？〃
　　〃Twenty　or　so。　You'll　see　them　around　here　from　time　to　time。　They　like　to　e　in　and　have　lunch　and　a　few　keep　office　space。　Did　Lamar　cover　vacations？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Good。　Book　early；　especially　for　Vail　and　the　Caymans。　You　buy　the　air　fare；　but　the　condos　are　free。　We　do　a　lot　of　business　in　the　Caymans　and　from　time　to　time　we'll　send　you　down　for　two　or　three　days　and　write　the　whole　thing　off。　Those　trips　are　not　counted　as　vacation；　and　you'll　get　one　every　year　or　so。　We　work　hard；　Mitch；　and　we　recognize　the　value　of　leisure。〃
　　Mitch　nodded　his　approval　and　dreamed　of　lying　on　a　sun…drenched　beach　in　the　Caribbean；　sipping　on　a　pina　colada　and　watching　string　bikinis。
　　〃Did　Lamar　mention　the　signing　bonus？〃
　　〃No；　but　it　sounds　interesting。〃
　　〃If　you　join　our　firm　we　hand　you　a　check　for　five　thousand。　We　prefer　that　you　spend　the　bulk　of　it　on　a　new　wardrobe。　After　seven　years　of　jeans　and　flannel　shirts；　your　inventory　of　suits　is　probably　low；　and　we　realize　it。　Appearance　is　very　important　to　us。　We　expect　our　attorneys　to　dress　sharp　and　conservative。　There's　no　dress　code；　but　you'll　get　the　picture。〃
　　Did　he　say　five　thousand　dollars？　For　clothes？　Mitch　currently　owned　two　suits；　and　he　was　wearing　one　of　them。　He　kept　a　straight　face　and　did　not　smile。
　　〃Any　questions？〃
　　〃Yes。　The　large　firms　are　infamous　for　being　sweatshops　where　the　associates　are　flooded　with　tedious　research　and　locked　away　in　some　library　for　the　first　three　years。　I　want　no　part　of　that。　I　don't　mind　doing　my　share　of　research　and　I　realize　I　will　be　the　low　man　on　the　pole。　But　I　don't　want　to　research　and　write　briefs　for　the　entire　firm。　I'd　like　to　work　with　real　clients　and　their　real　problems。〃
　　Mr。　McKnight　listened　intently　and　waited　with　his　rehearsed　answer。　〃I　understand；　Mitch。　You're　right；　it　is　a　real　problem　in　the　big　firms。　But　not　here。　For　the　first　three　months　you'll　do　little　but　study　for　the　bar　exam。　When　that's　over；　you　begin　practicing　law。　You'll　be　assigned　to　a　partner；　and　his　clients　will　bee　your　clients。　You'll　do　most　of　his　research　and；　of　course；　your　own；　and　occasionally　you'll　be　asked　to　assist　someone　else　with　the　preparation　of　a　briefer　some　research。　We　want　you　happy。　We　take　pride　in　our　zero　turnover　rate；　and　we　go　the　extra　mile　to　keep　careers　on　track。　If　you　can't　get　along　with　your　partner；　we'll　find　another　one。　If　you　discover　you　don't　like　tax；　we'll　let　you　try　securities　or　banking。　It's　your　decision。　　will　soon　invest　a　lot　of　money　in　Mitch　McDeere；　and　we　want　him　to　be　productive。〃
　　Mitch　sipped　his　coffee　and　searched　for　another　question。　Mr。　McKnight　glanced　at　his　checklist。
　　〃We　pay　all　moving　expenses　to　Memphis。〃
　　〃That　won't　be　much。　Just　a　small　rental　truck。〃
　　〃Anything　else；　Mitch？〃
　　〃No；　sir。　I　can't　think　of　anything。〃
　　The　checklist　was　folded　and　placed　in　the　file。　The　partner　rested　both　elbows　on　the　table　and　leaned　forward。　〃Mitch；　we're　not　pushing；　but　we　need　an　answer　as　soon　as　possible。　If　you　go　elsewhere；　we　must　then　continue　to　interview。　It's　a　lengthy　process；　and　we'd　like　our　new　man　to　start　by　July　1。〃
　　〃Ten　days　soon　enough？〃
　　〃That's　fine。　Say　by　March　30？〃
　　〃Sure；　but　I'll　contact　you　before　then。〃　Mitch　excused　himself；　and　found　Lamar　waiting　in　the　hall　outside　McKnight's　office。　They　agreed　on　seven　for　dinner。
　　　
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　　THERE　were　no　law　offices　on　the　fifth　floor　of　the　Bendini　Building。　The　partners'　dining　room　and　kitchen　occupied　the　west　end；　some　unused　and　unpainted　storage　rooms　sat　locked　and　empty　in　the　center；　then　a　thick　concrete　wall　sealed　off　the　remaining　third　of　the　floor。　A　small　metal　door　with　a　button　beside　it　and　a　camera　over　it　hung　in　the　center　of　the　wall　and　opened　into　a　small　room　where　an　armed　guard　watched　the　door　and　monitored　a　wall　of　closed…circuit　screens。　A　hallway　zigzagged　through　a　maze　of　cramped　offices　and　workrooms　where　an　assortment　of　characters　went　secretly　about　their　business　of　watching　and　gathering　information。　The　windows　to　the　outside　were　sealed　with　paint　and　covered　with　blinds。　The　sunlight　stood　no　chance　of　penetrating　the　fortress。
　　DeVasher；　head　of　security；　occupied　the　largest　of　the　small；　plain　o