REUTERS — Midsize U.S. law firms are facing recruiting pressure in a tight labor market, compelling some to raise early career attorneys’ salaries and offer other perks. These firms, which typically have 25 to 200 lawyers and often operate regionally, are extending benefits such as paid sabbaticals and law school loan repayment. Several have raised starting salaries, at times matching or even surpassing those at larger firms. Michelman & Robinson co-founder and chairman Sanford Michelman said in October the Los Angeles-based firm of around 75 lawyers will offer its most junior associates, typically fresh out of law school, $230,000 a year in salary starting in 2022. Michelman declined to provide previous salary figures. Many of the largest U.S. law firms said last summer in memos from their leaders that they would pay salaries starting at $205,000 for first-year associates and reaching $365,000 for the most senior associates, as raises swept that segment of the industry.