LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS Forum

[Anonymous User]

a) registered investment advisor
b) 3-4 years out of law school
c) secondary market
d) 120k + merit/performance based bonus (20k in 2016); firm covered health/dental/vision insurance; 401k matching; eventual equity and annual raises

What was your path to this job? which law school and did you start as a lawyer and then move? How do you like it?

[barkschool]

eventual equity

oh baby

[Anonymous User]

First year out of school
Small to mid-size market, small firm
Patent attorney
$80,000 plus benefits (healthcare, vision, dental, life, 401K matching)
Bonuses are discretionary, partner track also discretionary (there's no firm path)

[Anonymous User]

First year out of school
Small to mid-size market, small firm
Patent attorney
$80,000 plus benefits (healthcare, vision, dental, life, 401K matching)
Bonuses are discretionary, partner track also discretionary (there's no firm path)

Similar here.

1st year IP attorney (patent emphasis).
Small market in the South, decent size firm (small IP practice group though).
85k and benefits.
Bonus if meet hour min. (1700) and size of bonus depends on collections, hours worked, firm development, etc.

[Anonymous User]

EDIT: ugh, double posted because I'm a n00b

[Anonymous User]

-Year out of law school

-Salary: $66,000, rises to ~$120,000 after 4 years

-BigFed (non-DOJ)

-Metropolitan area on east coast

-Gov't bennies (health insurance, IRA contribution, pension, travel paid, telework after two years)

[Anonymous User]

EDIT: double post from anon-above.

[ur_hero]

First year out (no 2L SA)
SF-Bay Area, Big Law
Corporate/M&A
$175k plus bonus.
2000+ Hours

[Anonymous User]

a) registered investment advisor
b) 3-4 years out of law school
c) secondary market
d) 120k + merit/performance based bonus (20k in 2016); firm covered health/dental/vision insurance; 401k matching; eventual equity and annual raises

What was your path to this job? which law school and did you start as a lawyer and then move? How do you like it?

I'm a lawyer at the RIA. I went to a regional T1 in a major market and found the job on one of the major in-house job postings sites. I will never really enjoy or be passionate about transactional work, so in that regards it's "fine."

[Anonymous User]

Does anybody know if there's a thread similar to this but regarding hourly rates billed instead of income/etc.

I don't guess it necessarily matters, but would be interesting to see billable rates for different practice areas depending on experience level and market.

[Anonymous User]

a) ADA
b) started upon 2016 bar passage, graduated May 2016
c) Georgia (suburban ATL)
d) 62k, full benefits (dental/vision/retirement/medical)

8/830-5 every day, never working on weekends, chill office, I'm a 25 yr old with no law school loans or kids, so its not a bad living for me and my dog, esp since cost of living here isn't too bad comparatively to the rest of the country

[Anonymous User]

1) state government agency
2) 3rd year (c/o 2011)
3) rust belt city
4) $85k with great benefits

No stress 9-5 environment with lots of interesting work. I consider myself lucky.

[Anonymous User]

Does anybody know if there's a thread similar to this but regarding hourly rates billed instead of income/etc.

I don't guess it necessarily matters, but would be interesting to see billable rates for different practice areas depending on experience level and market.

Third year in a tertiary market making above 160 (and well under 180, let alone 210), billable rates vary widely here (even within individual firms)... "big" law seems to go anywhere from $200s-700s/hour generally in this market, but its not a ladder, really more dependent on practice area than class year... with the vast majority billing at rates below and earning less money than a major market senior associate.

[Anonymous User]

Does anybody know if there's a thread similar to this but regarding hourly rates billed instead of income/etc.

I don't guess it necessarily matters, but would be interesting to see billable rates for different practice areas depending on experience level and market.

3rd year, very niche practice area / small firm, in a large market (but not NY), with clients all over the country. I made just shy of $200,000 in 2016 (with amazing benefits), and my hourly rate was $290, but has gone up to $320 for 2017.

[Anonymous User]

So Cal large insurance defense/carrier client. 90K to 95K starting. 2100 hours.

[Anonymous User]

In-house at tech company in Boston
Base about $170k with 10% bonus
9-5 hours, 401k match
7 years out of law school
Previous biglaw and small firm experience

[kalvano]

In-house at tech company in Boston
Base about $170k with 10% bonus
9-5 hours, 401k match
7 years out of law school
Previous biglaw and small firm experience

I would greatly appreciate a PM if you get a moment.

[zot1]

In-house at tech company in Boston
Base about $170k with 10% bonus
9-5 hours, 401k match
7 years out of law school
Previous biglaw and small firm experience

I would greatly appreciate a PM if you get a moment.

Same.

[Anonymous User]

In-house counsel role at tech company in secondary market
5 years of biglaw IP lit experience
$180k with 20% target bonus. Five figure signing bonus.
9-5 hours. 401k match. Free health insurance.

[Roy McAvoy]

In-house counsel role at tech company in secondary market
5 years of biglaw IP lit experience
$180k with 20% target bonus. Five figure signing bonus.
9-5 hours. 401k match. Free health insurance.

I assume you're on the west coast?

[citizenrobert]

Fifth year out of school. Legal Services Corporation-funded nonprofit organization. Poverty law, civil practice (landlord/tenant, welfare, Social Security, etc.).

$ 68,000 and decent benefits.

This is a private, nonprofit organization with Federal and state grants and unionized staff attorneys. It is not a government agency.

Suburban New York City metro region.

[Anonymous User]

In-house counsel role at tech company in secondary market
5 years of biglaw IP lit experience
$180k with 20% target bonus. Five figure signing bonus.
9-5 hours. 401k match. Free health insurance.

I assume you're on the west coast?

Nope, not west coast. Not the east coast either.

[Roy McAvoy]

In-house counsel role at tech company in secondary market
5 years of biglaw IP lit experience
$180k with 20% target bonus. Five figure signing bonus.
9-5 hours. 401k match. Free health insurance.

I assume you're on the west coast?

Nope, not west coast. Not the east coast either.

Could you PM me?

[Anonymous User]

1) big market, not NYC
2) F500 technology company
3) 8 years out (Tier 1)
4) $135k + 10-15% bonus
5) Most days 9-5, but very often less and less often much more
6) Work remote. Nicest part of the job.

[RedPurpleBlue]

1) big market, not NYC
2) F500 technology company
3) 8 years out (Tier 1)
4) $135k + 10-15% bonus
5) Most days 9-5, but very often less and less often much more
6) Work remote. Nicest part of the job.

Transactional or lit?