LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS Forum

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Anonymous User
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LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jan 06, 2016 2:28 am

The point of this thread is for people to post

a) what kind of legal job/firm/office they work at, and
b) how long they've been working there, and
c) geographic area, and
d) yearly salary

This is helpful because when applying to jobs or at interviews you may be asked what your salary expectations are.

It's good to have an idea of what different kinds of gigs are paying. Also you can figure out which fields to go into or avoid if that is your main concern.

Compiled Spreadsheet

Original OP:
Anonymous User wrote:I'll start:

*Smallish PI plaintiff firm in Southern California

*Salary: $75K/year (first year at this office, second year as an attorney)
Last edited by Anonymous User on Mon Aug 22, 2016 2:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Anonymous User
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Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jan 06, 2016 2:34 am

150ish lawyer firm mostly in CA. $80,000.00 base with $45,000 bonus this year based on hourly. Workers' Compensation defense. Firm is full service. Second year attorney going into third, expecting 10% raise.

Anonymous User
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Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jan 06, 2016 3:27 am

Southeast small l&e first year; $90k

Anonymous User
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Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jan 06, 2016 9:35 am

Federal government - small city - first year - $71k.

Edit: added "small city" since fed gov salary varies per location.

Anonymous User
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Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jan 06, 2016 12:56 pm

In-house F500 company- 5 years post-bar admission.

Base: $145k
Bonus: $40k
Restricted Stock: $35k
Defined contribution pension: $10k
401k Matching contribution: $10k

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Anonymous User
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Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jan 06, 2016 1:11 pm

Small Plaintiff's L&E (ERISA/FLSA) Southwestern firm:

1st year associate

$75k salary
$15k bonus (based on case success; no real billable requirement but average in firm probably around 2000)
$5k DC Plan
Last edited by Anonymous User on Fri Jan 08, 2016 4:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Anonymous User
Posts: 427954
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jan 06, 2016 1:27 pm

Anonymous User wrote:In-house F500 company- 5 years post-bar admission.

Base: $145k
Bonus: $40k
Restricted Stock: $35k
Defined contribution pension: $10k
401k Matching contribution: $10k
Mind sharing what your background was prior to landing this job? Sounds like a great gig

Anonymous User
Posts: 427954
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jan 06, 2016 1:45 pm

$105k Inhouse at Entertainment Agency (3 years). small 401k contribution. 21 vacation days + holidays/sick days/personal days. Generally 9-6 M-F.
Last edited by Anonymous User on Fri Jan 08, 2016 11:39 am, edited 1 time in total.

Anonymous User
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Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jan 06, 2016 3:20 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:In-house F500 company- 5 years post-bar admission.

Base: $145k
Bonus: $40k
Restricted Stock: $35k
Defined contribution pension: $10k
401k Matching contribution: $10k
Mind sharing what your background was prior to landing this job? Sounds like a great gig
T14-> 3 Years Biglaw Specialty Practice

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wolfie_m.

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Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by wolfie_m. » Wed Jan 06, 2016 4:26 pm

.
Last edited by wolfie_m. on Sun Mar 13, 2016 12:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Anonymous User
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Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jan 06, 2016 4:34 pm

15ish attorneys in a small city - $65,000, no bonus, 3% contribution to 401k - 3rd year associate

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Avian

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Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Avian » Wed Jan 06, 2016 5:01 pm

Anonymous User wrote:Federal government - small city - first year - $71k.

Edit: added "small city" since fed gov salary varies per location.
What's your GS Grade and Step if any?

Anonymous User
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Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jan 06, 2016 5:19 pm

DOJ, gs 11, TX, 59.5k, 9am-5pm
Last edited by Anonymous User on Thu Jan 07, 2016 11:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Anonymous User
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Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jan 06, 2016 5:53 pm

Avian wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:Federal government - small city - first year - $71k.

Edit: added "small city" since fed gov salary varies per location.
What's your GS Grade and Step if any?
12.

Anonymous User
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Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jan 06, 2016 6:35 pm

wolfie_m. wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:In-house F500 company- 5 years post-bar admission.

Base: $145k
Bonus: $40k
Restricted Stock: $35k
Defined contribution pension: $10k
401k Matching contribution: $10k
Mind sharing what your background was prior to landing this job? Sounds like a great gig
T14-> 3 Years Biglaw Specialty Practice
This sounds like an awesome outcome. Do you mind saying if your original firm was Vault-ranked?
NYC Vault-ranked firm, though not well known in current secondary market. I should also emphasize that bonus/stock grants are discretionary. If the company has a bad year or I have a bad performance review, I could get a lump of coal. Not like many biglaw firms where everyone who hits hours gets the same bonus.

Anonymous User
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Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jan 06, 2016 10:57 pm

Midlaw/boutique (specialty area), NYC, ~100 attorneys

$160K - first year, slightly below market bonuses

Anonymous User
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Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jan 06, 2016 11:03 pm

Fed clerk: JSP scale, grade 13, step 1 (2 years of pre-clerk biglaw experience). See http://www.uscourts.gov/careers/compens ... -pay-rates

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Anonymous User
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Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Thu Jan 07, 2016 7:34 pm

Midwest midlaw. ~50 attorneys. Tertiary market.

$90k, extremely small bonuses.

Anonymous User
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Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Thu Jan 07, 2016 7:39 pm

Norhteast mid law (200+ attorneys throughout mainly secondary cities). First year: 85K, small 401K contribution, 3 week vacation, work 8-6 m-f usually.

Anonymous User
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Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Thu Jan 07, 2016 10:30 pm

110K, boutique, major Texas market, bonus tied to hours over 1800 billed, 401K, 2nd year.

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Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Thu Jan 07, 2016 11:26 pm

I see some people posted their hours, but others didn't. Would be really helpful if everyone could post hours as well. thanks!!

edit: accidental anon. this is t-14orbust

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Anonymous User
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Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Jan 08, 2016 12:52 am

Federal government - GS 13 with locality pay bump for a large city - graduated 2014 - work on a compressed schedule with a three-day weekend every other week, 80 hours total per pay period

Cushy government life, but I honestly hate the work I do.

Anonymous User
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Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Jan 08, 2016 1:36 am

1st year Rural DA. Sub-par benefits. $50k. Looking to transfer to a nearby city within 18 months.

Anonymous User
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Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Jan 08, 2016 1:29 pm

Secondary southern market. Satellite office of V50 firm. NYC scale with NYC market bonuses but average billables range from 2350-3000 in this office depending on the person and the practice--i.e., not always worth the extra cash compared to local, smaller firms in town.

Anonymous User
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Re: LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Jan 08, 2016 1:59 pm

1) sort of "biglaw" (not vault ranked but 500+ attorneys nationwide, in amlaw 200)

2) 1st year associate (class of 2015)

3) Texas major market

4) $145k with a ~10k bonus. Bonus can be higher if meeting nyc biglaw hours

Edit: billable required is 1900

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