LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS Forum

[Anonymous User]

1) Sort of "biglaw" (not vault ranked but 500+ attorneys, in amlaw 200)
2) 2nd year associate (class of 2014)
3) Suburban tertiary market
4) 140K, approx. 10K bonus at 1800 billable hours (bonus policy is transparent, but salary bumps are not lockstep after year 2)

(lateraled from NYC biglaw with above market bonuses for high billers, left before those nowadays brass handcuffs completely won)

edited to note salary/bonus policies

[Anonymous User]

County prosecutor, felony docket, 2.5 years in. Work in an expensive-ass ski town in the Rockies, in an otherwise rural area. Make about $55k. (Entry level for prosecutors in the state tends to be right around $50k. Odds of meaningful raises are basically nonexistent.) Benefits are pretty good - fully-paid health insurance, 6% match in 401k, generous vacation, somewhat flexible schedule (e.g., if it's a powder day, I can hopefully bail and ski for a few hours unless I'm too busy or have court. although if you abuse this the admin staff gets bitter).

On average, I work about 8:30-5:30. Weekly average is 40-50 hrs, unless I'm in trial, just have a crazy docket week, or someone just got murdered or something and I'm on call for warrants.

[bk1]

Great idea. I've stickied this thread and linked it in this subforum's compilation thread.

[Anonymous User]

county counsel's office in small county, county seat in semi-rural city (1-3 hours away from major cities). first year, $71k, standard benefits. Hours generally 8:30-5:30 unless heavy court day, trials, etc.

[Anonymous User]

IP Boutique, DC area

$155k as a midlevel associate, with annual billable req of 1500. Bonuses unknown ( haven't been around long enough to get one yet), partial 401k match.

Lateraled from Biglaw.

[Anonymous User]

In-House (VP) at I-bank
- Major Market
- Base: $200,000
- Bonus: Up to $25,000 (changes year by year)
- Benefits: Matching 401K up to $5,000, 5 weeks vacation
- Hours: 8:30 - 6:00 (later when very busy, but still not bad)

[t-14orbust]

In-House (VP) at I-bank
- Major Market
- Base: $200,000
- Bonus: Up to $25,000 (changes year by year)
- Benefits: Matching 401K up to $5,000, 5 weeks vacation
- Hours: 8:30 - 6:00 (later when very busy, but still not bad)

Care to tell us how you ended up there? Thanks

[Anonymous User]

In-House (VP) at I-bank
- Major Market
- Base: $200,000
- Bonus: Up to $25,000 (changes year by year)
- Benefits: Matching 401K up to $5,000, 5 weeks vacation
- Hours: 8:30 - 6:00 (later when very busy, but still not bad)

Care to tell us how you ended up there? Thanks

Basically just luck. Randomly met an MD that was hiring in a non-traditional role (quasi-legal) and we just hit it off. Was looking at other firms at the time, but decided that big law was no longer for me (never really was in the first place) after I got the offer. Had a more interesting background/experience than most big law associates (mix of finance/consulting/regulatory), so when interviewing other candidates I was apparently a very easy sell as long as people liked me.

[Anonymous User]

In-House (VP) at I-bank
- Major Market
- Base: $200,000
- Bonus: Up to $25,000 (changes year by year)
- Benefits: Matching 401K up to $5,000, 5 weeks vacation
- Hours: 8:30 - 6:00 (later when very busy, but still not bad)

Care to tell us how you ended up there? Thanks

Basically just luck. Randomly met an MD that was hiring in a non-traditional role (quasi-legal) and we just hit it off. Was looking at other firms at the time, but decided that big law was no longer for me (never really was in the first place) after I got the offer. Had a more interesting background/experience than most big law associates (mix of finance/consulting/regulatory), so when interviewing other candidates I was apparently a very easy sell as long as people liked me.

Congratulations - sounds like a great gig. I am a first year big law M&A associate and this sounds like my dream in-house job. Do you mind saying how many years you were in big law?

[Anonymous User]

really appreciate the data, good idea. I'll play:
6-10 lawyer firm, specialty practice area, Texas

1st year associate salary - 60k
Hours - 1200 minimum, 1400 goal to really start bonuses, 9:30/10-6:30 m-f typical
Bonus - a few k, to 10k+ for getting to 1700 or so, then goes up with hours

2nd year - 85k ish, double the bonus, same hours
3rd year - 100-110kish, bonus up even more, same hours
by then billing rates (salary based on these) will definitely be recalculated but similar increases or more are likely

[Anonymous User]

Union-side labor and employment firm in CA

$70K starting salary
1500 billable target
~$4K raise / year, expedited partner track

[Anonymous User]

Third year associate at Hong Kong office of New York firm.

Base: 185,000
Cost of Living Adjustment: ~100,000
Bonus: NY market (25,000 as a second year)

[Abbie Doobie]

Third year associate at Hong Kong office of New York firm.

Base: 185,000
Cost of Living Adjustment: ~100,000
Bonus: NY market (25,000 as a second year)

do you find that you need the entire col adjustment to live a similar lifestyle that you would in nyc or do you think there is a net gain?

[Anonymous User]

In-House (VP) at I-bank
- Major Market
- Base: $200,000
- Bonus: Up to $25,000 (changes year by year)
- Benefits: Matching 401K up to $5,000, 5 weeks vacation
- Hours: 8:30 - 6:00 (later when very busy, but still not bad)

Care to tell us how you ended up there? Thanks

Basically just luck. Randomly met an MD that was hiring in a non-traditional role (quasi-legal) and we just hit it off. Was looking at other firms at the time, but decided that big law was no longer for me (never really was in the first place) after I got the offer. Had a more interesting background/experience than most big law associates (mix of finance/consulting/regulatory), so when interviewing other candidates I was apparently a very easy sell as long as people liked me.

Congratulations - sounds like a great gig. I am a first year big law M&A associate and this sounds like my dream in-house job. Do you mind saying how many years you were in big law?

I was in big law for about 1.25 years. Really hated big law and was looking to lateral to a different firm that had west coast roots and specialized in VC/EGC work. Decided if I was going to hate my life, I at least wanted to do the work that was interesting to me and have a chance to go in house at a start up out west. This really came out of no where and I'm really happy it did, not sure how much happier I would be at another big firm regardless of practice area or location.

[Anonymous User]

A) Boutique litigation firm (<100 lawyers, even mix of associates and partners)
B) 1.5 years at the firm
C) Major east coast market
D) Base salary is just north of $220k. Bonuses are discretionary. Mine was $30k this year.

I billed ~3100 hours last year. Not sure what my realization rate was on that, but I get the sense it was high.

[Danger Zone]

In-House (VP) at I-bank
- Major Market
- Base: $200,000
- Bonus: Up to $25,000 (changes year by year)
- Benefits: Matching 401K up to $5,000, 5 weeks vacation
- Hours: 8:30 - 6:00 (later when very busy, but still not bad)

Care to tell us how you ended up there? Thanks

Basically just luck. Randomly met an MD that was hiring in a non-traditional role (quasi-legal) and we just hit it off. Was looking at other firms at the time, but decided that big law was no longer for me (never really was in the first place) after I got the offer. Had a more interesting background/experience than most big law associates (mix of finance/consulting/regulatory), so when interviewing other candidates I was apparently a very easy sell as long as people liked me.

Congratulations - sounds like a great gig. I am a first year big law M&A associate and this sounds like my dream in-house job. Do you mind saying how many years you were in big law?

I was in big law for about 1.25 years. Really hated big law and was looking to lateral to a different firm that had west coast roots and specialized in VC/EGC work. Decided if I was going to hate my life, I at least wanted to do the work that was interesting to me and have a chance to go in house at a start up out west. This really came out of no where and I'm really happy it did, not sure how much happier I would be at another big firm regardless of practice area or location.

Holy cow 1.25 years? You mean I only have to stick it out for another 11 months before going in house?

[Anonymous User]

Northeast midlaw full service firm (125-150 attorneys across several offices)
Base first year salary: $120,000
Raises are discretionary and merit based
Bonuses at 2000 hours, 2200 hours, and 2400 hours of 5, 7.5, and 10k respectively. Junior associates almost never hit any of these due to low volume of work.
No 401k match but a small contribution to health savings accounts

[Anonymous User]

New Jersey Midsize (~150-175 attorneys)
$135k starting
Just started, but it sounds like a $10k bonus if you hit 2100 hours.

[cowgirl_bebop]

Third year associate at Hong Kong office of New York firm.

Base: 185,000
Cost of Living Adjustment: ~100,000
Bonus: NY market (25,000 as a second year)

If you don't mind, could you share how you ended up in Hong Kong?

[Str8Rippin]

Portland law firm
Basically a Mid size firm for the market- about 30 attorneys.
first year- 75,000 a year.
No clue about bonuses or raises, as I'm still in my first year.
All benefits paid for.

[Anonymous User]

In-House (VP) at I-bank
- Major Market
- Base: $200,000
- Bonus: Up to $25,000 (changes year by year)
- Benefits: Matching 401K up to $5,000, 5 weeks vacation
- Hours: 8:30 - 6:00 (later when very busy, but still not bad)

Care to tell us how you ended up there? Thanks

Basically just luck. Randomly met an MD that was hiring in a non-traditional role (quasi-legal) and we just hit it off. Was looking at other firms at the time, but decided that big law was no longer for me (never really was in the first place) after I got the offer. Had a more interesting background/experience than most big law associates (mix of finance/consulting/regulatory), so when interviewing other candidates I was apparently a very easy sell as long as people liked me.

Congratulations - sounds like a great gig. I am a first year big law M&A associate and this sounds like my dream in-house job. Do you mind saying how many years you were in big law?

I was in big law for about 1.25 years. Really hated big law and was looking to lateral to a different firm that had west coast roots and specialized in VC/EGC work. Decided if I was going to hate my life, I at least wanted to do the work that was interesting to me and have a chance to go in house at a start up out west. This really came out of no where and I'm really happy it did, not sure how much happier I would be at another big firm regardless of practice area or location.

Holy cow 1.25 years? You mean I only have to stick it out for another 11 months before going in house?

Yep! Then you'll be super marketable....like I said, I got very lucky and i'm not in a pure legal position. It's not a traditional in-house job, but something pretty different, more on the project management/risk management side of things. If you want to be a part of the pure central in-house team of an investment bank, then I've heard of people leaving as 3rd/4th years if they are lucky, but nothing sooner than that. I'm ok with not being a part of the core legal function of a bank/company/etc. so for me it wasn't a big deal, but I know others that probably wouldn't have taken it.

[Danger Zone]

For me quasi legal sounds like a huge plus. Thanks homie.

[Anonymous User]

Third year associate at Hong Kong office of New York firm.

Base: 185,000
Cost of Living Adjustment: ~100,000
Bonus: NY market (25,000 as a second year)

do you find that you need the entire col adjustment to live a similar lifestyle that you would in nyc or do you think there is a net gain?

My lifestyle in HK is much better than it was in NYC and I save a lot more. Housing is a little more expensive in HK, but you almost always get something nicer for your money than you would in NY. There is also no city/state tax, so in the end I come out way ahead. I've heard many people comment that they would come out ahead even without the col adjustment.

[Anonymous User]

1. Small firm doing civil litigation defense (15-20 attorneys)
2. 1st year (started as a law clerk in September)
3. Los Angeles, CA
4. $70k (law clerk salary was 45k), discretionary bonuses, all health benefits paid for, 401k no matching.

[Anonymous User]

Third year associate at Hong Kong office of New York firm.

Base: 185,000
Cost of Living Adjustment: ~100,000
Bonus: NY market (25,000 as a second year)

If you don't mind, could you share how you ended up in Hong Kong?

Not at all. I started at a V-5 in New York then lateraled when my firm wanted to send me to HK. My current firm is similarly ranked, does similar work and has a better expat package, so it was an easy choice.

I think my path to HK is pretty typical. Strong or native Chinese skills plus experience at a top US firm is highly sought after and competed for by firms here. I probably came earlier in my career than most due to market conditions when I lateraled.