Denver/Boulder Biglaw salaries Forum
Forum rules
Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are revealing sensitive employment related information about a firm, job, etc. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned.
Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are revealing sensitive employment related information about a firm, job, etc. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned.
-
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:59 pm
Denver/Boulder Biglaw salaries
I'm looking for data points for salaries for big law attorneys in Denver and/or Boulder as the NALP information seems a bit spotty. Any info is much appreciated!
- Tr3
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2014 1:25 am
Re: Denver/Boulder Biglaw salaries
If they are global biglaw firms, they likely pay market (Cooley, MoFo, A&P, and a few others). The firms that haven't committed to match market for all offices seem to start around 120. Bigger local/regional firms might start less than 120.
-
- Posts: 1216
- Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2010 2:30 pm
Re: Denver/Boulder Biglaw salaries
I think it's either market for biglaw satellites, Wheeler Trigg's 135k or 160k or whatever it is now, and then the usual variance with smaller and mid-sized firms.
There used to be another firm that probably would have paid close to 140k or something back in the day, but... yeah.
There used to be another firm that probably would have paid close to 140k or something back in the day, but... yeah.
-
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:59 pm
Re: Denver/Boulder Biglaw salaries
Thanks, all! So $120 is pretty standard? Do salaries otherwise increase in lockstep on the NY scale? (so +10 for 2nd year, +20 for 3rd year, etc.)?
-
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2014 1:32 pm
Re: Denver/Boulder Biglaw salaries
The larger firms are mostly in the $125-$140 range now. Raises aren't close to biglaw scale - think $5-$10k/yr. Bonuses are likewise in that range for a couple/few years. Quality of life can't be beat, though!denvieboco wrote:Thanks, all! So $120 is pretty standard? Do salaries otherwise increase in lockstep on the NY scale? (so +10 for 2nd year, +20 for 3rd year, etc.)?
Wheeler Trigg is at $160k now from what I last heard.
Edit: the true biglaw shops pay biglaw. Hogan, Cooley, Arnold Porter, Kilpatrick Townsend, Gibson Dunn . . . there are a few more out here.
Want to continue reading?
Register now to search topics and post comments!
Absolutely FREE!
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:59 pm
Re: Denver/Boulder Biglaw salaries
Do hours/quality of life scale with salary? I guess I'm wondering how the more regional firms get away paying so much less than the national biglaw firms.
- WokeUpInACar
- Posts: 5542
- Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:11 pm
Re: Denver/Boulder Biglaw salaries
This is generally how it is everywhere. You take a big paycut for a moderate increase in quality of life. Pretty sure A LOT of biglaw associates would take 20% less work for 20% less pay without thinking twice.denvieboco wrote:Do hours/quality of life scale with salary? I guess I'm wondering how the more regional firms get away paying so much less than the national biglaw firms.
-
- Posts: 428552
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Denver/Boulder Biglaw salaries
A year and a half ago I had a shot at a Denver firm. $160k. Considerably less than their DC office. But yes, Denver has to be MUCH cheaper than DC.
-
- Posts: 428552
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Denver/Boulder Biglaw salaries
Are there anyone who've interviewed at Wheeler Trigg? I'd love to hear about your experiences.
-
- Posts: 428552
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Denver/Boulder Biglaw salaries
Does anyone know about how much a 3rd year would make in Denver at one of the more regional firms (Brownstein, Holland & Hart, etc.)?
-
- Posts: 428552
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Denver/Boulder Biglaw salaries
Brownstein starts at 135k in Denver. Not sure what a 3rd year is pulling in exactly.Anonymous User wrote:Does anyone know about how much a 3rd year would make in Denver at one of the more regional firms (Brownstein, Holland & Hart, etc.)?
-
- Posts: 1932
- Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 2:30 am
Re: Denver/Boulder Biglaw salaries
I think most of the regional firms have lower billable requirements, for what it's worth. Think 1800 instead of 2000. But of course, your ability to keep your hours down may vary. I know quite a few folks at regional firms that work very hard.denvieboco wrote:Do hours/quality of life scale with salary? I guess I'm wondering how the more regional firms get away paying so much less than the national biglaw firms.
The satellite biglaw shops in Denver, in my experience, work just bout as hard as their NYC/DC counterparts. Most big firms with satellite offices in Denver like hiring folks for their Denver office because (a) you get way more qualified applicants, as the city is very desirable for out-of-staters, and (b) office space is cheaper. Sometimes, quite a bit of the workload originates from the other offices anyway. There's not that many local clients that can afford national biglaw billing rates..
My only final note would be that, even with the rising cost of living/housing prices, you can still live pretty comfortably on ~$125K in Denver.
-
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2017 9:57 pm
Re: Denver/Boulder Biglaw salaries
The hours are lower, but the hourly rates are lower too. So it’s not like you make 30% less and also work 30% less. An associate’s hourly rate in NYC might be $600, that’s definitely not the case in Denver. You still have to work to make the firm profitable.
-
- Posts: 428552
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Denver/Boulder Biglaw salaries
Anyone have any data points on what a sixth year at a Denver based firm like DGS or Holland & Hart makes in base salary? I understand it is not lockstep but on an individual basis... I'm just looking for an estimate.
Register now!
Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.
It's still FREE!
Already a member? Login