Nashville Big Law - 2018 Salary Information Forum

[Anonymous User]

The salaries in Nashville big law seem to be a bit of a black box. Does anyone know or have a sense of what the current salaries are for Bass Berry, Waller, BABC, Baker Donelson, Butler Snow, Frost Brown, Neal & Harwell--or the like?

I know that a few years ago most of the firms increased salaries to 120k, but I have not been able to find information on where the firms are in 2018. According to NALP, Bass Berry gives first year's 130k--though I have heard they recently increased salaries again, but I haven't been able to confirm it. Do other firms in Nashville pay 130k?

Relatedly, how much does the salary increase with each class year.

Thank you in advance!

[Anonymous User]

I believe salaries were increased to 130k recently. 120k was also a more recent increase. In 2013, starting was 110k.

Unless and until a market firm moves in and starts paying market salaries in Nashville, Nashville will lag behind the national market, which sucks because it’s not even that cheap anymore (since you NEED a car there)

[Anonymous User]

The above is pretty much true. Though I think the day when a national firm shows up here (and probably pays market) is coming soon (query whether they will be able to really break through--this town is seemingly all about old-school relationships). For now, salaries are going to stay down as the firms aren't pushing each other at all. Housings costs are going up but theres such a boom, it's not going up that fast and tons of vacancies. And you don't NEED a car (I walk to biglaw everyday), but it's a bit uncomfortable without one and you have to live downtown for it to work.

[Anonymous User]

Duplicate post. But I'll add the scooters are back for those who want to go carless

[Anonymous User]

To the above, you do need a car. Living in Nashville without a car sucks. You can’t do a lot of the non-going-to-work stuff as easily (hiking, boating, etc.). It’s not like a larger city where you can just take public transportation everywhere.

Also, people in Nashville have better hours generally, so you will have more time to enjoy life... if you have a car.

[Anonymous User]

Not to totally derail this but, again, I live in Nashville. I work in "biglaw." I do have a car. But I use it twice a month. 100% agree that public transportation is basically non-existent. But you can walk to most parts of town (Germantown/Gulch/Music Row/Vandy/E-Nashville) super easily (or, can jump on a damn scooter). Frankly, the anti-walking sentiment in this city is shocking to me, particularly as compared to most metropolitan cities, and the "must have car crowd" is shocking in terms of a lack of creativity if money was really a problem. You def need transport to go hiking, boating, to Brentwood or Franklin, or whatever. Just saying you don't all caps NEED one to enjoy life. And my hours are okay but I know corporate people that definitely have it horrible.

[Anonymous User]

Waller and Bass just bumped to 142 for the 2019 class. Other firms, such as Butler Snow and Bradley are still at 130, but they’ll probably follow Waller and Bass either for the 2019 class or the 2020 class.

[Anonymous User]

Do you know what Bass’s scale is now? Is it more compressed or does the scale exceed $200k now?

[Anonymous User]

I don't know what the "scale" is but can tell you it exceeds 200.

[Anonymous User]

I don't know what the "scale" is but can tell you it exceeds 200.

That is a lot of money for Nashville

[Anonymous User]

I don't know what the "scale" is but can tell you it exceeds 200.

That is a lot of money for Nashville

Somewhat, yes. But the city isn't what it used to be in terms of COL. I pay exactly what a paid in River North Chicago for an apartment in Music Row. And then add parking/owning a car+driving+insurance, almost evens out. And I made much more at biglaw there (literally 3rd year salary was commensurate with 5-6th here). But the hours are moderately better and no state income tax helps. Just not sure COL, alone, justifies that the 100k+ salary gap for seniors.

[Anonymous User]

I don't know what the "scale" is but can tell you it exceeds 200.

That is a lot of money for Nashville

Somewhat, yes. But the city isn't what it used to be in terms of COL. I pay exactly what a paid in River North Chicago for an apartment in Music Row. And then add parking/owning a car+driving+insurance, almost evens out. And I made much more at biglaw there (literally 3rd year salary was commensurate with 5-6th here). But the hours are moderately better and no state income tax helps. Just not sure COL, alone, justifies that the 100k+ salary gap for seniors.

I agree with this post. It is a lot compared to what has historically been paid in Nashville, but the COL is super high there now.

Unless you live far, far away from Nashville proper (which has awful traffic), you are going to pay a lot in rent for a decent place in a good location. The rent is on par with places like Atlanta at this point, probably worse.

Cool city though.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know what a firm like Sherrard Roe pays?

[Anonymous User]

Big four all start at $140k now.

Educated guess on other shops:
-Butler Snow $120
-Sherrard $120
-Nelson Mullins $120
-Adams & Reese $110
-Frost $110-120
-Stites $110
-Neal & Harwell $100
-Riley Warnock $100
-Burr $100
-Dickinson Wright $100
-Littler $100
-Wyatt $100

No idea what Polsinelli, Epstein, Gordon Rees, other new shops are paying.

-work in Nashville biglaw

[Anonymous User]

Recently received an offer from one of the big 4 and it was lower than I was expecting given the recent increases for starting salary. Does anyone in the market know if there is more compression now that the starting salary has gone up 30k in the last five or so years?

[Anonymous User]

Recently received an offer from one of the big 4 and it was lower than I was expecting given the recent increases for starting salary. Does anyone in the market know if there is more compression now that the starting salary has gone up 30k in the last five or so years?

Need more context. Summer? Entry-level? Lateral? Compression actually not the case. 7y/8y are like $210K here now.

[oleilu]

Any updates for 2020? Is Waller at $140k?

[Anonymous User]

Any updates for 2020? Is Waller at $140k?

99.9% sure they are at 140k along with the rest of the big 4 in Nashville. Source: interviewed there last year.

[Anonymous User]

Has Nashville seen any salary increases recently? I’m assuming the firms are pretty busy given their clients’ industries.

I’m particularly interested in BBS. I’m in the process of interviewing. I didn’t use a recruiter so I have no idea what the current pay scale is. I know it’s lockstep, but I can’t find the scale anywhere.

[Anonymous User]

I’m curious about this too. Also for BABC, Baker D, and Waller. Waller’s chambers associate page mentions a recent $50k pay increase. Does that mean Nashville is now at $160k?


Edited to add additional information:

For clarification/background, I think Nashville was at $110k not too long ago. So $50k on top of that would be $160k.

Anon because I’m applying to the Big 4 and other area firms and I’d prefer my firm not to find out.

[Anonymous User]

I’m curious about this too. Also for BABC, Baker D, and Waller. Waller’s chambers associate page mentions a recent $50k pay increase. Does that mean Nashville is now at $160k?


Edited to add additional information:

For clarification/background, I think Nashville was at $110k not too long ago. So $50k on top of that would be $160k.

Anon because I’m applying to the Big 4 and other area firms and I’d prefer my firm not to find out.

Starting salary is definitely still 140k, not sure what that Chambers page is referring to.

As for the full pay scale, I have no clue.

[Anonymous User]

I’m curious about this too. Also for BABC, Baker D, and Waller. Waller’s chambers associate page mentions a recent $50k pay increase. Does that mean Nashville is now at $160k?


Edited to add additional information:

For clarification/background, I think Nashville was at $110k not too long ago. So $50k on top of that would be $160k.

Anon because I’m applying to the Big 4 and other area firms and I’d prefer my firm not to find out.

Starting salary is definitely still 140k, not sure what that Chambers page is referring to.

As for the full pay scale, I have no clue.

Thanks. I assumed it was 140k. I’ve been told the annual increases are lockstep are BBS and Waller, but not at BABC and Baker D. If anyone works at the two that are lock step, I’d appreciate any insight.

[Anonymous User]

BABC is lockstep
Baker has salary "bands" for each year, but they overlap enough that I would not call it "lockstep"

[Anonymous User]

BABC is lockstep
Baker has salary "bands" for each year, but they overlap enough that I would not call it "lockstep"

I’m the previous anon. Do you happen to know what BABC’s lockstep amounts are by class year?

[Anonymous User]

Not really, but it sticks closely to the Nashville "market" scale.

Nashville is a fun place to live, but it can be a hard market because you are pulling close to biglaw hours and nowhere near comp. or bonus. At all the big shops. Especially if you are in corporate or transactional work.