For the attorneys: salary for counsel at BigLaw?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the most part, you will have no job security. So be planning for your next step.

Pay is 300-400k.

depends on the firm and the practice and the book. Junior of-counsel types at the Tysons area BigLaw (think Patton Boggs, McGuire Woods, Holland & Knight, Venable, Reed Smith, Cooley, Hogan) on average pay much closer to $200K (or lower).

This is just not true. Even mid-level associates at these firms generally make over 200k. I am counsel at one of the above-mentioned firms and I am paid roughly 300k as my base salary, plus whatever bonus I make for that year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the most part, you will have no job security. So be planning for your next step.

Pay is 300-400k.

depends on the firm and the practice and the book. Junior of-counsel types at the Tysons area BigLaw (think Patton Boggs, McGuire Woods, Holland & Knight, Venable, Reed Smith, Cooley, Hogan) on average pay much closer to $200K (or lower).

This is just not true. Even mid-level associates at these firms generally make over 200k. I am counsel at one of the above-mentioned firms and I am paid roughly 300k as my base salary, plus whatever bonus I make for that year.

oh it is true. mid-level associate there no longer make > $200K, and depending on your book, you likely don't make much more as an Of Counsel.

[Anonymous]

I agree that counsel are generally not paid any more than senior associates, and sometimes less. Bonuses are very arbitrary at my firm. Plus, you can't just decide you want to be counsel and opt out of partnership track. There's no guarantee they will keep you around, and it's hard to even be promoted to counsel from associate unless you have business.

[Anonymous]

At my NYC based big law firm, counsel are treated like junior/non equityartners at other firms. One I know makes close to $500k in dc.

[Anonymous]

when I die I will ask for a lawer and a bank manager to be at my bedside
That way I will at least die like jesus
Inbetween 2 crooks

[Anonymous]

point is, a very large range depending on a ton of factors - where they work, what their billable rate is, how much origination they have, do other attorneys do their work, how busy they are, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:satan's clan pays well on earth but in the end you will pay with eternal burning and damnation

That's comedy gold right there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:when I die I will ask for a lawer and a bank manager to be at my bedside
That way I will at least die like jesus
Inbetween 2 crooks

Hey at least we lawyers know how to spell, and it's not "lawer."

[Anonymous]

To clarify - "of counsel" is different than counsel. The former is usually an older and/or retired attorney, the later is in many big firms the level below partner and above associate. In firms that don't have non-equity partners, counsel is essentially that (with less power of course).

[Anonymous]

Bump on this topic -- so would asking for $350K for an attorney with specialized experience (let's say a particular regulatory field) and 10+ years of experience be too optimistic for going in as counsel, with a firm looking to expand in that area and needing someone with the expertise?

A former colleague of mine got $400K with 3 years less overall experience but she went to one of the highest paying firms so I am not sure her pay is typical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the most part, you will have no job security. So be planning for your next step.

Pay is 300-400k.

depends on the firm and the practice and the book. Junior of-counsel types at the Tysons area BigLaw (think Patton Boggs, McGuire Woods, Holland & Knight, Venable, Reed Smith, Cooley, Hogan) on average pay much closer to $200K (or lower).

This is just not true. Even mid-level associates at these firms generally make over 200k. I am counsel at one of the above-mentioned firms and I am paid roughly 300k as my base salary, plus whatever bonus I make for that year.

I agree. I am also counsel at one of the above mentioned firms and I make 280K plus bonus (which is usually around 50k/year) and I bring in zero business. I am in a niche practice with good job security. If brought in business, I would make a lot more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:when I die I will ask for a lawer and a bank manager to be at my bedside
That way I will at least die like jesus
Inbetween 2 crooks

Make sure you get a good lawyer like Jesus who can negotiate your resurrection in three days. That, my dear, is why we get the big bucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:when I die I will ask for a lawer and a bank manager to be at my bedside
That way I will at least die like jesus
Inbetween 2 crooks

Make sure you get a good lawyer like Jesus who can negotiate your resurrection in three days. That, my dear, is why we get the big bucks.

Funny!

[Anonymous]

Bump on this topic -- so would asking for $350K for an attorney with specialized experience (let's say a particular regulatory field) and 10+ years of experience be too optimistic for going in as counsel, with a firm looking to expand in that area and needing someone with the expertise?

A former colleague of mine got $400K with 3 years less overall experience but she went to one of the highest paying firms so I am not sure her pay is typical.

Would that be $350K salary (not including bonus)? If that includes bonus, think about negotiating a guaranteed bonus for a period of years (2 or 3 if you can get it). If the "firm is looking to expand in that area" that sounds like the book of business might not be solid and your billable may need time to get to the level which would support that salary.

My general understanding is that a "counsel" has no more job security that a non-equity partner, but I could be wrong. I left big law long ago, now work in house. (And from this thread my inhouse job & salary is sounding better and better to me).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bump on this topic -- so would asking for $350K for an attorney with specialized experience (let's say a particular regulatory field) and 10+ years of experience be too optimistic for going in as counsel, with a firm looking to expand in that area and needing someone with the expertise?

A former colleague of mine got $400K with 3 years less overall experience but she went to one of the highest paying firms so I am not sure her pay is typical.

I would be shocked if someone could get 350 with no book of business. It's all about the clients at that level.