Lawyers 10+ years out who are not BigLaw or MidLaw partners...

[Anonymous]

What do you do, and how much do you make?

I am making upper 300's/low 400's as a non equity partner in a boutique firm, but I made nearly as much in-house previously and it was less stressful. Looking for viable outs, but need to keep making the same (more would be awesome too.) Experience is all general corporate/M&A/venture/GovCon. I've been GC at two small places that didn't make it but haven't broken through anywhere big yet. I'm 15 years out and feeling frustrated. Happy to work remotely for somewhere out of town, but can't actually move for 6 more years until youngest finishes HS.

[Anonymous]

I'm about 15 years in. Started working solo. Make about $400K but it took a while to build up. It was a great option because it has allowed me to WFH for the past 10 years and raise my kids, be home when I need, transport to activities.

Now, however, I'm getting tired of the solo atty game, though am not quite sure how to transition out. I'm having a mid-life crisis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm about 15 years in. Started working solo. Make about $400K but it took a while to build up. It was a great option because it has allowed me to WFH for the past 10 years and raise my kids, be home when I need, transport to activities.

Now, however, I'm getting tired of the solo atty game, though am not quite sure how to transition out. I'm having a mid-life crisis.

OP here. I sometimes feel like a solo atty because I'm the only one at the firm in my practice area (why they hired me) and all of our associates kind of stink because we can't compete with big law pay. Its really hard to take a vacation - clients are so demanding.

[Anonymous]

In house with a very specific regulatory speciality. Make about 300k and am 10 yrs out.

[Anonymous]

Was government lawyer years 10-13 at 15-10 (around $176-$180). Transitioned to an inhouse role earning $300,000, some equity, and some perks (i.e. free health and dental insurance, gym membership stipend).

[Anonymous]

This is timely. After 6 years in big law and 2 in-house at a large fund manager, I accepted a role at a small boutique firm where I've been under-compensated for the past 7 years (current base is $185k working and the owner is making $1m+ in large part off of leveraging me). I can't believe I did this for so long. Practice is finance. Trying to fix the really crappy situation, otherwise, I have an of-counsel role at a big firm lined up at $300k base (hybrid) and an in-house role that is interesting at $250k base (hybrid).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm about 15 years in. Started working solo. Make about $400K but it took a while to build up. It was a great option because it has allowed me to WFH for the past 10 years and raise my kids, be home when I need, transport to activities.

Now, however, I'm getting tired of the solo atty game, though am not quite sure how to transition out. I'm having a mid-life crisis.

What’s your practice area?

[Anonymous]

250 + 20% bonus and stock each anniversary

- in-house biotech

[Anonymous]

I'm of counsel, work between 25-50% (so between 10 and 30 hours a week, usually on the lower end). Make around $75k. Very happy.

[Anonymous]

Graduated 20 years ago. DOJ litigating division at GS15, 183k. Awesome job, pay on the lower end.

[Anonymous]

I'm a solo and I work about 75%, make $250k which I'm not happy with. I love the life, I just need more clients.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Graduated 20 years ago. DOJ litigating division at GS15, 183k. Awesome job, pay on the lower end.

Similar except about 10 years out. Pay should increase to 192k next year, but not sure how long the ~5% raises will continue. I love my job but don’t know if I want to earn this salary for the remaining 25 years of my career.

[Anonymous]

I’m 18 years out of law school. I did about 7 years of Big Law. The past 7 years I have been in house at an investment firm focused on investments and funds. I manage other lawyers but am not GC. Make a little over $400k. It is stressful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm of counsel, work between 25-50% (so between 10 and 30 hours a week, usually on the lower end). Make around $75k. Very happy.

Is that supposed to reflect 25 percent of what your salary would be, or did you take additional paycut beyond that? Might be right at some firms at 25 but seems low for 50.

[Anonymous]

$320,000 at World Bank (including tax gross up). Best part is plus pension and health insurance vesting.