Entry Level Attorney... how much to negotiate?

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone,

I'm a spring 2024 law school grad, I am being offered an entry level firm position at a mid size firm $110k.


I'm moving to DC from the West Coast. I've been told never to accept the first offer but the salary seems decent.

Should I negotiate? If so, how much more should I negotiate?

What's the DC etiquette for negotiating with law firms?

Personally, I'd like to keep the salary and potentially negotiate that the firm covering my bar study expenses for the summer.

Is this possible?

Please help!!!

[Anonymous]

No one negotiates entry level law jobs. Take the offer.

[Anonymous]

It depends on what kind of firm.

Biglaw (which this clearly isn't given the salary) you don't negotiate unless maybe you have a year or two of clerkship and you want to move up a year, get a clerkship bonus, etc. It's lockstep. It's set.

What is your law school ranked roughly? What is your GPA? Are you on law review?

[Anonymous]

Is the salary consistent with other mid sized firms in the area?

Even then, I wouldn’t negotiate unless you are a rockstar and have a few options/offers on the table.

[Anonymous]

Why not ask, they may cover a Barbri class.

[Anonymous]

Not sure who tells you to negotiate a first year lawyer job salary. It’s pretty much take it or leave it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on what kind of firm.

Biglaw (which this clearly isn't given the salary) you don't negotiate unless maybe you have a year or two of clerkship and you want to move up a year, get a clerkship bonus, etc. It's lockstep. It's set.

What is your law school ranked roughly? What is your GPA? Are you on law review?

My law school is T40, I don't have clerkship experience but I am looking to work for a year or two and then do a clerkship, GPA is decent, I do have law review experience.

The lockstep makes sense. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not ask, they may cover a Barbri class.

Ok, should I ask if they will write a flat check for $5,000? Because that is the cost of Barbri prep now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure who tells you to negotiate a first year lawyer job salary. It’s pretty much take it or leave it.

Good advice, thanks!

[Anonymous]

Ask your placement office, they should be able to guide you on this. Was the job through OCI or on your own?

[Anonymous]

You get what you get and you don't get upset.

The management committee has had many meetings setting salaries. They don't negotiate. You accept it or not.

[Anonymous]

That's well below market. They know it's well below market, and they also know that if you had other options, you would have taken them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not ask, they may cover a Barbri class.

Ok, should I ask if they will write a flat check for $5,000? Because that is the cost of Barbri prep now.

PP here and ask them if they will reimburse you for it. I'm sure they know what those classes cost. You pay, submit receipt and they reimburse you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's well below market. They know it's well below market, and they also know that if you had other options, you would have taken them.

This. If it is truly a midsize firm it would be much more. Do your research on first year associate salaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask your placement office, they should be able to guide you on this. Was the job through OCI or on your own?

God no, the placement office folks are the last people to ask. They are invariably FAILED lawyers, but they seem to enjoy pontificating to 22 year olds who don't know any better