Women who Make Money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 45 an in-house counsel. Base pay in the mid-300k range and bonuses that bring me to anywhere between 500k-600k annually.

If your goal is to be self-sufficient and make money, my advice is to keep working when you have kids and ignore the mommy guilt - you can raise wonderful kids as a working mom. Go part time if you need to for awhile (I did). And when the time is right, jump into new opportunities. Had I never moved in-house, I wouldn’t make as much as I do now. Trust your gut - you know when people are in your corner and you know not to trust sketchy people who are competitive and want to bring you down. Also, do the work - the simple act of working hard and doing good work, meeting deadlines, communicating well with your coworkers are rarer than you think. I am not even close to the smartest person but I’ve managed to navigate a law firm and then being in house by being tough, wily, and strategic. Things got so much better for me as I got older and now I work for fun and money, not to climb a ladder or pay for basic necessities.

I mean, you obviously didn’t “navigate” Biglaw or you’d be a partner and making a lot more than you’re making now. Just sayin’

Not that person you're replying to but what's your problem? Who said everyone wants to be a Big Law Partner? Just sayin'

[Anonymous]

My sister is in tech sales and last year made around $900,000. She is 39 years old with 2 young kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 45 an in-house counsel. Base pay in the mid-300k range and bonuses that bring me to anywhere between 500k-600k annually.

If your goal is to be self-sufficient and make money, my advice is to keep working when you have kids and ignore the mommy guilt - you can raise wonderful kids as a working mom. Go part time if you need to for awhile (I did). And when the time is right, jump into new opportunities. Had I never moved in-house, I wouldn’t make as much as I do now. Trust your gut - you know when people are in your corner and you know not to trust sketchy people who are competitive and want to bring you down. Also, do the work - the simple act of working hard and doing good work, meeting deadlines, communicating well with your coworkers are rarer than you think. I am not even close to the smartest person but I’ve managed to navigate a law firm and then being in house by being tough, wily, and strategic. Things got so much better for me as I got older and now I work for fun and money, not to climb a ladder or pay for basic necessities.

I mean, you obviously didn’t “navigate” Biglaw or you’d be a partner and making a lot more than you’re making now. Just sayin’

I'm pretty sure that someone who's pulling in over a half million a year as in house counsel could have been a partner. That's double the average in house counsel pay. Maybe stay in your lane, since you obviously don't know the legal field. Just sayin'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Early 30s, also in big law. $435k this year as 5th year associate. Learn to play the game. Politics matter in almost every environment. Be good at what you do, work hard, be fair, look out for those below you, and anticipate the needs of those above you.

How are you making $445k as a 5th year? The latest big law pay scale has 5th years at $325k. Are you including bonus?

[Anonymous]

Yes, my bonus is guaranteed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Early 30s, also in big law. $435k this year as 5th year associate. Learn to play the game. Politics matter in almost every environment. Be good at what you do, work hard, be fair, look out for those below you, and anticipate the needs of those above you.

Respectfully holding onto biglaw for 5 years doesn’t take any political gamesmanship.

[Anonymous]

We all know there are too many big law snobs on this site — People who seem to think the one and only respectful way to be a successful lawyer is a big law partner and anything else is “less than.”

It’s just not true. There are many ways to make very good money as a lawyer outside of big law. These avenues don’t deserve less respect and also take effort.

I’m impressed by all the women on this thread and encourage everyone to be proud of themselves and, if lawyers, not be so narrow minded about big law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Early 30s, also in big law. $435k this year as 5th year associate. Learn to play the game. Politics matter in almost every environment. Be good at what you do, work hard, be fair, look out for those below you, and anticipate the needs of those above you.

Respectfully holding onto biglaw for 5 years doesn’t take any political gamesmanship.

Of course this is true, but there are certainly different ways you could spend the 5 years to set yourself up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Big law partner here. 48yo. Income $1m+. Career tip: get good education, work hard, look for opportunities and use them!

Are you married? Children? Household or family help around the house?
How many hrs do you work a week?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

General counsel at a company. 40 years old. Oversee legal department of 6 lawyers. Depending on bonus bring in 600-700k per year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big law partner here. 48yo. Income $1m+. Career tip: get good education, work hard, look for opportunities and use them!

Are you married? Children? Household or family help around the house?
How many hrs do you work a week?

Thanks

All good questions. I am married and have two children, although both happened later in life. We have a housekeeper who comes once a week, a gardener, and an au pair. I do work a lot, but the work fluctuates. For example, I was in trial earlier this year and did not see my family for weeks. But I also traveled with my kids for 3 weeks this summer. Last year was a killer and I averaged 55h/week. This year is quieter and I've barely worked since my trial. I expect to be right around 45h/w this year.

[Anonymous]

Big 4 consulting partner. 1.5M+ depending on share price.

[Anonymous]

If OP is looking for advice, my advice (small law making good money) is to keep working. I'm 50 and have worked since I was 16. I did work part time when kids were little but I never stopped working and work builds on itself. Make the most of opportunities and keep plugging away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 45 an in-house counsel. Base pay in the mid-300k range and bonuses that bring me to anywhere between 500k-600k annually.

If your goal is to be self-sufficient and make money, my advice is to keep working when you have kids and ignore the mommy guilt - you can raise wonderful kids as a working mom. Go part time if you need to for awhile (I did). And when the time is right, jump into new opportunities. Had I never moved in-house, I wouldn’t make as much as I do now. Trust your gut - you know when people are in your corner and you know not to trust sketchy people who are competitive and want to bring you down. Also, do the work - the simple act of working hard and doing good work, meeting deadlines, communicating well with your coworkers are rarer than you think. I am not even close to the smartest person but I’ve managed to navigate a law firm and then being in house by being tough, wily, and strategic. Things got so much better for me as I got older and now I work for fun and money, not to climb a ladder or pay for basic necessities.

I mean, you obviously didn’t “navigate” Biglaw or you’d be a partner and making a lot more than you’re making now. Just sayin’

I'm pretty sure that someone who's pulling in over a half million a year as in house counsel could have been a partner. That's double the average in house counsel pay. Maybe stay in your lane, since you obviously don't know the legal field. Just sayin'

Um, one of us doesn’t know the legal field alright, but it ain’t me. Biglaw partners in DC typically earn $1 million plus at 45. Ask me how I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big law partner here. 48yo. Income $1m+. Career tip: get good education, work hard, look for opportunities and use them!

Are you married? Children? Household or family help around the house?
How many hrs do you work a week?

Thanks

All good questions. I am married and have two children, although both happened later in life. We have a housekeeper who comes once a week, a gardener, and an au pair. I do work a lot, but the work fluctuates. For example, I was in trial earlier this year and did not see my family for weeks. But I also traveled with my kids for 3 weeks this summer. Last year was a killer and I averaged 55h/week. This year is quieter and I've barely worked since my trial. I expect to be right around 45h/w this year.

Yea, not seeing your family for “weeks” is no way to be a parent. Traveling with the kids for “three weeks” doesn’t make up for that. I mean, many many many parents travel for three weeks with their kids without also disappearing for weeks on end.