Salary for in house counsel

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking of starting applying to in house counsel positions (I clerked for a federal judge, worked for a big law firm for six years, then moved to government). When I left the firm, I was pulling in mid-200's, and I am at the top of the pay scale for a GS15 in the government. My reasons for wanting to leave the government are a lack of opportunity for upward mobility (there are only two people above me in my small agency, and they are not going anywhere anytime soon), a desire to be more hands on and give more specific advice, and money. Since being at the government, I have had two children and they are super expensive. I would really like to be saving more for their college and my retirement.

My question is how much do people make when in house? I have been in the government for five years now and graduated from law school in 2002. I keep hearing of in house jobs that pay around $170k or so, but that's barely more than I make at the government and I also hear of people making a lot of money, but not sure how. Any insights appreciated. I realize getting any new legal job is a challenge these days.

[Anonymous]

You may or may not get paid more in-house. It depends in part on your practice area - how technical it is and how hard it is to find talent. At your level, many places would offer you $150K base, with bonus and retirement contributions pulling you closer to $200K. But the benefits may not be as good as government.

[Anonymous]

It varies greatly. My guess is that at your level, you'd initially make little more than you do now.

[FruminousBandersnatch]

In-house jobs typically pay a fair amount less than firm jobs, in the same way that middle-to-upper management jobs in a company typically pay less than consulting firms.

There might be a bonus structure or other comp associated with some in-house positions that would take it above what you're making now, but those are tough to find.

Basically, you'd be making a lateral move to create the potential for upward mobility.

[Anonymous]

You also have to factor in the lack of stability with an in-house job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It varies greatly. My guess is that at your level, you'd initially make little more than you do now.

+1

I am in-house and my gross is $160K. I think that is pretty average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It varies greatly. My guess is that at your level, you'd initially make little more than you do now.

+1

I am in-house and my gross is $160K. I think that is pretty average.

Agreed. If one is more senior or specialized or manages a team, compensation can be higher.

[Anonymous]

In house $225. Tech field.

[Anonymous]

So much depends on the company and the type of law and the rank of GC within the company. I've seen anywhere from $125 to $425.

[Anonymous]

It varies way too much to speculate.