Salary question -- fed lawyer transitioining to law firm

[Anonymous]

Fed lawyer with ten years of DOJ experience, top law school and clerkship, transitioning to law firm -- thinking probably will go of counsel to DC firm. What do you think salary expectation should be?

[Anonymous]

Approximate size of the law firm? Also, I assume you aren't bringing any business/contacts but please confirm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Approximate size of the law firm? Also, I assume you aren't bringing any business/contacts but please confirm.

Just starting the hunt, but I am thinking a larger firm. No, no clients, but significant trial experience and supervisory experience.

[Anonymous]

What type of litigation? Civil/criminal? Trial/appellate. Unless you are in a very specialized line or are a name, I think you might be a bit over optimistic of your chances of a counsel position in a large firm.

[Anonymous]

My guess in high two's, low three's, depending on what type of cases you were prosecuting. Criminal work will generally be more valued.

[Anonymous]

Half a million and work down from there. Cash in, bro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My guess in high two's, low three's, depending on what type of cases you were prosecuting.

This is my guess too.

[Anonymous]

not meaning to be snarky, but the legal market is awful. Do you have a valued portable asset that would warrant a law firm bringing you on as senior or special counsel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:not meaning to be snarky, but the legal market is awful. Do you have a valued portable asset that would warrant a law firm bringing you on as senior or special counsel?

+1

All of the of counsel at DH's firm have been let go post 2008. Unless you are bringing clients or have a significantly unique specialty, you're not going to find anything even in the twos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:not meaning to be snarky, but the legal market is awful. Do you have a valued portable asset that would warrant a law firm bringing you on as senior or special counsel?

Having made a similar move in the past few years, I say get the interview first then think about salary because it can vary greatly. You may have to take a cut in years and that can also impact salary.

[Anonymous]

Appreciate the feedback. Criminal. Actually, recently several people have left the section and gone as of counsel and/or partners, so while I understand the inherent issues, and the market, it is do-able from the specific section. Also know several attorneys who were AUSAs and recently left to go to be of counsel/senior associates/etc. at firms. Difficult to ask them about salary, and it is not transparent. Completely understand the issues people are raising, but it is a somewhat different situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:not meaning to be snarky, but the legal market is awful. Do you have a valued portable asset that would warrant a law firm bringing you on as senior or special counsel?

+1

All of the of counsel at DH's firm have been let go post 2008. Unless you are bringing clients or have a significantly unique specialty, you're not going to find anything even in the twos.

If you are not actually an attorney, I am not sure what you are even trying to be snarky about. Career fed prosecutors obviously have a significantly unique specialty and equally obviously, most of them don't have clients.

[Anonymous]

I think many of you are missing the fact that this person -- clerkship, top school -- could have gone to big law, but spent ten years doing actual trials. Tenth year associates make 250 and barring stellar credentials are not that likely to make parmter or to have trial experience. They major around 250-300. It may not seem "fair" to you but many of the partners in big law are not long term former associates but rather come over from gov.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think many of you are missing the fact that this person -- clerkship, top school -- could have gone to big law, but spent ten years doing actual trials. Tenth year associates make 250 and barring stellar credentials are not that likely to make parmter or to have trial experience. They major around 250-300. It may not seem "fair" to you but many of the partners in big law are not long term former associates but rather come over from gov.

Obviously the add'l info provided is relevant, but simply the fact that someone has been in govt for 10 years is not by any means a guarantee that they are attractive to firms (and some firms actually are not inclined to take on someone like that because it can be risky to take on someone who has never had to bill time or develop business).

[Anonymous]

The debate re whether or not it is a possibility is specious -- it occurs on a semi regular basis and I know several acquaintances in similar positions. The question is specifically about salary.