What’s the real salary for most lawyers in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GS15 starts at about 164k and hits about 192k. The most experienced gov lawyers, at least in my agency, are at GS15 (although some never are). I think I got my 15 around year 5.

I find it really bizarre that lawyers are GS 15 so quickly. Why is this? It seems arbitrary when others in different professions that could be making a lot of money in areas outside of government do not.

This is such a silly argument. The solution to other roles being more underpaid isn't to make lawyers equally underpaid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In house and make 500k+ including stock grants and bonus, salary is mid-200ks. I also get my evenings and weekends, unlike BigLaw.

What level and industry? This seems quite good for in-house.

Senior counsel in pharma. Graduated from law school in 2012. But I also have a JD/PhD, which is required for the job.

[Anonymous]

Topped out GS 15 at just over $190 I think. Been there 17 years.

Contrary to this thread, most lawyers in my agency are not 15s, even those who have been there their entire careers. And we have nearly 1000 lawyers.

[Anonymous]

GS-15, 12 years out of law school, $180k

Love the interesting work, smart colleagues, and work-life balance. I sometimes feel like I am not working hard enough, missing out on BigLaw money, and feel an urge to compete in the private sector. But in my heart of hearts, I know that would come with major trade-offs that I do not think my family would be happy about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GS-15, 12 years out of law school, $180k

Love the interesting work, smart colleagues, and work-life balance. I sometimes feel like I am not working hard enough, missing out on BigLaw money, and feel an urge to compete in the private sector. But in my heart of hearts, I know that would come with major trade-offs that I do not think my family would be happy about.

This is so true. +1

[Anonymous]

Dad was a government lawyer who did well but obviously not big law well. However, he was home for dinner at 6:30 every night, did not work weekends, and enjoyed a healthy work-life balance. He retired with a full pension (yes, this was a different era) and enjoyed great health care. Seemed like a pretty nice deal to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In house (pharma company). Total comp (salary + bonus + long term incentive) around $500k. Work on average 35-40 hours a week.

This is me but commercial real estate. Hours would be more like 45 maybe a bit more in a better economy. This is higher than average for the industry but not unheard of. Depends on your specialty, seniority, where you work, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s really disheartening. T10 law school, 20 years experience in Big Law, in-house and small law. Can’t seem to break out of the $300’s (unless I go back to Big Law which I’m not doing.)

Why is this disheartening? This is simple math. Legal is a cost center everywhere other than law firms, so of course you have to go to a law firm for the big money.

Nah. Lots of senior (but not highest level) in house jobs make 500-700k with the bonus. Many GC’s clear $1M.

[Anonymous]

Finreg. 250k. Work an hour or two per week.

[Anonymous]

Fresh put of law school friends 60-75K

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dad was a government lawyer who did well but obviously not big law well. However, he was home for dinner at 6:30 every night, did not work weekends, and enjoyed a healthy work-life balance. He retired with a full pension (yes, this was a different era) and enjoyed great health care. Seemed like a pretty nice deal to me.

And you could easily afford Bethesda back then. Not anymore.

[Anonymous]

GS-14, 20 years out of law school, $155,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dad was a government lawyer who did well but obviously not big law well. However, he was home for dinner at 6:30 every night, did not work weekends, and enjoyed a healthy work-life balance. He retired with a full pension (yes, this was a different era) and enjoyed great health care. Seemed like a pretty nice deal to me.

As a gov lawyer, I appreciate you sharing this hindsight perspective. If I stay in the government, my kids won't go to private K-8 and I won't be able to leave them an 8-fig trust fund so that they'll never have to think about money. But frankly, never having to think about money makes people detached from reality and unrelatable. I should still be able to support my kids in the important ways -- giving them a comfortable middle-class life; rich life experiences; getting them through college debt-free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finreg. 250k. Work an hour or two per week.

You work 2 hours a week? What do you do with the rest of the time you are chained to your desk without any work to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dad was a government lawyer who did well but obviously not big law well. However, he was home for dinner at 6:30 every night, did not work weekends, and enjoyed a healthy work-life balance. He retired with a full pension (yes, this was a different era) and enjoyed great health care. Seemed like a pretty nice deal to me.

As a gov lawyer, I appreciate you sharing this hindsight perspective. If I stay in the government, my kids won't go to private K-8 and I won't be able to leave them an 8-fig trust fund so that they'll never have to think about money. But frankly, never having to think about money makes people detached from reality and unrelatable. I should still be able to support my kids in the important ways -- giving them a comfortable middle-class life; rich life experiences; getting them through college debt-free.

I'm a government lawyer in the 14s. I never have to miss a play or school event or a game and that means a lot to me.