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

[Anonymous]

I have my own small firm. Criminal defense.

I usually bring in around 350k. I bill about 20 hrs a week but work closer to 30.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Administrative judge (federal). $204K plus &10K bonus. Rarely exceed 40 hrs per week, zero stress, fascinating work, complete control of schedule (can WFH most days), essentially no “boss” oversees my day-to-day. Sweet!

which agency pays 240 for ALJ?

DP.

204 is quite a bit less than 240. Either way, sounds like a nice gig!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I'm a solo attorney. I made $468K last year. This year I am earning a bit more so will likely be at $500K.

I am entirely overworked and do not think that I can sustain the hours that I have. I am 45 and am thinking of selling the practice off and going to government.

Have no support is really not sustainable long term. I have worked at home for the past 15 years, though, and always available for the kids.

Where is the mother of the children?

I'm confused. Nowhere did PP indicate that they were the father. It's 2024, why are you still assuming attorney=male?

Not the lawyer part
The solo practice part.

I know a ton of female attys who are solo. In fact, it is an easier balance for motherhood

[Anonymous]

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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 very agency specific. For agencies whose employees can more easily move to the private sector, lawyers (and others, like economists) are made GS-15 as soon as possible, which can be as little as a few years after starting. In other agencies, there's much less reason to do so, and it can be rare for non-supervisory employees to ever get to GS-15 (or even GS-14).

which agencies? I’m at a finreg (where there’s plenty of revolving door) and it’s well known that only FDIC regularly does non-supervisory GS-15. At our agency the only way to get that is in OGC and godspeed to them doing PRA and PIAs and FOIAs all day.

None of the FinRegs are on a GS scale so this doesn't make sense.

Right but the numbers correspond at the two finregs I’ve worked at (our 14 is where most lawyers top out; only a few get to 15 as non-supervisors).