Reply to Salary question -- fed lawyer transitioining to law firm

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, you just don't seem to get it.  Yes, your experience will get you in the door at some places, but once in the door, you are in the same position as everyone else (and not some special better track as you seem to believe), develop a book of business or a really valuable, specialized niche that makes it worth keeping you around as a service attorney (quite rare these days) or be prepared to leave in a few years.  Whether you salary is $275,000, $300,000 or $350,000 these are the expectations at Biglaw firms. [/quote]

OP here. I absolutely get that. Summered at several firms, have a spouse who is at a smaller firm, many friends at firms. I understand the practical realities. My question really was about what to expect at the door in terms of salary. To clarify, I do not think there is a special track. I am sure I would be held to the same standard as anyone else at the level at which I entered. I appreciate your advice, am familiar with what you are saying, and do not question it. Much of this thread was about my not being able to get a job, however, and it devolved from there. [/quote]

I think where some people got their backs up is that there are a lot of people who graduated the same year as you who are still associates, and not because they're never going to make partner but because the legal market is still tough. So for you to come in here and presume you're going to leap-frog them to of counsel or partner right in the door does presume a different track. After all, what are all of your friends at firms doing? If they're partners/of counsel, presumably you'd be able to ask them and get better information specific to your circumstances than you would on DCUM.[/quote]

I don't know that there is a different "track." But many of my friends at firms have been told to try to go to DOJ or be an AUSA for a while. So, I think the experience is valued, particularly in practice areas like FCPA. Also, if one is a chief or a deputy chief of a section some 11 years out, I do think they are going to be placed in a different position than a 10th year associate, based on the experiences of those careers I am following. [/quote]

I'd be curious to know the details of the careers you're following, but I'm sure you won't share that. The thing you consistently refuse to acknowledge is that, as a career fed, you have zero demonstrated ability to attract and retain clients. And ultimately, if you can't bring in business, you don't have a whole lot of worth to a firm. Sure, if you have some really specialized regulatory knowledge they may be content to stick you in a counsel role with no potential for promotion to partner and no room for meaningful salary increases in the future, but the days of people just walking into a partnership are over. You first need to prove you can feed yourself and a bunch of junior people before they're going to reward you accordingly. None of that means you won't be able to get a job, but you seem to be expecting a job that requires skills you simply have not demonstrated yet.

But let's say you can get that counsel position. The expectations will be much higher than if you came in at an associate level, and if it takes you a few years to really get your feet under you business development-wise, you'll probably be shown the door before you do. If you come in at an associate level, though, the expectations will be lower and you'll have more time to develop the profile you need to make a successful bid for partnership.[/quote]

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