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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
PP here. I'm talking about biglaw. It varies widely by firm and not all firms publicize the information. As I noted, a nonequity junior partner is a partner in name only. Many make less than associates.[/quote]

You are wrong. [b]No biglaw income/non-equity partner in DC works for $250k.[/b] Let alone one at a “top DC law firm” which is the subject of the post. [/quote]

Yes they do. No one is really a partner unless they have equity, and it's common for a non-equity partner to earn less than a top associate. [/quote]

While this is true, I doubt $250k unless they are part-time.  I've actually seen part-time income partners, although not all that common these days.[/quote]

I hope I can re-start this thread, now that we're in May 2020 (in the COVID-19 economy).  Can anyone tell me if the salary ranges discussed above (for non-equity partner) are still the same in 2020 as in 2019?  My spouse is currently a fed gov attorney, and has received an offer from a law firm in the top 60-100 of law firms. What salary/bonus to expect to come on board as a non-equity partner, if spouse would need to build a book of business after many years in fed gov?  [/quote]

Hear me on this STAY in the fed government.  He would be stupid to leave. [/quote]

The PP has a point.  If the non-equity partnership is there now, it will probably be there in 6-12 months when things stabilize.  At that point, your spouse will have a much better idea of what to ask for in terms of compensation.  Big firms are hurting right now.[/quote]

+1. Also, top 60-100 firms are not what people were discussing on this thread at all. With a few prestige exceptions depending on what exactly you look at to rank, people on this thread were talking top 30 max.[/quote]

[b]I have a feeling that the OP above is already looking forward to counting the Big Law money[/b]. There is nothing wrong with asking the firm about its financial condition before asking for compensation numbers and jumping from a very secure fed job. [/quote]

I am the OP from yesterday, and trust me, I'm not counting the BigLaw money.  I wish spouse would stay in fed gov, but spouse is eager for the challenge and thinks it will be do-able.  The firms says it is busy.  [/quote]

Op, my DH made the leap about 5 years ago and went to a firm that only has equity partners, so was brought in as counsel and then put up for equity partner. He was in big law before government, and knew what he was getting into when he went back. He knows more than a dozen folks who made the leap during the past 10 years, about 1/2 of which have successfully transitioned to equity partner, which is the real goal.

Non equity partners/counsel might make a base salary of $250-400 and a bonus. He should negotiate a guaranteed minimum  bonus for a year or two as he builds out a book of clients. He should also make sure the firm knows how to use former government folks - some firms better at it than others. He should also negotiate when he might be considered for equity partner. My DH asked to be considered within 2 years, which was how much time it took him to build up clients to a competitive level for equit partner. Bonuses when you are counsel/non equity partner depend on how much money he brings in from clients, so could be as little as $5k if he is not great at business development to $200K if he brings in $2M+.

My only caution is that some firms have better finances than others to withstand the current recession. Many firms have done across the board pay cuts and deferred partner compensation. We feel very fortunate that DHs firm is more financially conservative and also doing well right now, so no plans for layoffs or pay cuts. That being said, they definitely have made a shortlist of who they are planning to cut if things change (in terms of revenue) so there are no guantees about job security if you aren’t brining in $$. [/quote]

Thanks for this helpful advice.  I'm the OP from a few days ago asking about switching from fed gov to non-equity partner at a law firm (ranked between 60-100).  Can you tell me more about the attorneys who succeeded in making the transition from fed gov to law firm equity partner?  And also a bit about those who did not?  (My spouse has had some unique experiences during his fed gov tenure, and was at BigLaw before going to the fed gov.)[/quote]

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