Anonymous
08/10/2025 09:14
Subject: Counsel offers for former feds?
I got an in house job. $245k base, 30% target annual bonus (can go up to twice that based on company results), plus $50k in stock per year vesting in thirds every year. Fully remote.
Anonymous
08/10/2025 08:33
Subject: Re:Counsel offers for former feds?
Anonymous wrote:I got an in-house counsel job for $225K plus bonus and stock.
I think this is standard for in house and larger trade associations. $200k-$225k plus bonus/options.
Anonymous
08/10/2025 08:32
Subject: Counsel offers for former feds?
I know several GS-15 or SES attorneys who have left since Feb. based on my knowledge in house positions range from $185k - $250k usually with some kind of bonus or stock option on top of that, so more than the Fed. Also most are hybrid arrangements with telework two days per week. It’s hard to find a full remote job. I only know one person who went to a firm as a counsel and he said his base salary was $350k at a mid level firm with a 2000 hours requirement.
Anonymous
08/09/2025 22:08
Subject: Counsel offers for former feds?
Ya'll are getting interviews???
Anonymous
08/09/2025 15:19
Subject: Counsel offers for former feds?
Anonymous wrote:From talking with my friends and colleagues who have left:
- Biglaw firm, bottom quarter of AMLaw 100. Counsel position for 300K. 12 years of experience. Fully remote position.
- Niche regional law firm with 35 attys at 225K. Technically an associate but the firm doesn't publicly distinguish between associate/counsel/partner. 9 years of experience. Fully remote position.
- Smaller, more public interest-y firm with a niche with clients whose pockets aren't that deep. Two attorneys landed there. One with 5 years experience, was offered around 145K (something in the 140s, as I recall). Don't know what the second attorney is making but they were only 1.5 years out of school so I presume they are making less.
What's a public interest-y firm?
Anonymous
08/08/2025 19:54
Subject: Counsel offers for former feds?
Are you FDA? If so, don’t sell yourself short. FDA regulatory expertise is in demand. At a strong boutique firm - think Hyman Phelps, you should be making similar to lower end counsel salaries at big law.
Anonymous
08/08/2025 17:22
Subject: Counsel offers for former feds?
From talking with my friends and colleagues who have left:
- Biglaw firm, bottom quarter of AMLaw 100. Counsel position for 300K. 12 years of experience. Fully remote position.
- Niche regional law firm with 35 attys at 225K. Technically an associate but the firm doesn't publicly distinguish between associate/counsel/partner. 9 years of experience. Fully remote position.
- Smaller, more public interest-y firm with a niche with clients whose pockets aren't that deep. Two attorneys landed there. One with 5 years experience, was offered around 145K (something in the 140s, as I recall). Don't know what the second attorney is making but they were only 1.5 years out of school so I presume they are making less.
- Biglaw firm, bottom quarter of AMLaw 100. Counsel position for 300K. 12 years of experience. Fully remote position.
- Niche regional law firm with 35 attys at 225K. Technically an associate but the firm doesn't publicly distinguish between associate/counsel/partner. 9 years of experience. Fully remote position.
- Smaller, more public interest-y firm with a niche with clients whose pockets aren't that deep. Two attorneys landed there. One with 5 years experience, was offered around 145K (something in the 140s, as I recall). Don't know what the second attorney is making but they were only 1.5 years out of school so I presume they are making less.
Anonymous
08/07/2025 23:17
Subject: Re:Counsel offers for former feds?
I got an in-house counsel job for $225K plus bonus and stock.
Anonymous
08/06/2025 18:11
Subject: Counsel offers for former feds?
.Anonymous wrote:[mastodon]Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Small, medium or big firm? Practice area? You need to provide more information for people to be helpful.
Sorry, it’s a small law firm that does a few things but I’m assuming they need me for their work in health law/regulated industries.
Small is going to be harder to ballpark. Try to find out (Google etc) if this is a boutique that pays market rate for associates, so on par with what biglaw pays associates. If they do, counsel could be anywhere from 350-700 depending on how profitable the firm is, how much experience you have and how badly they want you.
Thank you so much!
Sure - my best guess for a boutique in the health law space - if it pays market or similar - would be about 400 give or take 50 - but it really depends on what kind of firm is under consideration and your experience.
Anonymous
08/06/2025 17:06
Subject: Counsel offers for former feds?
[mastodon]
Thank you so much!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Small, medium or big firm? Practice area? You need to provide more information for people to be helpful.
Sorry, it’s a small law firm that does a few things but I’m assuming they need me for their work in health law/regulated industries.
Small is going to be harder to ballpark. Try to find out (Google etc) if this is a boutique that pays market rate for associates, so on par with what biglaw pays associates. If they do, counsel could be anywhere from 350-700 depending on how profitable the firm is, how much experience you have and how badly they want you.
Thank you so much!
Anonymous
08/06/2025 15:11
Subject: Counsel offers for former feds?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Small, medium or big firm? Practice area? You need to provide more information for people to be helpful.
Sorry, it’s a small law firm that does a few things but I’m assuming they need me for their work in health law/regulated industries.
Small is going to be harder to ballpark. Try to find out (Google etc) if this is a boutique that pays market rate for associates, so on par with what biglaw pays associates. If they do, counsel could be anywhere from 350-700 depending on how profitable the firm is, how much experience you have and how badly they want you.
Anonymous
08/06/2025 10:58
Subject: Counsel offers for former feds?
Sounds like you may be at FDA? I’d recommend asking around for others who have jumped ship - I’ve found that people are more than willing to share advice!
Anonymous
08/06/2025 09:14
Subject: Counsel offers for former feds?
Anonymous wrote:Small, medium or big firm? Practice area? You need to provide more information for people to be helpful.
Sorry, it’s a small law firm that does a few things but I’m assuming they need me for their work in health law/regulated industries.
Anonymous
08/06/2025 08:58
Subject: Counsel offers for former feds?
Small, medium or big firm? Practice area? You need to provide more information for people to be helpful.
Anonymous
08/06/2025 08:42
Subject: Counsel offers for former feds?
So for Fed attorneys who have moved to private practice, what kind of compensation have you been offered for Counsel positions?
I have not been looking but was approached presumably based on my fields of expertise. I have never worked in private practice except when clerking in law school.
I’d like to not sound clueless or look shocked when I engage in initial conversations. I currently make more than $200k with fed benefits but no more telework. I’d move for fully remote (which this position is) and similar pay and benefits.
Thank you!
I have not been looking but was approached presumably based on my fields of expertise. I have never worked in private practice except when clerking in law school.
I’d like to not sound clueless or look shocked when I engage in initial conversations. I currently make more than $200k with fed benefits but no more telework. I’d move for fully remote (which this position is) and similar pay and benefits.
Thank you!