Thanks everyone! Now I won't feel as clueless when I see references on threads.

Anonymous wrote:So the point of associates is "cheap labor"?

I guess you don't know how much an associate is paid. at the height of the market (before 2008) a first year associate right out of law school was paid 160K at a DC firm where I was working. senior associates were paid around $230K ( I am not sure the exact amount for the most senior associates). I would not call it cheap labor. that's why a lot of clients don't want first year associates on their matters, they are still learning and cost a lot.

So the point of associates is "cheap labor"?

Senior counsel can get back on partner track but its unlikely.

Non equity vs equity is an important distinction too.

In my experience, "Of Counsel" means that the attorney is not drawing a regular salary and may not have a permanent office at the firm, and they only generally do overflow work or work on matters that they bring in. When they have work, they have access to firm resources.

Sometimes experienced government attorneys who move to the private sector will be given the title "Of Counsel." This can happen at any level from a retired Attorney General to a senior federal prosecutor. They're hired for their experience, not their ability to bring in business.

Staff attorney used to refer to attorneys who work for non-profits, etc., where there is no "partner track." Now, it's also given to associate-level attorneys who are not partner track at some firms.

In-house counsel means that you are a lawyer who works directly for a corporation that is not a law firm.

At my former firm, it went like this: associate (where "junior" meant years 1-3 and "senior" meant years 4-7, but those words were not on business cards), of counsel, partner, senior partner (used to describe people who were mostly retired - I don't know what the difference in compensation was).

We did not have non-equity partners or staff attorneys as far as I recall.

I don't work there anymore.

Poster above described it well but just wanted to say one from your list is not a firm job--in-house counsel means you are a lawyer working directly for a company and your only "client" is that company.

All those other ones are attorneys who are not partner-track. Sometimes they are partners who are semi-retired, usually they are former associates or lateral hires who work reduced hours (such as 40 hours or a lower billing requirement) and/or have a reduced salary.

The old formula was to work 7 years as an associate, and then up-or-out. You either made partner, or left for somewhere else. Now, hardly anyone makes partner, especially equity-partner. So some associates are able to transition to of counsel or special counsel, which is not partner-track. You won't get paid as much, but you still have a job.

Staff attorneys are like associates but (usually) get paid less, and are not partner-track, either.

Did that make it any clearer?

I'm not an attorney, but there are lots of attorneys on this board who reference all sorts of job titles. It's made me curious since I understand what a junior associate, associate and partner are. What are of counsels, special counsels, in-house counsels, staff attorneys and all these other types of positions.

Is there a link somewhere or could someone explain? I see them a lot on DCUM and don't know the difference but would like to.