Anonymous wrote:$128k is pretty normal for most of the country. People in DC do tend to earn more. People on DCUM love to inflate their salaries and seniority.

Last part is so true

Anonymous wrote:On DCUM a lot of the people posting are at bif law firms. Starting is 200k out of law school. Senior assocaited ear 400k. Partners 500k to 15 million. While not by any means most lawyers, in DC there are several thousand? Maybe more -- 10,000? Outide of this pay drop off is fast and real.

Yes, attorneys at large law firms can earn significantly more than $128,000 a year. Even first year salaries at large elite firms exceed $200k. But, it's important to keep in mind that most associates at elite law firms do not make partner. Most of them leave after two to three years and earn much less.

Anonymous wrote:A paralegal makes more than that in DC. So maybe a paralegal with a JD.

The overwhelming majority of paralegals at law firms, including ones with JDs, do not earn that much.

I’m at a midsize firm in a midsize city, and we pay our first years $145k. I’m a junior partner and make $300k plus bonus.

A paralegal makes more than that in DC. So maybe a paralegal with a JD.

Associates at small firms outside of DC.

Government lawyers anywhere

Nonprofit lawyers anywhere

That's around the starting salary for a new associate in San Francisco.

Anonymous wrote:I make less than that as a GC for a small non-profit. I had the opportunity to move up to the biggest association in my industry and declined to interview. I work half time, flex time, from home. To me, I have my dream job.

Curious- how did you find that job and were you full time before you went part time? I do not know any law jobs that post part time and rather after someone earns right to ask. Thoughts?

I am the #3 attorney at my nonprofit in NoVa, 15 years into my career, and I make just shy of that amount.

I make less than that as a GC for a small non-profit. I had the opportunity to move up to the biggest association in my industry and declined to interview. I work half time, flex time, from home. To me, I have my dream job.

On DCUM a lot of the people posting are at bif law firms. Starting is 200k out of law school. Senior assocaited ear 400k. Partners 500k to 15 million. While not by any means most lawyers, in DC there are several thousand? Maybe more -- 10,000? Outide of this pay drop off is fast and real.

Lower paid attorneys (often below that number) include: law clerks, non-profit, criminal prosecution or public defenders, lower level federal government, state government, and some small firms. Geography makes a significant difference as well.

I'm a pretty experienced attorney at a small firm with a public interesty practice area and this is around what I make, in DC.

Some attorneys are underemployed in document review positions or other essentially paralegal positions even though they are admitted to the bar. Others are in solo or small general practices which aren't all that busy, especially in the more distant suburbs where billing rates are not as high. Some are younger, less experienced practitioners who cannot yet command larger salaries.

I haven't seen this yet -- attorneys at non-profits. Some non-profits pay a lot better than others, but $128K is what I make as an experienced litigator with 15+ years at my non-profit.