what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw? Forum

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gaddockteeg

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what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by gaddockteeg » Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:41 am

What do you personally consider the cut-off to be between mid-law and small-law?

10+ attorneys? 20+? 50+?
80k+ salary? 100k+ salary?

Just curious. No real reason.

BigZuck

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by BigZuck » Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:57 am

I consider midlaw to not be like defending criminals and making wills and stuff because I'm above that and want to make some real money, but not like killing myself working 3000 hours a year either. I don't need 160K, I'm totally fine with 100K and having the time for a real life and friends and stuff, you know?

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Johann

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by Johann » Tue Apr 21, 2015 1:22 am

prolly more of a salary and hours function than size of firm imo. 80k+ in small markets and 100k+ in decent cities (not NYC or any of those expensive cali places) and billable requirement at 1800 or less.

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UCLAHopeful2015

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by UCLAHopeful2015 » Tue Apr 21, 2015 1:38 am

BigZuck wrote:I consider midlaw to not be like defending criminals and making wills and stuff because I'm above that and want to make some real money, but not like killing myself working 3000 hours a year either. I don't need 160K, I'm totally fine with 100K and having the time for a real life and friends and stuff, you know?
Amen to this

sumner

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by sumner » Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:56 am

I consider 50 to be a mid-sized firm. Someone at a firm like that should be making at least 80k, usually more depending on the market and they should be working almost big law hours in their first couple years.

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AreJay711

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by AreJay711 » Tue Apr 21, 2015 10:24 am

JohannDeMann wrote:prolly more of a salary and hours function than size of firm imo. 80k+ in small markets and 100k+ in decent cities (not NYC or any of those expensive cali places) and billable requirement at 1800 or less.
I agree with this. Some relatively small firms are doing great quality work (and willing to pay for better "qualified" associates).

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nealric

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by nealric » Tue Apr 21, 2015 10:56 am

BigZuck wrote:I consider midlaw to not be like defending criminals and making wills and stuff because I'm above that and want to make some real money, but not like killing myself working 3000 hours a year either. I don't need 160K, I'm totally fine with 100K and having the time for a real life and friends and stuff, you know?
The difficult part is that firm size is not necessarily correlated with hours. There are biglaw lawyers getting paid $160k to work 50 hour weeks. There are small-law lawyers getting paid $50k to work 80 hour weeks. You have to look at each firm and practice group individually.

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by BigZuck » Tue Apr 21, 2015 11:13 am

nealric wrote:
BigZuck wrote:I consider midlaw to not be like defending criminals and making wills and stuff because I'm above that and want to make some real money, but not like killing myself working 3000 hours a year either. I don't need 160K, I'm totally fine with 100K and having the time for a real life and friends and stuff, you know?
The difficult part is that firm size is not necessarily correlated with hours. There are biglaw lawyers getting paid $160k to work 50 hour weeks. There are small-law lawyers getting paid $50k to work 80 hour weeks. You have to look at each firm and practice group individually.
...whoosh?

gaddockteeg

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by gaddockteeg » Tue Apr 21, 2015 5:02 pm

BigZuck wrote:I consider midlaw to not be like defending criminals and making wills and stuff because I'm above that and want to make some real money, but not like killing myself working 3000 hours a year either. I don't need 160K, I'm totally fine with 100K and having the time for a real life and friends and stuff, you know?
interesting distinction. type of work is definitely something I didn't think about.

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BigZuck

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by BigZuck » Tue Apr 21, 2015 5:12 pm

Guys I wasn't serious

Am I one getting whooshed?

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sublime

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by sublime » Tue Apr 21, 2015 5:16 pm

..

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MKC

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by MKC » Tue Apr 21, 2015 5:19 pm

BigZuck wrote:Guys I wasn't serious

Am I one getting whooshed?
This was enough of a TLS stereotype that I got it.

Maybe cross post that in the International law thread.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 5&t=246812

Is there a sticky somewhere with an explanation of the search function somewhere? Because it should be everywhere.

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A. Nony Mouse

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by A. Nony Mouse » Tue Apr 21, 2015 6:41 pm

BigZuck wrote:Guys I wasn't serious

Am I one getting whooshed?
I wondered why everyone was taking you seriously.

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by FSK » Tue Apr 21, 2015 6:50 pm

gaddockteeg wrote:What do you personally consider the cut-off to be between mid-law and small-law?

10+ attorneys? 20+? 50+?
80k+ salary? 100k+ salary?

Just curious. No real reason.
You play MTG. Hope I'm the first to notice.
Last edited by FSK on Sat Jan 27, 2018 5:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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rpupkin

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by rpupkin » Tue Apr 21, 2015 6:52 pm

BigZuck wrote:Guys I wasn't serious

Am I one getting whooshed?
You cannot whoosh-proof TLS. I can post that aliens from Neptune visited me last night and told me that Duke will be ranked #5 in next year's USNWR rankings, and I'll get three PMs asking: "Did they mention where Penn will be ranked?"

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A. Nony Mouse

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by A. Nony Mouse » Tue Apr 21, 2015 10:25 pm

rpupkin wrote:
BigZuck wrote:Guys I wasn't serious

Am I one getting whooshed?
You cannot whoosh-proof TLS. I can post that aliens from Neptune visited me last night and told me that Duke will be ranked #5 in next year's USNWR rankings, and I'll get three PMs asking: "Did they mention where Penn will be ranked?"
That thread was priceless. (I say this as a inveterate whooshee.)

gaddockteeg

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by gaddockteeg » Wed Apr 22, 2015 12:47 am

what is whooshed? (TLS noob here)

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gaddockteeg

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by gaddockteeg » Wed Apr 22, 2015 12:49 am

flawschoolkid wrote:
gaddockteeg wrote:What do you personally consider the cut-off to be between mid-law and small-law?

10+ attorneys? 20+? 50+?
80k+ salary? 100k+ salary?

Just curious. No real reason.
You play MTG. Hope I'm the first to notice.
haha yep. been awhile though. last time i ever played was when this card was just printed. thought it was awesome lol.

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rpupkin

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Re: what do you consider the cut-off between midlaw and smallaw?

Post by rpupkin » Wed Apr 22, 2015 1:10 am

gaddockteeg wrote:what is whooshed? (TLS noob here)
"Whoosh" is the sound of a joke or sarcasm going over one's head.

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