LEGAL SALARY DATAPOINTS Forum

[LawSch00lLurker]

Class of 2018 -

205 base
40 - 50K bonus
25k signing bonus

Tech Counsel for an international investment bank. Hours should be 9-5.

Never did Big Law. Have been in house my entire career.

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2018 -

205 base
40 - 50K bonus
25k signing bonus

Tech Counsel for an international investment bank. Hours should be 9-5.

Never did Big Law. Have been in house my entire career.

This is awesome. What market?

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2017
Associate at a plaintiff-side class action boutique

Base: $205k
Bonus: Varies wildly based on performance of the firm and the cases I work on specifically - $10k to $100k with a mode of around $40k
Hours: 1700 billed; firm average probably closer to 1600

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2017
Associate at a plaintiff-side class action boutique

Base: $205k
Bonus: Varies wildly based on performance of the firm and the cases I work on specifically - $10k to $100k with a mode of around $40k
Hours: 1700 billed; firm average probably closer to 1600

That's a very manageable amount of hours and solid pay. Which market?
Did you negotiate your hours before joining?

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2017
Associate at a plaintiff-side class action boutique

Base: $205k
Bonus: Varies wildly based on performance of the firm and the cases I work on specifically - $10k to $100k with a mode of around $40k
Hours: 1700 billed; firm average probably closer to 1600

That's a very manageable amount of hours and solid pay. Which market?
Did you negotiate your hours before joining?

Major Acela corridor market. No negotiation.

I see many of my former classmates and colleagues making far more money in biglaw, but the hours and other benefits (100% remote flexibility allowed, 7 weeks of PTO including holidays) make up for it so far. Though I'd love some more cash to buy a big house in this expensive market.

[RBlackLaw]

Class of 2018 -

205 base
40 - 50K bonus
25k signing bonus

Tech Counsel for an international investment bank. Hours should be 9-5.

Never did Big Law. Have been in house my entire career.

This sounds like a great gig! How did you go about getting an in house position straight out of law school?

[RBlackLaw]

Class of 2017 - Regulatory Specialist, NYC
Base: 190
Bonus: 40
Signing: 100 in cash/stock
Other: Probably another 15 in additional benefits - 401k match, etc.
Industry: Manufacturing
Hours 9-5 at most

Pay is not as much as tech or finance but I think the lifestyle is proportionally better from what I've heard from many folks.

If you don't mind me asking, what background did you have to land this type of role?

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2017 - Regulatory Specialist, NYC
Base: 190
Bonus: 40
Signing: 100 in cash/stock
Other: Probably another 15 in additional benefits - 401k match, etc.
Industry: Manufacturing
Hours 9-5 at most

Pay is not as much as tech or finance but I think the lifestyle is proportionally better from what I've heard from many folks.

If you don't mind me asking, what background did you have to land this type of role?

I was in the relevant practice area group at a biglaw firm until I landed the job. The thing about specialist groups in biglaw are that there are, at least in my case, very very few inhouse openings with large public companies who really only want senior-ish people. Happy to answer any other questions about it. As far as the group - think energy, antitrust, SEC, that kind of thing. These biglaw groups/sub-groups tend to be quite small, so trying not to out myself here.

[RBlackLaw]

Class of 2017 - Regulatory Specialist, NYC
Base: 190
Bonus: 40
Signing: 100 in cash/stock
Other: Probably another 15 in additional benefits - 401k match, etc.
Industry: Manufacturing
Hours 9-5 at most

Pay is not as much as tech or finance but I think the lifestyle is proportionally better from what I've heard from many folks.

If you don't mind me asking, what background did you have to land this type of role?

I was in the relevant practice area group at a biglaw firm until I landed the job. The thing about specialist groups in biglaw are that there are, at least in my case, very very few inhouse openings with large public companies who really only want senior-ish people. Happy to answer any other questions about it. As far as the group - think energy, antitrust, SEC, that kind of thing. These biglaw groups/sub-groups tend to be quite small, so trying not to out myself here.

Roughly how long were you in Big Law before making the switch?

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2017 - Regulatory Specialist, NYC
Base: 190
Bonus: 40
Signing: 100 in cash/stock
Other: Probably another 15 in additional benefits - 401k match, etc.
Industry: Manufacturing
Hours 9-5 at most

Pay is not as much as tech or finance but I think the lifestyle is proportionally better from what I've heard from many folks.

If you don't mind me asking, what background did you have to land this type of role?

I was in the relevant practice area group at a biglaw firm until I landed the job. The thing about specialist groups in biglaw are that there are, at least in my case, very very few inhouse openings with large public companies who really only want senior-ish people. Happy to answer any other questions about it. As far as the group - think energy, antitrust, SEC, that kind of thing. These biglaw groups/sub-groups tend to be quite small, so trying not to out myself here.

Roughly how long were you in Big Law before making the switch?

About 6 years, so it was a recent move.

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2017 - Regulatory Specialist, NYC
Base: 190
Bonus: 40
Signing: 100 in cash/stock
Other: Probably another 15 in additional benefits - 401k match, etc.
Industry: Manufacturing
Hours 9-5 at most

Pay is not as much as tech or finance but I think the lifestyle is proportionally better from what I've heard from many folks.

If you don't mind me asking, what background did you have to land this type of role?

I was in the relevant practice area group at a biglaw firm until I landed the job. The thing about specialist groups in biglaw are that there are, at least in my case, very very few inhouse openings with large public companies who really only want senior-ish people. Happy to answer any other questions about it. As far as the group - think energy, antitrust, SEC, that kind of thing. These biglaw groups/sub-groups tend to be quite small, so trying not to out myself here.

Roughly how long were you in Big Law before making the switch?

About 6

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2015 - DC
Base: ~230
Bonus: 15-20%
Other: Generous 401k match, generous pension, affordable healthcare options, (job security), etc.
Industry: Fed Gov
Hours: Some weeks I work a soft 20 hours, others I work a hard 40-50. When things aren't crazy urgent/high profile, generally expect an easy 9-5.

I sometimes consider if I'll leave this to make more bank in the private sector. But for now, I have a hard time imagining giving this up.

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2015 - DC
Base: ~230
Bonus: 15-20%
Other: Generous 401k match, generous pension, affordable healthcare options, (job security), etc.
Industry: Fed Gov
Hours: Some weeks I work a soft 20 hours, others I work a hard 40-50. When things aren't crazy urgent/high profile, generally expect an easy 9-5.

I sometimes consider if I'll leave this to make more bank in the private sector. But for now, I have a hard time imagining giving this up.

Pardon my ignorance, but isn't that above the congressional pay cap even before bonus?

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2015 - DC
Base: ~230
Bonus: 15-20%
Other: Generous 401k match, generous pension, affordable healthcare options, (job security), etc.
Industry: Fed Gov
Hours: Some weeks I work a soft 20 hours, others I work a hard 40-50. When things aren't crazy urgent/high profile, generally expect an easy 9-5.

I sometimes consider if I'll leave this to make more bank in the private sector. But for now, I have a hard time imagining giving this up.

Pardon my ignorance, but isn't that above the congressional pay cap even before bonus?

Not the person you’re responding to, so this is speculation, but the SEC has a higher payscale.

[RBlackLaw]

Class of 2015 - DC
Base: ~230
Bonus: 15-20%
Other: Generous 401k match, generous pension, affordable healthcare options, (job security), etc.
Industry: Fed Gov
Hours: Some weeks I work a soft 20 hours, others I work a hard 40-50. When things aren't crazy urgent/high profile, generally expect an easy 9-5.

I sometimes consider if I'll leave this to make more bank in the private sector. But for now, I have a hard time imagining giving this up.

What kind of background did you have to land this role?

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2015 - DC
Base: ~230
Bonus: 15-20%
Other: Generous 401k match, generous pension, affordable healthcare options, (job security), etc.
Industry: Fed Gov
Hours: Some weeks I work a soft 20 hours, others I work a hard 40-50. When things aren't crazy urgent/high profile, generally expect an easy 9-5.

I sometimes consider if I'll leave this to make more bank in the private sector. But for now, I have a hard time imagining giving this up.

What kind of background did you have to land this role?

And what's the practice area. I need/want to pursue it.

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2015 - DC
Base: ~230
Bonus: 15-20%
Other: Generous 401k match, generous pension, affordable healthcare options, (job security), etc.
Industry: Fed Gov
Hours: Some weeks I work a soft 20 hours, others I work a hard 40-50. When things aren't crazy urgent/high profile, generally expect an easy 9-5.

I sometimes consider if I'll leave this to make more bank in the private sector. But for now, I have a hard time imagining giving this up.

What kind of background did you have to land this role?

And what's the practice area. I need/want to pursue it.

Obviously a pretty limited pool of people fit this profile, and I don't want to out myself. But had a mix of public/private experience.

I wish I had some magic to share but I fear it's mostly just luck (i.e., preparation + opportunity). These sort of roles are very "right experience from the right place at the right time." I threw out a blind application through the website, certain that I wouldn't get it, only to get the job in the end.

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2017 - SF
Base: 175k
Stock: 100k/vesting over 4yrs
Bonus: none
Other: none, no 401k match
Industry: tech, counsel for publicly traded non-FAANG
Hours: varies but 930-530, rarely on weekends

[Anonymous User]

C/o 2016
BigFed
$160k
100% remote

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2013

Base: $240k
Annual bonus: 35% of base
Benefits: equity
Hours: 9-5. Remote.

Legal ops role.

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2013

Base: $240k
Annual bonus: 35% of base
Benefits: equity
Hours: 9-5. Remote.

Legal ops role.

Nice. Can I DM you, please?

[Anonymous User]

Just went through annual comp so thought I'd add a data point here.

Class of 2013.
Legal/Compliance role at an F500. Tech.
Base: $285,000
Bonus: $100,000
Equity: Target $80,000/year vesting over 3.
Hours: 8-5, fully remote. Weekend work is exceedingly rare. Like 1-2 times a year.

Other stuff: On-site at the office once a month or so (paid for by company), international travel 3-4 times a year for projects. 4% 401(k) match. Solid cash signing bonus when I joined a few years back. Benefits are just okay, but comp overall feels really good with my hours. 5 weeks vacation and I use it all every year.

[Anonymous User]

Just went through annual comp so thought I'd add a data point here.

Class of 2013.
Legal/Compliance role at an F500. Tech.
Base: $285,000
Bonus: $100,000
Equity: Target $80,000/year vesting over 3.
Hours: 8-5, fully remote. Weekend work is exceedingly rare. Like 1-2 times a year.

Other stuff: On-site at the office once a month or so (paid for by company), international travel 3-4 times a year for projects. 4% 401(k) match. Solid cash signing bonus when I joined a few years back. Benefits are just okay, but comp overall feels really good with my hours. 5 weeks vacation and I use it all every year.

Awesome! Did you have any prior big law experience, or did you lateral from another in-house role, etc.? What kind of work do you do on the legal side and the compliance side? Is it a mix of legal and compliance?

[Anonymous User]

Just went through annual comp so thought I'd add a data point here.

Class of 2013.
Legal/Compliance role at an F500. Tech.
Base: $285,000
Bonus: $100,000
Equity: Target $80,000/year vesting over 3.
Hours: 8-5, fully remote. Weekend work is exceedingly rare. Like 1-2 times a year.

Other stuff: On-site at the office once a month or so (paid for by company), international travel 3-4 times a year for projects. 4% 401(k) match. Solid cash signing bonus when I joined a few years back. Benefits are just okay, but comp overall feels really good with my hours. 5 weeks vacation and I use it all every year.

Awesome! Did you have any prior big law experience, or did you lateral from another in-house role, etc.? What kind of work do you do on the legal side and the compliance side? Is it a mix of legal and compliance?

I spent about 5 years in biglaw doing white collar work mostly, and had a previous in-house stint prior to this role. My role is a mix of compliance advising, investigations, reporting, due diligence, policy development, it kind of runs the gamut.

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2015 - DC
Base: ~230
Bonus: 15-20%
Other: Generous 401k match, generous pension, affordable healthcare options, (job security), etc.
Industry: Fed Gov
Hours: Some weeks I work a soft 20 hours, others I work a hard 40-50. When things aren't crazy urgent/high profile, generally expect an easy 9-5.

I sometimes consider if I'll leave this to make more bank in the private sector. But for now, I have a hard time imagining giving this up.

Pardon my ignorance, but isn't that above the congressional pay cap even before bonus?

Not the person you’re responding to, so this is speculation, but the SEC has a higher payscale.

OP here--I missed this comment before. But yes, the finreg agencies have higher payscales. SEC/FDIC/Fed/OCC/maybe also CFTC and some others. We aren't subject to the cap.