DF Thread Forum

[beepboopbeep]

So... trying to piece together salary increases here:

1999: Gunderson Dettmer raises salaries to $125k
200X: Some law firm raises salaries to $145k
2007: Simpson raises salaries to $160k

$35k over 8 years... I guess we are "on track" for another salary bump, with $30,000 being a reasonable ballpark. I guess $190k isn't unfathomable.

I don't think a boutique-ish firm like Gunderson raising salaries these days would be taken as seriously as it was in 1999. Desmarais raised base salaries to $180k a couple years ago, and nobody even blinked.

http://abovethelaw.com/2012/04/new-york ... y-serious/

Saying that no one would take a salary increase as seriously today is only right to the extent that salary increases are taken seriously in proportion with the competitiveness of the market, and Silicon Valley in 1999 was the single most competitive market of our lifetimes.

Gunderson is small, but it's not at all insignificant, especially fifteen years ago. Desmarais is a 20-person firm hiring only in IP. Not remotely comparable.

Duval is an interesting test case, as I can't think of another firm bigger than 50 lawyers with a $175k base except for W&C. Unconventional move, but then again, those are unconventional dudes. Interesting to see how far up the prestige ladder they can steal someone. I'm pessimistic though--Cahill has been paying above market for years now and it hasn't seemed to register in the minds of students who are all in for the bonsai tree.

Boies? & lots of other places fall under that umbrella if you count bonuses.

[Anonymous User]

I know for me in DC, if I ended up at a firm that didn't pay 160, you bet my ass that I'm doing 3L OCI as hard as I can. 10K bump is a significant bump in this City.

[DELG]

I know for me in DC, if I ended up at a firm that didn't pay 160, you bet my ass that I'm doing 3L OCI as hard as I can. 10K bump is a significant bump in this City.

What are you talking about? How is it a significant bump "in DC"?

[anonnymouse]

Duval is an interesting test case, as I can't think of another firm bigger than 50 lawyers with a $175k base except for W&C. Unconventional move, but then again, those are unconventional dudes. Interesting to see how far up the prestige ladder they can steal someone. I'm pessimistic though--Cahill has been paying above market for years now and it hasn't seemed to register in the minds of students who are all in for the bonsai tree.

McKool is at $175k although I think the annual raise scale follows Texas so by the time you're a fourth year, salaries are about level.

[FSK]

I know for me in DC, if I ended up at a firm that didn't pay 160, you bet my ass that I'm doing 3L OCI as hard as I can. 10K bump is a significant bump in this City.

What are you talking about? How is it a significant bump "in DC"?

That's like 750 Chipotle burritos extra after tax.

[911 crisis actor]

But hold the guac

[run26.2]

My understanding is that in some of the boutiques, the salaries are initially above market, but they don't rise as fast as the biglaw scale. After a few years, you can actually be below market.

[JamMasterJ]

I know for me in DC, if I ended up at a firm that didn't pay 160, you bet my ass that I'm doing 3L OCI as hard as I can. 10K bump is a significant bump in this City.

What are you talking about? How is it a significant bump "in DC"?

That's like 750 Chipotle burritos extra after tax.

with or without guac?

[FSK]

Without. That would significantly change the math.

[First Offense]

I love how everyone brushes off 10k. I've never made more than 22k a year - 10k is a lot of fucking money.

[FSK]

I love how everyone brushes off 10k. I've never made more than 22k a year - 10k is a lot of fucking money.

Its because its going from 150-160, so its not very much after tax, and then as a percentage its pretty small.

[McAvoy]

Without. That would significantly change the math.

chicken or up a meat grade?

[FSK]

Without. That would significantly change the math.

chicken or up a meat grade?

Chicken, I honestly think its the best.

[Desert Fox]

I love how everyone brushes off 10k. I've never made more than 22k a year - 10k is a lot of fucking money.

Have you ever been a non student / not lived at home .

[oblig.lawl.ref]

I love how everyone brushes off 10k. I've never made more than 22k a year - 10k is a lot of fucking money.

Have you ever been a non student / not lived at home .

Maybe not the same, not in the middle of nowhere, but I could see how this is a thing. I never made more than 40k in the Bay Area, so an extra 10k is big to me too. I didn't live at home and that was a regular job. But admittedly, after you build in tax, it's not all that much.

[runinthefront]

I love how everyone brushes off 10k. I've never made more than 22k a year - 10k is a lot of fucking money.

Have you ever been a non student / not lived at home .

Wait

DF, you don't think 10k is a lot of money?

Is this seriously a thought

[Desert Fox]

I love how everyone brushes off 10k. I've never made more than 22k a year - 10k is a lot of fucking money.

Have you ever been a non student / not lived at home .

Wait

DF, you don't think 10k is a lot of money?

Is this seriously a thought

A lot no, not really.

[Old Gregg]

I love how everyone brushes off 10k. I've never made more than 22k a year - 10k is a lot of fucking money.

Have you ever been a non student / not lived at home .

Wait

DF, you don't think 10k is a lot of money?

Is this seriously a thought

Neat strawman. I think the point is that a $10k difference from a $150k salary doesn't make much of a practical difference in lifestyle.

[Danger Zone]

$10k doesn't go far

[Desert Fox]

Its what? 230 bucks a paycheck

[FSK]

I love how everyone brushes off 10k. I've never made more than 22k a year - 10k is a lot of fucking money.

Have you ever been a non student / not lived at home .

Wait

DF, you don't think 10k is a lot of money?

Is this seriously a thought

Neat strawman. I think the point is that a $10k difference from a $150k salary doesn't make much of a practical difference in lifestyle.

It might be enough to distinguish firm A/B large & reasonably prestigious law firm for a 2L, when they have poorly defined interests and were split culture/personality.

[oblig.lawl.ref]

I love how everyone brushes off 10k. I've never made more than 22k a year - 10k is a lot of fucking money.

Have you ever been a non student / not lived at home .

Wait

DF, you don't think 10k is a lot of money?

Is this seriously a thought

Neat strawman. I think the point is that a $10k difference from a $150k salary doesn't make much of a practical difference in lifestyle.

Neat strawman is a neat meme. Sure 170k compared to 160k isn't huge, but I'd still take 170k. I'm sure you can negotiate for 160k? I don't get what's going on here, I guess?

[Old Gregg]

Neat strawman is a neat meme. Sure 170k compared to 160k isn't huge, but I'd still take 170k. I'm sure you can negotiate for 160k? I don't get what's going on here, I guess?

Actually, "strawman" refers to a logical fallacy: http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/straw-man.html

So no, it's only an meme insofar as you're incapable of comprehending a life outside of the internet.

And no, in biglaw, you can't negotiate for higher pay.

[Old Gregg]

It might be enough to distinguish firm A/B large & reasonably prestigious law firm for a 2L, when they have poorly defined interests and were split culture/personality.

Thanks for making a blindingly obvious point that everyone knew and that really doesn't address the issue.

[oblig.lawl.ref]

Neat strawman is a neat meme. Sure 170k compared to 160k isn't huge, but I'd still take 170k. I'm sure you can negotiate for 160k? I don't get what's going on here, I guess?

Actually, "strawman" refers to a logical fallacy: http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/straw-man.html

So no, it's only an meme insofar as you're incapable of comprehending a life outside of the internet.

And no, in biglaw, you can't negotiate for higher pay.

Oh hey, got that. I thought we were assuming that salaries are already 160k, you know, like they are. I was saying I think most people would probably take 170k over 160k, is that a logical fallacy? Idk?