Miami biglaw Forum

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any idea what salaries are after the first year? i know a bunch of firms pay 130-140 the first, year, but what about after that?

Also, what are bonuses (including signing bonuses) like for Miami biglaw? TIA

First year, other than Boies at 174 (i think), Weil at 160 and W&C at 155, most firms are grouped between 135-145. After that the compression can vary a lot. At the mid and senior level, Weil and W&C have the highest salaries (Weil being on the NY scale and W&C having approx 12-15k raises each year after year 3 I think), although this excludes Boies, who I'm sure beats out Weil and W&C by some unknown amount. I think Greenberg the yearly raises are approx. 5k per year, which I think is closer to standard in Miami.

Miami's compression isn't as bad as Texas/GA from what I hear. From people I've spoken with who have left Miami to go to Atlanta or come from Atlanta/Texas, firms may start in the 130s/140s but the yearly raises are only a couple thousand.

I'd probably advise not asking about compression until you've got the offer. No harm waiting till then and focusing on that during the call back could potentially hurt. However, compression is a lot more important than a lot of law students realize.

[Anonymous User]

Have people been getting offers at Weil or AS in the last week or two? If so, when was your cb?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any idea what salaries are after the first year? i know a bunch of firms pay 130-140 the first, year, but what about after that?

Also, what are bonuses (including signing bonuses) like for Miami biglaw? TIA

First year, other than Boies at 174 (i think), Weil at 160 and W&C at 155, most firms are grouped between 135-145. After that the compression can vary a lot. At the mid and senior level, Weil and W&C have the highest salaries (Weil being on the NY scale and W&C having approx 12-15k raises each year after year 3 I think), although this excludes Boies, who I'm sure beats out Weil and W&C by some unknown amount. I think Greenberg the yearly raises are approx. 5k per year, which I think is closer to standard in Miami.

Miami's compression isn't as bad as Texas/GA from what I hear. From people I've spoken with who have left Miami to go to Atlanta or come from Atlanta/Texas, firms may start in the 130s/140s but the yearly raises are only a couple thousand.

I'd probably advise not asking about compression until you've got the offer. No harm waiting till then and focusing on that during the call back could potentially hurt. However, compression is a lot more important than a lot of law students realize.

Don't mean to derail the thread, but a lot of TX firms pay market. You have a good point about compression though; salary scales are so hard to figure out for secondary markets.

[Anonymous User]

Have people been getting offers at Weil or AS in the last week or two? If so, when was your cb?

Friend of mine got an AS offer recently. Had CB about 2 weeks ago

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any idea what salaries are after the first year? i know a bunch of firms pay 130-140 the first, year, but what about after that?

Also, what are bonuses (including signing bonuses) like for Miami biglaw? TIA

First year, other than Boies at 174 (i think), Weil at 160 and W&C at 155, most firms are grouped between 135-145. After that the compression can vary a lot. At the mid and senior level, Weil and W&C have the highest salaries (Weil being on the NY scale and W&C having approx 12-15k raises each year after year 3 I think), although this excludes Boies, who I'm sure beats out Weil and W&C by some unknown amount. I think Greenberg the yearly raises are approx. 5k per year, which I think is closer to standard in Miami.

Miami's compression isn't as bad as Texas/GA from what I hear. From people I've spoken with who have left Miami to go to Atlanta or come from Atlanta/Texas, firms may start in the 130s/140s but the yearly raises are only a couple thousand.

I'd probably advise not asking about compression until you've got the offer. No harm waiting till then and focusing on that during the call back could potentially hurt. However, compression is a lot more important than a lot of law students realize.

Don't mean to derail the thread, but a lot of TX firms pay market. You have a good point about compression though; salary scales are so hard to figure out for secondary markets.

Anon from above. Sorry for any confusion, wasn't trying to say Texas started at 130s/140s, there was only talking about Atlanta. Only point was that from what I've heard speaking with attorneys that have considered lateraling to Texas is that compression there can be bad (i.e., yearly raises can be very small).

[Anonymous User]

any word on offers from bilzin sumberg or callbacks from hughes hubbard?

[Anonymous User]

any word on offers from bilzin sumberg or callbacks from hughes hubbard?

BS has made offers, but no idea how many

[Anonymous User]

any word on offers from bilzin sumberg or callbacks from hughes hubbard?

BS has made offers, but no idea how many

thanks, have now heard of rejections too; silence on my end. interesting, we'll see

[Anonymous User]

what firms are hiring 1Ls in south florida?

[vincanity1]

what firms are hiring 1Ls in south florida?

If you haven't yet, you should look through the NALP directory. Stearns Weaver typically hires a few 1Ls. Bilzin hires one per year-ish. If you're from the area and are going to be spending time there, let them know in your cover letter when you'll be in town. You'll be an easier sell of they don't have to fly you down to meet.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone has any idea how the market looks for HYS grads with ties for 2L positions now?

[vincanity1]

Anyone has any idea how the market looks for HYS grads with ties for 2L positions now?

If YS, you can take your pick. But I assume you mean H, in which case you'll land one of the big fish in the city regardless of your grades. It just might not be your first or second choice if fit and interview skills don't go your way.

[Anonymous User]

Should ppl from CCN mass mail firms from miami that will be going to OCI if they will be in miami at some point? Also, when should we mass mail generally?

[Anonymous User]

Should ppl from CCN mass mail firms from miami that will be going to OCI if they will be in miami at some point? Also, when should we mass mail generally?

I mass mailed the beginning of July. Took a couple weeks to hear back but had callbacks scheduled for the end of july/beginning of august.

[vincanity1]

Should ppl from CCN mass mail firms from miami that will be going to OCI if they will be in miami at some point? Also, when should we mass mail generally?

Definitely yes to question 1.

[Anonymous User]

Thoughts on firms most likely to hire bottom 1/4 from CCN? I'm assuming GT, W&C, Weil, Boies would be out. Any others that would definitely be out of play? South Florida native. UF undergrad.

Could be interested in Tampa/Orlando as well if anyone has any further insight. Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

top 10 top third here fluent in Spanish... I'm still wondering how competitive I'll be in Miami, especially for firms that match NYC's market pay. I only have minor ties to the area (fiance's family lives in Miami, father attended UM, and some other minor things). Could someone tell me if I'm really competitive in Miami?

I'm also interested in knowing what happens to young Miami Big Law attorneys after they are "let go" (or do they tend to retain attorneys more than NYC firms?). Although I'm certainly speculating, it seems to me that litigators might have more exit opportunities with smaller or same size firms than transactional attorneys.

[vincanity1]

Thoughts on firms most likely to hire bottom 1/4 from CCN? I'm assuming GT, W&C, Weil, Boies would be out. Any others that would definitely be out of play? South Florida native. UF undergrad.

Could be interested in Tampa/Orlando as well if anyone has any further insight. Thanks!

The only big firms out are the ones you listed, and HK/Akerman/Hughes Hubbard are probably out too. There are still firms like DLA Piper, Shutts, McDermott etc. that will all come down to your interview

[vincanity1]

top 10 top third here fluent in Spanish... I'm still wondering how competitive I'll be in Miami, especially for firms that match NYC's market pay. I only have minor ties to the area (fiance's family lives in Miami, father attended UM, and some other minor things). Could someone tell me if I'm really competitive in Miami?

I'm also interested in knowing what happens to young Miami Big Law attorneys after they are "let go" (or do they tend to retain attorneys more than NYC firms?). Although I'm certainly speculating, it seems to me that litigators might have more exit opportunities with smaller or same size firms than transactional attorneys.

You should pretty much have your pick of firms, depending on your interview skills and the hiring goals recruiting departments have at the time

The turnover problem with biglaw firms, both in Miami and NY, isn't that firms are firing associates--it's that associates burn out and leave. The same happens in Miami, but to a lesser extent. People seem to hang around much longer in Miami firms. Yeah, you can't hide out as well as you could at Skadden NY in a 30 attorney office on Brickell, but you also won't need to if you put in some effort.

Besides probably Real Estate right now, litigators definitely have the most lateral flexibility when it comes to moving into other law firms. There are just way more litigation positions overall in the area. But when it comes to exit options generally, most agree that transactional is better

[foundingfather]

tag

[Anonymous User]

top 10 top third here fluent in Spanish... I'm still wondering how competitive I'll be in Miami, especially for firms that match NYC's market pay. I only have minor ties to the area (fiance's family lives in Miami, father attended UM, and some other minor things). Could someone tell me if I'm really competitive in Miami?

I'm also interested in knowing what happens to young Miami Big Law attorneys after they are "let go" (or do they tend to retain attorneys more than NYC firms?). Although I'm certainly speculating, it seems to me that litigators might have more exit opportunities with smaller or same size firms than transactional attorneys.

You should pretty much have your pick of firms, depending on your interview skills and the hiring goals recruiting departments have at the time

The turnover problem with biglaw firms, both in Miami and NY, isn't that firms are firing associates--it's that associates burn out and leave. The same happens in Miami, but to a lesser extent. People seem to hang around much longer in Miami firms. Yeah, you can't hide out as well as you could at Skadden NY in a 30 attorney office on Brickell, but you also won't need to if you put in some effort.

Besides probably Real Estate right now, litigators definitely have the most lateral flexibility when it comes to moving into other law firms. There are just way more litigation positions overall in the area. But when it comes to exit options generally, most agree that transactional is better

Thanks! Let see what happens...

[Anonymous User]

Are strong ties (living there 20+ years) to one FL city (say Tampa/Orlando) make it worth it to mass mail/have a realistic chance at all FL markets. Good grades from a midwestern T20

[Anonymous User]

Are strong ties (living there 20+ years) to one FL city (say Tampa/Orlando) make it worth it to mass mail/have a realistic chance at all FL markets. Good grades from a midwestern T20

Mass mail? Yes. Realistic chance? Eh. I was questioned about wanting to be in Miami a ton and I grew up 30 minutes from miami, just over the country line. If you're from Ft. Lauderdale you can probably sell Miami/West Palm. But SoFla ties aren't going to be that convincing to Tampa/Orlando/Jacksonville and vice versa. Also it really seems that FL Biglaw likes T14 students with ties or UF/FSU/UM law review kids (depending on the city). It could be tough coming from a midwestern school.

[Anonymous User]

Are strong ties (living there 20+ years) to one FL city (say Tampa/Orlando) make it worth it to mass mail/have a realistic chance at all FL markets. Good grades from a midwestern T20

Mass mail? Yes. Realistic chance? Eh. I was questioned about wanting to be in Miami a ton and I grew up 30 minutes from miami, just over the country line. If you're from Ft. Lauderdale you can probably sell Miami/West Palm. But SoFla ties aren't going to be that convincing to Tampa/Orlando/Jacksonville and vice versa. Also it really seems that FL Biglaw likes T14 students with ties or UF/FSU/UM law review kids (depending on the city). It could be tough coming from a midwestern school.

Thanks. I am not set on getting back, but it would be nice to have the option. Guess I will mass mail and see what happens. Thans again!

[Anonymous User]

anyone with callbacks or offers in south florida