What's the starting salary at non-big law firms? Forum

[rad lulz]

The firm has 50-90 lawyers, and this year summer class is very small. I'll see how much I can impress them this summer and also start praying.

I hate to say it - but if you don't get a solid offer, its not them, its you.

I dunno man, some of these Southern firms of that size down these parts seem to no-offer like 10%-20% (or more) of the class every year. Like 60 man firms with low leverage hiring a bunch of SAs (like 6 or 7)

The norm of split summers in non-ATL, non-FL markets may have something to do with this.

[reasonable_man]

The firm has 50-90 lawyers, and this year summer class is very small. I'll see how much I can impress them this summer and also start praying.

I hate to say it - but if you don't get a solid offer, its not them, its you.

Are you confused? It seems like you think this guy already summered at this place and hasn't gotten a full time offer, but it sounds to me like he's about to summer there after his 2L year, so of course they haven't made a full time offer.

I thought he was working there already - maybe a R/C fail on my part. I read quickly. Opp, which is the case?

[rad lulz]

The firm has 50-90 lawyers, and this year summer class is very small. I'll see how much I can impress them this summer and also start praying.

I hate to say it - but if you don't get a solid offer, its not them, its you.

Are you confused? It seems like you think this guy already summered at this place and hasn't gotten a full time offer, but it sounds to me like he's about to summer there after his 2L year, so of course they haven't made a full time offer.

I thought he was working there already - maybe a R/C fail on my part. I read quickly. Opp, which is the case?

Not the OP but the anon we're responding to said this:

haha, thanks. I am around here long enough that I know rad's typical responses.

I am working one of those firms this summer, so haven't started yet. Plus, I want to hear others' experience since I may not totally trust what my firm says.

So looks like 2L about to summer. That's what I assumed.

[Anonymous User]

I'm at a P firm in a small market making 65k first year.

[Anonymous User]

I'm the anon that you guys have responded, and I'm a 2L about to summer with this firm. Sorry for the confusion.

[Jeremyl]

Just curious- for firms that specialize in stuff like personal injury, workers' comp, etc..., does anybody know where I can find data (or anyone has an idea here) on what a first-year associate is paid?

Fee Fi Foe Fum, I smell the blood of a 0L!

Thanks, Detective Hypocrite, Internet Police

[Void]

Just curious- for firms that specialize in stuff like personal injury, workers' comp, etc..., does anybody know where I can find data (or anyone has an idea here) on what a first-year associate is paid?

Fee Fi Foe Fum, I smell the blood of a 0L!

Thanks, Detective Hypocrite, Internet Police

Detective Penisface! So nice to see you again. So sweet of you to thank me- Your face is as penisy as ever!

[Anonymous User]

Without identifying the firm I don't really know what possible answer you were hoping for, apart from "it varies." I can generally say that firms which do things like insurance defense or foreclosures don't pay well because they don't charge very much for their work. Writing up a relief from stay motion in a chapter 7 bankruptcy case takes about 15 minutes of copy-paste, and a well-trained dog could do it, so you can imagine that banks aren't very keen on running up a big bill for this sort of work, especially when the end goal is selling an underwater piece of real property in a dicey neighborhood at a foreclosure sale. A lot of these firms are leveraged to the hilt (I've seen some with ~5 partners and ~60 associates), so they pay as little as humanly possible and the quality of the work is, on the best day, mind-numbing.

OP, I'm assuming this is your only option if you're taking this as a summer gig, but take a good look at how the associates seem to like their lives there before you even consider taking an offer if they make one.

[bk1]

Just curious- for firms that specialize in stuff like personal injury, workers' comp, etc..., does anybody know where I can find data (or anyone has an idea here) on what a first-year associate is paid?

Fee Fi Foe Fum, I smell the blood of a 0L!

Thanks, Detective Hypocrite, Internet Police

Detective Penisface! So nice to see you again. So sweet of you to thank me- Your face is as penisy as ever!

Play nice, children.