Negotiating Biglaw Comp as a 3L? Forum

[hoos89]

OP here: I am at a T6 at the top of my class and the firm went on and on about "how excited they were" that I decided to accept my offer and I know for a fact my grades/LSAT/school is better then the average person at this firm.

The firm is just being polite, OP. The firm doesn't actually think you are more valuable because you got an A in property, or whatever.

No, I'm sure the firm also tells other *lesser* summers how underwhelming they are.

[Wubbles]

I think we can all get an idea of why OP undershot their credentials at OCI...

[Sackboy]

We're all implying it from the question, because OP would be a total moron if OP had an offer from Cravath and was thinking about negotiating a better salary at Fried Frank.

"Inferring." But I made the opposite inference because I did not assume OP was not a moron, at least in this context.

There is also the very real possibility OP is hoping for a V5 offer from 3L OCI.

The fact that you unnecessarily corrected my verbage while anon is pretty golden. But thanks for whiffing up the flatulence of my brain fart.

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

OP here: I am at a T6 at the top of my class and the firm went on and on about "how excited they were" that I decided to accept my offer and I know for a fact my grades/LSAT/school is better then the average person at this firm. Given that context, should I not try to see if they'll compensate me for that? Plus, I have heard that most job offers are meant to be negotiated.

Should I be having this conversation with the HR and recruiting team? I am not sure how plugged in they are to school rankings / grades or if they have the right context so maybe I should instead talk to a partner?

My troll radar is absolutely blaring, but since I have heard IRL people who genuinely asked a question like this:

It's always impressive when someone can have the intelligence for grades like this and then turns around and can't for the life of them figure out how associates get paid.

[Anonymous User]

This thread piqued my curiosity about something separate but similar:

Does anyone know if billable rate for first years differs across firms? I’m at a V30, first year associate, west coast, billable rate is $550. That might actually suck for V5 associates if they’re getting billed out higher — your firms making more margin off your work than lower-ranked firms, but you’re not seeing any difference in comp (unless you’re a partner I guess).

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

This thread piqued my curiosity about something separate but similar:

Does anyone know if billable rate for first years differs across firms? I’m at a V30, first year associate, west coast, billable rate is $550. That might actually suck for V5 associates if they’re getting billed out higher — your firms making more margin off your work than lower-ranked firms, but you’re not seeing any difference in comp (unless you’re a partner I guess).

Are you...asking whether Shingle and Podunk LLP might bill their first years out at something different than Cravath?

[Anonymous User]

This thread piqued my curiosity about something separate but similar:

Does anyone know if billable rate for first years differs across firms? I’m at a V30, first year associate, west coast, billable rate is $550. That might actually suck for V5 associates if they’re getting billed out higher — your firms making more margin off your work than lower-ranked firms, but you’re not seeing any difference in comp (unless you’re a partner I guess).

Yes, it differs across firms, even firms that are around the same Vault ranking. My V30 bills first years out around $650/hr. 5th year and up is over $1000/hr.

[Anonymous User]

OP here: I am at a T6 at the top of my class and the firm went on and on about "how excited they were" that I decided to accept my offer and I know for a fact my grades/LSAT/school is better then the average person at this firm. Given that context, should I not try to see if they'll compensate me for that? Plus, I have heard that most job offers are meant to be negotiated.

Should I be having this conversation with the HR and recruiting team? I am not sure how plugged in they are to school rankings / grades or if they have the right context so maybe I should instead talk to a partner?

Please go ahead and have this conversation and remember to post the follow-up to TLS when they absolutely ass-blast you. Hard to figure out if this is a flame or not.

[cavalier1138]

I am de-anonymizing OP, because their posting history makes it clear that they are not a 3L. I can only assume this is a desperate cry for human connection during these trying times, and I would urge everyone to try and revamp the Lounge if you need that off-topic TLC.

*whacks OP on the nose with a newspaper and locks thread*