Let's talk in-house salaries Forum

[Anonymous User]

Litigation counsel at Fortune 500. 6 years' litigation experience at AMLAW100 firm.

Base: $240
Bonus: 25-40%
Equity: none
RSUs: none
401(k): 5%
Location: 100% remote
Hours: 40/week
PTO: 3 weeks

Nice work. That's a fairly wide range on bonus. What factors determine what your bonus is?

[Anonymous User]

Litigation counsel at Fortune 500. 6 years' litigation experience at AMLAW100 firm.

Base: $240
Bonus: 25-40%
Equity: none
RSUs: none
401(k): 5%
Location: 100% remote
Hours: 40/week
PTO: 3 weeks

Nice work. That's a fairly wide range on bonus. What factors determine what your bonus is?

Coinbase?

[AnonRenewablesLawyer]

It seems like tech/financial services pay considerably more than other industries. Compare the salaries from the first few posts of this thread to the last few posts.

Energy too.

[Anonymous User]

I know how it’s going to sound but Anyone got any data points on crypto/payments industry. Seems like a lot of high paying gigs in terms of equity.

[Anonymous User]

AGC at a middle market family office PE fund.

Base: $255k
Bonus: Minimum 20%, often higher due to fund performance
Hours: 40/week with almost no weekend work
PTO: Unlimited

I also have the right (really more of an expectation) to co-invest alongside the fund.

[Goceltics25]

AGC at a middle market family office PE fund.

Base: $255k
Bonus: Minimum 20%, often higher due to fund performance
Hours: 40/week with almost no weekend work
PTO: Unlimited

I also have the right (really more of an expectation) to co-invest alongside the fund.

How many years in biglaw before making the jump? And what practice?

[Anonymous User]

I agree these salaries look huge. Just remember that the sample is self selecting. Your all in compensation is on the higher side of plenty of people I know who did biglaw and then made the jump to in house.

These salaries look huge to me. I went in-house late last year in a not quite HCOL major city with a 225k base 25% bonus. Class of 2015. I looked for awhile and this was the best I could find. Job is very close to a 9:00-5:00. M&A/VC background.

This is a fine comp structure for 2015 (my year as well) so long as you are getting a decent equity kicker each year. If you all in comp is sub $300, that is one of the lowest I have heard (I am same year as you and have received 2-3 in-house offers over the last year in the $350-450 range).

All in is around 280. I was pretty stoked when I got it as that’s the highest I saw. I’m in Chicago, if that changes anything. No equity.

Agreed with this. If you look at any of the broad surveys regarding in-house compensation, the numbers are (in general) a lot lower than the numbers being thrown out here. 2 free ones off the top of my head that I would point out are Barker Gilmore and the ATL one.

[Anonymous User]

Litigation counsel at Fortune 500. 6 years' litigation experience at AMLAW100 firm.

Base: $240
Bonus: 25-40%
Equity: none
RSUs: none
401(k): 5%
Location: 100% remote
Hours: 40/week
PTO: 3 weeks

Nice work. That's a fairly wide range on bonus. What factors determine what your bonus is?

Thanks. Factors regarding bonus are fairly subjective but I work with a great team and my boss/leader/manager is big on development and a large advocate for everyone on the team. Company performance and profit targets are also a big -- if not the biggest -- factor in determining bonus.

[Anonymous User]

Thoughts on this in-house offer? I’m a 6th year transactional associate.

Base: $172,000
Stock: $138,000

Total: $310,000

Title would be Corporate Counsel. Large tech company, public stock. HCOL city. Have heard the culture isn’t always chill, but should be far better than biglaw. Big legal team. People seem to stay a long time.

Would you take this?

[Anonymous User]

Thoughts on this in-house offer? I’m a 6th year transactional associate.

Base: $172,000
Stock: $138,000

Total: $310,000

Title would be Corporate Counsel. Large tech company, public stock. HCOL city. Have heard the culture isn’t always chill, but should be far better than biglaw. Big legal team. People seem to stay a long time.

Would you take this?

No way. Maybe I am spoiled by NYC salaries, but tough to imagine really considering something sub-$400k, especially if it isn't an explicitly like 9-6 job with no extra work.

[Anonymous User]

Thoughts on this in-house offer? I’m a 6th year transactional associate.

Base: $172,000
Stock: $138,000

Total: $310,000

Title would be Corporate Counsel. Large tech company, public stock. HCOL city. Have heard the culture isn’t always chill, but should be far better than biglaw. Big legal team. People seem to stay a long time.

Would you take this?

No way. Maybe I am spoiled by NYC salaries, but tough to imagine really considering something sub-$400k, especially if it isn't an explicitly like 9-6 job with no extra work.

This seems like a legit offer if the hours are normal. Are midlevels/seniors in NYC really getting 400k TC in house offers? If so woof what a market these days.

[Anonymous User]

Thoughts on this in-house offer? I’m a 6th year transactional associate.

Base: $172,000
Stock: $138,000

Total: $310,000

Title would be Corporate Counsel. Large tech company, public stock. HCOL city. Have heard the culture isn’t always chill, but should be far better than biglaw. Big legal team. People seem to stay a long time.

Would you take this?

No way. Maybe I am spoiled by NYC salaries, but tough to imagine really considering something sub-$400k, especially if it isn't an explicitly like 9-6 job with no extra work.

This seems like a legit offer if the hours are normal. Are midlevels/seniors in NYC really getting 400k TC in house offers? If so woof what a market these days.

I mean, what do you think BlackStone/KKR/Appollo are paying? Under $400k all in would be light.

Even the IB shops like GS, JPM, MS or whatever have also been pushing comp upwards.

Market comp for 6th years is $475k+, and if you grind out a couple more years there are now a lot of firms that will let you move towards a counsel for life role, where you bill exactly 2k hours and make market comp for a counsel.

How can you justify trading that to make $310k?

[existentialcrisis]

Thoughts on this in-house offer? I’m a 6th year transactional associate.

Base: $172,000
Stock: $138,000

Total: $310,000

Title would be Corporate Counsel. Large tech company, public stock. HCOL city. Have heard the culture isn’t always chill, but should be far better than biglaw. Big legal team. People seem to stay a long time.

Would you take this?

No way. Maybe I am spoiled by NYC salaries, but tough to imagine really considering something sub-$400k, especially if it isn't an explicitly like 9-6 job with no extra work.

This seems like a legit offer if the hours are normal. Are midlevels/seniors in NYC really getting 400k TC in house offers? If so woof what a market these days.

I mean, what do you think BlackStone/KKR/Appollo are paying? Under $400k all in would be light.

Even the IB shops like GS, JPM, MS or whatever have also been pushing comp upwards.

Market comp for 6th years is $475k+, and if you grind out a couple more years there are now a lot of firms that will let you move towards a counsel for life role, where you bill exactly 2k hours and make market comp for a counsel.

How can you justify trading that to make $310k?

So you don’t have to be on call 24/7?

[Anonymous User]

Thoughts on this in-house offer? I’m a 6th year transactional associate.

Base: $172,000
Stock: $138,000

Total: $310,000

Title would be Corporate Counsel. Large tech company, public stock. HCOL city. Have heard the culture isn’t always chill, but should be far better than biglaw. Big legal team. People seem to stay a long time.

Would you take this?

No way. Maybe I am spoiled by NYC salaries, but tough to imagine really considering something sub-$400k, especially if it isn't an explicitly like 9-6 job with no extra work.

This seems like a legit offer if the hours are normal. Are midlevels/seniors in NYC really getting 400k TC in house offers? If so woof what a market these days.

I mean, what do you think BlackStone/KKR/Appollo are paying? Under $400k all in would be light.

Even the IB shops like GS, JPM, MS or whatever have also been pushing comp upwards.

Market comp for 6th years is $475k+, and if you grind out a couple more years there are now a lot of firms that will let you move towards a counsel for life role, where you bill exactly 2k hours and make market comp for a counsel.

How can you justify trading that to make $310k?

So you don’t have to be on call 24/7?

Exactly. Or so you can work remotely. Or not live in NY (since every job at the companies mentioned would require living in NY).

Also the numbers seem quite high. I have not heard of anyone of my peers (transactional 5-7 years exp biglaw NY) getting 400k+ comp.

If you are making in house within 75k of what you’d make at a firm, better believe you’ll be working similar hours, which begs the question, why bother switching over?

[Anonymous User]

Thoughts on this in-house offer? I’m a 6th year transactional associate.

Base: $172,000
Stock: $138,000

Total: $310,000

Title would be Corporate Counsel. Large tech company, public stock. HCOL city. Have heard the culture isn’t always chill, but should be far better than biglaw. Big legal team. People seem to stay a long time.

Would you take this?

No way. Maybe I am spoiled by NYC salaries, but tough to imagine really considering something sub-$400k, especially if it isn't an explicitly like 9-6 job with no extra work.

This seems like a legit offer if the hours are normal. Are midlevels/seniors in NYC really getting 400k TC in house offers? If so woof what a market these days.

I mean, what do you think BlackStone/KKR/Appollo are paying? Under $400k all in would be light.

Even the IB shops like GS, JPM, MS or whatever have also been pushing comp upwards.

Market comp for 6th years is $475k+, and if you grind out a couple more years there are now a lot of firms that will let you move towards a counsel for life role, where you bill exactly 2k hours and make market comp for a counsel.

How can you justify trading that to make $310k?

So you don’t have to be on call 24/7?

Exactly. Or so you can work remotely. Or not live in NY (since every job at the companies mentioned would require living in NY).

Also the numbers seem quite high. I have not heard of anyone of my peers (transactional 5-7 years exp biglaw NY) getting 400k+ comp.

If you are making in house within 75k of what you’d make at a firm, better believe you’ll be working similar hours, which begs the question, why bother switching over?

I mean, lots of firms will let you work part-remote these days.

Given that these days you can make $600k as a counsel for life billing exactly 2000 hours, I really don't see how you take a job at $315k. I mean, 3 years from now you will be making $350k wondering how you will ever be able to afford to buy a house in NY. Seems like an awful situation to put yourself in.

For me, the switch to in-house would make sense if the work was more interesting and offered the opportunity to transition to the business side, and make millions of dollars a year. But you aren't going to get there through a sleepy in house job making $315. In-house also gives you a shot at getting rich without working that hard, if you can add enough value, which is impossible at a firm.

But anything in NYC under $400k, unless basically a guaranteed 9-6, or with big variable upside, just seems like a total dead end given the cost structure and rampant inflation, and given how much firms are paying at every level of seniority.

[Right2BearArms]

Thoughts on this in-house offer? I’m a 6th year transactional associate.

Base: $172,000
Stock: $138,000

Total: $310,000

Title would be Corporate Counsel. Large tech company, public stock. HCOL city. Have heard the culture isn’t always chill, but should be far better than biglaw. Big legal team. People seem to stay a long time.

Would you take this?

No way. Maybe I am spoiled by NYC salaries, but tough to imagine really considering something sub-$400k, especially if it isn't an explicitly like 9-6 job with no extra work.

This seems like a legit offer if the hours are normal. Are midlevels/seniors in NYC really getting 400k TC in house offers? If so woof what a market these days.

I mean, what do you think BlackStone/KKR/Appollo are paying? Under $400k all in would be light.

Even the IB shops like GS, JPM, MS or whatever have also been pushing comp upwards.

Market comp for 6th years is $475k+, and if you grind out a couple more years there are now a lot of firms that will let you move towards a counsel for life role, where you bill exactly 2k hours and make market comp for a counsel.

How can you justify trading that to make $310k?

So you don’t have to be on call 24/7?

Exactly. Or so you can work remotely. Or not live in NY (since every job at the companies mentioned would require living in NY).

Also the numbers seem quite high. I have not heard of anyone of my peers (transactional 5-7 years exp biglaw NY) getting 400k+ comp.

If you are making in house within 75k of what you’d make at a firm, better believe you’ll be working similar hours, which begs the question, why bother switching over?

Agree with the above. I'm not sure where the "you should expect 400k+" is coming from. It is possible for sure, but (a) not likely, and (b) not available without materially similar hours/availably commitments as BL.

I left as a 7th year in February and am making roughly 300k all in this year (though its a quasi-start up so future earnings are TBD and realistically I could match or exceed a senior associate BL take home in the next 2-3 years - I hope). That said, I havent worked on a weekend in 3 months, have made and kept plans like I was never able to in BL and have worked past 7 pm less times than I can count on one finger. I am happier, losing weight and generally in a better mood than I have been for the last 5 years.

Money is not everything.

[Anonymous User]

Thoughts on this in-house offer? I’m a 6th year transactional associate.

Base: $172,000
Stock: $138,000

Total: $310,000

Title would be Corporate Counsel. Large tech company, public stock. HCOL city. Have heard the culture isn’t always chill, but should be far better than biglaw. Big legal team. People seem to stay a long time.

Would you take this?

No way. Maybe I am spoiled by NYC salaries, but tough to imagine really considering something sub-$400k, especially if it isn't an explicitly like 9-6 job with no extra work.

This seems like a legit offer if the hours are normal. Are midlevels/seniors in NYC really getting 400k TC in house offers? If so woof what a market these days.

I mean, what do you think BlackStone/KKR/Appollo are paying? Under $400k all in would be light.

Even the IB shops like GS, JPM, MS or whatever have also been pushing comp upwards.

Market comp for 6th years is $475k+, and if you grind out a couple more years there are now a lot of firms that will let you move towards a counsel for life role, where you bill exactly 2k hours and make market comp for a counsel.

How can you justify trading that to make $310k?

So you don’t have to be on call 24/7?

Exactly. Or so you can work remotely. Or not live in NY (since every job at the companies mentioned would require living in NY).

Also the numbers seem quite high. I have not heard of anyone of my peers (transactional 5-7 years exp biglaw NY) getting 400k+ comp.

If you are making in house within 75k of what you’d make at a firm, better believe you’ll be working similar hours, which begs the question, why bother switching over?

Agree with the above. I'm not sure where the "you should expect 400k+" is coming from. It is possible for sure, but (a) not likely, and (b) not available without materially similar hours/availably commitments as BL.

I left as a 7th year in February and am making roughly 300k all in this year (though its a quasi-start up so future earnings are TBD and realistically I could match or exceed a senior associate BL take home in the next 2-3 years - I hope). That said, I havent worked on a weekend in 3 months, have made and kept plans like I was never able to in BL and have worked past 7 pm less times than I can count on one finger. I am happier, losing weight and generally in a better mood than I have been for the last 5 years.

Money is not everything.

This is just totally wrong. If you go in-house to Apollo at $450k or JPM at $400k or whatever, your life will basically be 9-7 with some occasional nights/weekends. Massively different than 2400 at a v10 trying to make partner.

This is the same stupid mindset that "all law firms are the same" or that "they will only ever pay you $400k if they can work you to death."

There are absolutely in house jobs paying $400k+ with reasonable hours (and I should know, I have been offered quite a few, but prefer the higher law firm comp structure). To be competitive for those quality in-house jobs though, you need to have a strong resume, good command of your subject area, a go-getter personality, and the same depressing "all law jobs are terrible" victim mindset, where you think the only options in life are poverty or misery.

The dumbest part of all of this is I know 2nd year associates who have gone in house at $300k+ (think V5 Tax to in-house at IB, though with rough hours), so the idea that $400k for a 6th year is some sort of challenge is a joke.

[Anonymous User]

AGC at Fortune 500 company (not tech) in HCOL doing mix of M&A and securities work. Went in-house right around when raises were announced at beginning of the year.

Was 6th year at V5 in M&A and otherwise have a good resume (top 2% grades from T14 and good work experience pre-law school).

Base: $315k
Bonus: 25-35%
Signing Bonus: $80k
Equity: 130k over 4 years (yearly grants)
PTO: 4 weeks
401(k) match: 6%
Hours: 40-45 (mostly in-person)

[Anonymous User]

AGC at Fortune 500 company (not tech) in HCOL doing mix of M&A and securities work. Went in-house right around when raises were announced at beginning of the year.

Was 6th year at V5 in M&A and otherwise have a good resume (top 2% grades from T14 and good work experience pre-law school).

Base: $315k
Bonus: 25-35%
Signing Bonus: $80k
Equity: 130k over 4 years (yearly grants)
PTO: 4 weeks
401(k) match: 6%
Hours: 40-45 (mostly in-person)

Congrats! Now that looks like a legit comp range for an HCOL 6th year.

[Anonymous User]

AGC at Fortune 500 company (not tech) in HCOL doing mix of M&A and securities work. Went in-house right around when raises were announced at beginning of the year.

Was 6th year at V5 in M&A and otherwise have a good resume (top 2% grades from T14 and good work experience pre-law school).

Base: $315k
Bonus: 25-35%
Signing Bonus: $80k
Equity: 130k over 4 years (yearly grants)
PTO: 4 weeks
401(k) match: 6%
Hours: 40-45 (mostly in-person)

This seems great—well above anything I’ve seen/heard of others getting. I’m also a bit surprised about folks saying $400-500k is market for a 6th year in-house. I’m sure those offers are out there, but I’m not sure they are ubiquitous—but maybe I’m just talking to the wrong crowd…

[Anonymous User]

AGC at Fortune 500 company (not tech) in HCOL doing mix of M&A and securities work. Went in-house right around when raises were announced at beginning of the year.

Was 6th year at V5 in M&A and otherwise have a good resume (top 2% grades from T14 and good work experience pre-law school).

Base: $315k
Bonus: 25-35%
Signing Bonus: $80k
Equity: 130k over 4 years (yearly grants)
PTO: 4 weeks
401(k) match: 6%
Hours: 40-45 (mostly in-person)

This seems great—well above anything I’ve seen/heard of others getting. I’m also a bit surprised about folks saying $400-500k is market for a 6th year in-house. I’m sure those offers are out there, but I’m not sure they are ubiquitous—but maybe I’m just talking to the wrong crowd…

I agree that the above comp is above market. I applied to 50+ jobs and many offered significantly lower comp. Above was the result of negotiation and having a few offers in the ballpark outstanding at the same time (hence the signing bonus).

[Sackboy]

AGC at Fortune 500 company (not tech) in HCOL doing mix of M&A and securities work. Went in-house right around when raises were announced at beginning of the year.

Was 6th year at V5 in M&A and otherwise have a good resume (top 2% grades from T14 and good work experience pre-law school).

Base: $315k
Bonus: 25-35%
Signing Bonus: $80k
Equity: 130k over 4 years (yearly grants)
PTO: 4 weeks
401(k) match: 6%
Hours: 40-45 (mostly in-person)

This seems great—well above anything I’ve seen/heard of others getting. I’m also a bit surprised about folks saying $400-500k is market for a 6th year in-house. I’m sure those offers are out there, but I’m not sure they are ubiquitous—but maybe I’m just talking to the wrong crowd…

Yeah, this strikes me as far above market for any non-NY/SF market and a bit above market for those two. The idea that there are a lot of $400k+ TC packages chilling out there for 6th years is a delusion.

[Anonymous User]

I spoke with some non-lawyer folk in the tech industry and non-public company equity grants are considered by many to be lottery tickets (especially if granted as options).

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have data points for in-in-house employment counsel salaries?

Also curious.

[attorney589753]

I spoke with some non-lawyer folk in the tech industry and non-public company equity grants are considered by many to be lottery tickets (especially if granted as options).

Lottery ticket is the right way to look at it, but equally important is to realize the amount of nuance in private company equity. There are equity numbers in this thread, in other threads, and in some survey materials but it's not apples-to-apples in the way base salary or even bonus compensation is. There are so many considerations for equity: Is it options or RSUs, is the reported value based on last preferred or 409a value, what is the liquidation preference structure, how promising is the company, how much runway do they have, what is the promotion and refresh grant policy, what are the terms (exercise window, early exercise, etc.), what are the sale and transfer restrictions. Advice I've given a few people is to try and ensure that your equity is large enough to be the lotto ticket you expect in the event the lottery actually hits.