NY to 200k?! Forum

[Anonymous User]

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[Anonymous User]

Not every firm is a sweatshop. Like some other OP said, if you're in the right practice, at the right firm, and have some decent discipline, you can bill 2000-2200 and very much have a robust life, including little-to-no weekend work.

What practice group offers this

I’m in a comp/benefits practice at a market paying firm, and I usually get my weekends. I’m on track for around 2050 hours. I assume the partners would prefer I work over the weekend so they can shove more work at me, but no one has said anything about my lack of work during the weekend.

Even when I do get emails over the weekend, it’s followed by an apology for asking me to work on a weekend.

Comp/benefits income partner here. I've worked an average of 1800 hrs the last two years. On pace for around 2100 this year due to some departures in the group, but it's honestly been fine. Still have rarely had to work on the weekend, usually just once every couple months if a deal is signing or closing. Honestly, I really like my job and they keep making it easier and easier to stay by paying me more comp every year.

I might never make equity partner but I'm beginning to come to terms with the fact that I might prefer that since I can clear $600k a year with little weekend work and little to no business development responsibilities.

Also, are you hiring senior comp/benefits associates who would like to stop annualizing 2700 at their V5?

[Anonymous User]

Not every firm is a sweatshop. Like some other OP said, if you're in the right practice, at the right firm, and have some decent discipline, you can bill 2000-2200 and very much have a robust life, including little-to-no weekend work.

What practice group offers this

I’m in a comp/benefits practice at a market paying firm, and I usually get my weekends. I’m on track for around 2050 hours. I assume the partners would prefer I work over the weekend so they can shove more work at me, but no one has said anything about my lack of work during the weekend.

Even when I do get emails over the weekend, it’s followed by an apology for asking me to work on a weekend.

Comp/benefits income partner here. I've worked an average of 1800 hrs the last two years. On pace for around 2100 this year due to some departures in the group, but it's honestly been fine. Still have rarely had to work on the weekend, usually just once every couple months if a deal is signing or closing. Honestly, I really like my job and they keep making it easier and easier to stay by paying me more comp every year.

I might never make equity partner but I'm beginning to come to terms with the fact that I might prefer that since I can clear $600k a year with little weekend work and little to no business development responsibilities.

Also, are you hiring senior comp/benefits associates who would like to stop annualizing 2700 at their V5?

I’m the comp/benefits associate from above. Nice to hear that my hours aren’t crazy low compared to a nonequity partner at a similar firm.

To the V5 senior comp/benefits associate, I think there are firms in the V50 where your hours will be markedly better, and many of them are hiring associates now. I think the other associates in my group (V30) are in the 2200-2300 range (high end).

[Anonymous User]

Not every firm is a sweatshop. Like some other OP said, if you're in the right practice, at the right firm, and have some decent discipline, you can bill 2000-2200 and very much have a robust life, including little-to-no weekend work.

What practice group offers this

I’m in a comp/benefits practice at a market paying firm, and I usually get my weekends. I’m on track for around 2050 hours. I assume the partners would prefer I work over the weekend so they can shove more work at me, but no one has said anything about my lack of work during the weekend.

Even when I do get emails over the weekend, it’s followed by an apology for asking me to work on a weekend.

Comp/benefits income partner here. I've worked an average of 1800 hrs the last two years. On pace for around 2100 this year due to some departures in the group, but it's honestly been fine. Still have rarely had to work on the weekend, usually just once every couple months if a deal is signing or closing. Honestly, I really like my job and they keep making it easier and easier to stay by paying me more comp every year.

I might never make equity partner but I'm beginning to come to terms with the fact that I might prefer that since I can clear $600k a year with little weekend work and little to no business development responsibilities.

Any chance you could post the salary grid or calculation for income partners at your firm?

Honestly, I don't remember the grid but I can give you a general idea. Our firm has three tiers of income partners. The first makes less than a senior associate, the second makes slightly more and the third makes a lot more. I'm in the third category. Our comp is generally based on annual collections. Being in comp/benefits, our rates are highest in the firm along with tax, so it's very easy to hit the collections target and hit that third tier of money. Last year, it was $1.7 or so million of collections to be in the third tier. For a comp/benefits attorney, that's 1700 hrs. Super easy to hit. I'm working less than I was as a mid-level and senior and making way more money.

[Anonymous User]

Not every firm is a sweatshop. Like some other OP said, if you're in the right practice, at the right firm, and have some decent discipline, you can bill 2000-2200 and very much have a robust life, including little-to-no weekend work.

What practice group offers this

I’m in a comp/benefits practice at a market paying firm, and I usually get my weekends. I’m on track for around 2050 hours. I assume the partners would prefer I work over the weekend so they can shove more work at me, but no one has said anything about my lack of work during the weekend.

Even when I do get emails over the weekend, it’s followed by an apology for asking me to work on a weekend.

Comp/benefits income partner here. I've worked an average of 1800 hrs the last two years. On pace for around 2100 this year due to some departures in the group, but it's honestly been fine. Still have rarely had to work on the weekend, usually just once every couple months if a deal is signing or closing. Honestly, I really like my job and they keep making it easier and easier to stay by paying me more comp every year.

I might never make equity partner but I'm beginning to come to terms with the fact that I might prefer that since I can clear $600k a year with little weekend work and little to no business development responsibilities.

Also, are you hiring senior comp/benefits associates who would like to stop annualizing 2700 at their V5?

Yep, we are definitely hiring! We've interviewed quite a few candidates and they keep turning us down for Kirkland. I don't think we are paying signing bonuses on that level, so I get it but I also feel bad for what those attorneys are walking into.

[Anonymous User]

I've heard funds in some firms (i.e. non STB/KE/Deb) is manageable with the hours + minimal weekend work. Can anyone in funds confirm?

[Anonymous User]

Not every firm is a sweatshop. Like some other OP said, if you're in the right practice, at the right firm, and have some decent discipline, you can bill 2000-2200 and very much have a robust life, including little-to-no weekend work.

What practice group offers this

I’m in a comp/benefits practice at a market paying firm, and I usually get my weekends. I’m on track for around 2050 hours. I assume the partners would prefer I work over the weekend so they can shove more work at me, but no one has said anything about my lack of work during the weekend.

Even when I do get emails over the weekend, it’s followed by an apology for asking me to work on a weekend.

Comp/benefits income partner here. I've worked an average of 1800 hrs the last two years. On pace for around 2100 this year due to some departures in the group, but it's honestly been fine. Still have rarely had to work on the weekend, usually just once every couple months if a deal is signing or closing. Honestly, I really like my job and they keep making it easier and easier to stay by paying me more comp every year.

I might never make equity partner but I'm beginning to come to terms with the fact that I might prefer that since I can clear $600k a year with little weekend work and little to no business development responsibilities.

Also, are you hiring senior comp/benefits associates who would like to stop annualizing 2700 at their V5?

Yep, we are definitely hiring! We've interviewed quite a few candidates and they keep turning us down for Kirkland. I don't think we are paying signing bonuses on that level, so I get it but I also feel bad for what those attorneys are walking into.

Not the senior associate above, but is there any way to contact you? Would love to pick your brain a bit. And curious what firm this is that competes with Kirkland for associates with those kinds of hours.

[Anonymous User]

Not every firm is a sweatshop. Like some other OP said, if you're in the right practice, at the right firm, and have some decent discipline, you can bill 2000-2200 and very much have a robust life, including little-to-no weekend work.

What practice group offers this

Antitrust associate here and can say this is accurate for my entire group.

[Anonymous User]

Not every firm is a sweatshop. Like some other OP said, if you're in the right practice, at the right firm, and have some decent discipline, you can bill 2000-2200 and very much have a robust life, including little-to-no weekend work.

What practice group offers this

I’m in a comp/benefits practice at a market paying firm, and I usually get my weekends. I’m on track for around 2050 hours. I assume the partners would prefer I work over the weekend so they can shove more work at me, but no one has said anything about my lack of work during the weekend.

Even when I do get emails over the weekend, it’s followed by an apology for asking me to work on a weekend.

Comp/benefits income partner here. I've worked an average of 1800 hrs the last two years. On pace for around 2100 this year due to some departures in the group, but it's honestly been fine. Still have rarely had to work on the weekend, usually just once every couple months if a deal is signing or closing. Honestly, I really like my job and they keep making it easier and easier to stay by paying me more comp every year.

I might never make equity partner but I'm beginning to come to terms with the fact that I might prefer that since I can clear $600k a year with little weekend work and little to no business development responsibilities.

Also, are you hiring senior comp/benefits associates who would like to stop annualizing 2700 at their V5?

Yep, we are definitely hiring! We've interviewed quite a few candidates and they keep turning us down for Kirkland. I don't think we are paying signing bonuses on that level, so I get it but I also feel bad for what those attorneys are walking into.

Not the senior associate above, but is there any way to contact you? Would love to pick your brain a bit. And curious what firm this is that competes with Kirkland for associates with those kinds of hours.

Sure, happy to chat. Maybe post a non-anon message and I can PM you? Or if you have a better idea, let me know.

[Anonymous User]

Not every firm is a sweatshop. Like some other OP said, if you're in the right practice, at the right firm, and have some decent discipline, you can bill 2000-2200 and very much have a robust life, including little-to-no weekend work.

What practice group offers this

I’m in a comp/benefits practice at a market paying firm, and I usually get my weekends. I’m on track for around 2050 hours. I assume the partners would prefer I work over the weekend so they can shove more work at me, but no one has said anything about my lack of work during the weekend.

Even when I do get emails over the weekend, it’s followed by an apology for asking me to work on a weekend.

Comp/benefits income partner here. I've worked an average of 1800 hrs the last two years. On pace for around 2100 this year due to some departures in the group, but it's honestly been fine. Still have rarely had to work on the weekend, usually just once every couple months if a deal is signing or closing. Honestly, I really like my job and they keep making it easier and easier to stay by paying me more comp every year.

I might never make equity partner but I'm beginning to come to terms with the fact that I might prefer that since I can clear $600k a year with little weekend work and little to no business development responsibilities.

Also, are you hiring senior comp/benefits associates who would like to stop annualizing 2700 at their V5?

Yep, we are definitely hiring! We've interviewed quite a few candidates and they keep turning us down for Kirkland. I don't think we are paying signing bonuses on that level, so I get it but I also feel bad for what those attorneys are walking into.

Not the senior associate above, but is there any way to contact you? Would love to pick your brain a bit. And curious what firm this is that competes with Kirkland for associates with those kinds of hours.

Why wouldn't any market-paying firm not be competing with Kirkland for associates? Especially in a niche practice group where preftige is already of questionable import.

[NYto200K]

Just got off a call with Marty Lipton and Evan Chester.

Monday: STB, Cravath, Skadden 205K matches
Tuesday: K&E, Milbank, PW, S&C 205 match
Wednesday: Wachtell 215K unmatched until Milbank round 3 in 2024
Thursday: LW, GD 205K match
Friday: Vault 2022 rankings released (Milbank ranked 13, but this doesn't account for the salary increase because surveys were already done. There will also be a significant, but reasonable V10 shakeup.)

[Anonymous User]

I've heard funds in some firms (i.e. non STB/KE/Deb) is manageable with the hours + minimal weekend work. Can anyone in funds confirm?

Mayer Brown is. Hours are manageable in every group except some niche corporate ones.

[Anonymous User]

Good morning people let's get this bread

[TigerIsBack]

Good morning people let's get this bread

How soon do we think the first match will come?

[Anonymous User]

I realize it's gone off the rails since then, but the post that started this whole prestige discussion was using it as a proxy for who's likely to make salary moves. I think we can all agree "where do rising 2Ls at NYU want to practice" is not a useful metric for answering that question.

You’d be surprised by how much that is true. At Cleary Gottlieb, the number of law grads from schools below HLS, CLS and NYU has gone up a lot and it has caused enormous concern amongst the partnership.

If that's what the partnership cares about so much, no wonder they're hemorrhaging clients.

Source?

[Anonymous User]

Good morning people let's get this bread

How soon do we think the first match will come?

By early afternoon.

[Anonymous User]

Dear partners,

You know it would feel awesome to be the one who goes to $210k first. You would be swimming in adoration and get bragging rights for the next 3+ years. Don't you want to be the swingingest dick on the block? Don't you want to feel like a fricken boss? Yeah, it'll take a tiny piece of your PPP, but come on - you're rich enough to spend money on all sorts of stuff that makes you feel cool, so why not this? Hell, there's even a valid business purpose behind it! There's a good chance one of your competitors will announce it and you'll have to match anyway, so why not you? Are you not as cool as them? Do you not have the balls to take decisive action and be the one leading instead of always following? Come on, you know your firm is the best, and with one quick email you can prove it to the entire industry. Today is the day. I believe in you!

Love,
- Anonymous associate at your firm

[Anonymous User]

The bulk of New York should match this week or early next, and at least a few big Chicago/Boston/Cali firms should match this week.

As an associate at a DC firm however, it's time for perennial handwringing about how DC might not match because we are cheap as hell. TLSers - it's never too early to start making fun of DC firms...

[Anonymous User]

Were the Fried Frank and Gunderson matches just a flame? Haven't seen ATL report on those.

[Anonymous User]

Were the Fried Frank and Gunderson matches just a flame? Haven't seen ATL report on those.

ATL is behind the instagram meme accounts these days..they were both on there on Friday

[TigerIsBack]

Were the Fried Frank and Gunderson matches just a flame? Haven't seen ATL report on those.

ATL is behind the instagram meme accounts these days..they were both on there on Friday

Sorry, I'm not familiar with these accounts. So were their matches confirmed already or just a joke meme?

[NYto200K]

RIP to Nixon Peabody. Cancelled its summer program in 2020 with no job offers.

Now this:

Not every large firm will immediately race to match the new salary scale. For instance, 600-lawyer Nixon Peabody LLP told its lawyers about a new compensation system last week that set starting salaries at $120,000 to $190,000, depending on the market. It said Friday it doesn’t plan to make any further changes.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/entry-leve ... 1623499201

I hope they plummet off of the vault 100, if not this year next year.

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

RIP to Nixon Peabody. Cancelled its summer program in 2020 with no job offers.

Now this:

Not every large firm will immediately race to match the new salary scale. For instance, 600-lawyer Nixon Peabody LLP told its lawyers about a new compensation system last week that set starting salaries at $120,000 to $190,000, depending on the market. It said Friday it doesn’t plan to make any further changes.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/entry-leve ... 1623499201

I hope they plummet off of the vault 100, if not this year next year.

They *just* increased to $190k two weeks ago and it was a salary-compressed non-market scale. And that's before you get into these dogshit bonuses: https://abovethelaw.com/2021/06/nixon-p ... aise-2021/.

Fortunately more of these TTTs will make it obvious with this round of raises and we can stop talking about firms that no T13 student should be going to if they have other options.

[ithrowds]

Were the Fried Frank and Gunderson matches just a flame? Haven't seen ATL report on those.

ATL is behind the instagram meme accounts these days..they were both on there on Friday

Sorry, I'm not familiar with these accounts. So were their matches confirmed already or just a joke meme?

They're real - they mostly post biglaw related memes but also drop biglaw gossip/news like bonuses, salary raises, etc. ATL just posted Gunderson this morning, if it gives you a sense of how behind the curve they can be versus the instagram meme accounts.

[Anonymous User]

I've heard funds in some firms (i.e. non STB/KE/Deb) is manageable with the hours + minimal weekend work. Can anyone in funds confirm?

Mayer Brown is. Hours are manageable in every group except some niche corporate ones.

Funds associate not at one of the above firms. I billed 4 hours this weekend I would say that is rare. Right now we are bleeding people and totally slammed. I’m at 100 hours for the month and on track for 240, which is miserable compared to where I normally am. That said, I’m just barely on track for 1900 hours for the year and I generally agree hours are manageable and there is less weekend work.