Partners and associates at small firms Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm doing summer work for a small law firm that has 10 attorneys. More than half of the ten are partners. It seems odd to have that many partners (my wife told me the same thing when she asked me...nevermind). I know they stay busy (they have more support staff than attorneys), they pay summer associates surprisingly well, and they have a lot of established business. But I also wonder what the ceiling could be for the partners there, and I also wonder what the associates may make.

I do know that it is very highly-regarded for a small firm. Anyone have experience/input here?

[XxSpyKEx]

I'm doing summer work for a small law firm that has 10 attorneys. More than half of the ten are partners. It seems odd to have that many partners (my wife told me the same thing when she asked me...nevermind). I know they stay busy (they have more support staff than attorneys), they pay summer associates surprisingly well, and they have a lot of established business. But I also wonder what the ceiling could be for the partners there, and I also wonder what the associates may make.

I do know that it is very highly-regarded for a small firm. Anyone have experience/input here?

All depends on the firm.. Every firm is different, and small firms can do whatever they want. I've seen small firms with one partner and many associates, and other small firms with mostly partners and a few associates. Compensation also widely varies based on the firm. The firm size itself is not necessarily reflective of how much you'll make -- there are firms under 10 attorneys that pay entry-level attorneys the same as biglaw, and then there are firms that under 10 attorneys that don't pay entry-level attorneys anything (see craigslist for the latter, lol). There are average numbers for what the average entry-level attorney makes at a certain firm size range, but that's not necessarily reflective of what you'll make (there is a ton of variance between small firms -- they really can do whatever they want).

[Anonymous User]

I'm doing summer work for a small law firm that has 10 attorneys. More than half of the ten are partners. It seems odd to have that many partners (my wife told me the same thing when she asked me...nevermind). I know they stay busy (they have more support staff than attorneys), they pay summer associates surprisingly well, and they have a lot of established business. But I also wonder what the ceiling could be for the partners there, and I also wonder what the associates may make.

I do know that it is very highly-regarded for a small firm. Anyone have experience/input here?

All depends on the firm.. Every firm is different, and small firms can do whatever they want. I've seen small firms with one partner and many associates, and other small firms with mostly partners and a few associates. Compensation also widely varies based on the firm. The firm size itself is not necessarily reflective of how much you'll make -- there are firms under 10 attorneys that pay entry-level attorneys the same as biglaw, and then there are firms that under 10 attorneys that don't pay entry-level attorneys anything (see craigslist for the latter, lol). There are average numbers for what the average entry-level attorney makes at a certain firm size range, but that's not necessarily reflective of what you'll make (there is a ton of variance between small firms -- they really can do whatever they want).

Thanks for the response. Anyone else have insight, or does this pretty much cover it?

[Veyron]

I'm doing summer work for a small law firm that has 10 attorneys. More than half of the ten are partners. It seems odd to have that many partners (my wife told me the same thing when she asked me...nevermind). I know they stay busy (they have more support staff than attorneys), they pay summer associates surprisingly well, and they have a lot of established business. But I also wonder what the ceiling could be for the partners there, and I also wonder what the associates may make.

I do know that it is very highly-regarded for a small firm. Anyone have experience/input here?

All depends on the firm.. Every firm is different, and small firms can do whatever they want. I've seen small firms with one partner and many associates, and other small firms with mostly partners and a few associates. Compensation also widely varies based on the firm. The firm size itself is not necessarily reflective of how much you'll make -- there are firms under 10 attorneys that pay entry-level attorneys the same as biglaw, and then there are firms that under 10 attorneys that don't pay entry-level attorneys anything (see craigslist for the latter, lol). There are average numbers for what the average entry-level attorney makes at a certain firm size range, but that's not necessarily reflective of what you'll make (there is a ton of variance between small firms -- they really can do whatever they want).

Thanks for the response. Anyone else have insight, or does this pretty much cover it?

That pretty much covers it.