Employment in Texas Forum

[happy187]

FWIW, I know of a ~100 attorney big midlaw firm in Texas that starts its associates at $135k(+bonus) with annual $10k raises.

hopefully this firm in in Houston

[Stanford4Me]

So in terms of big law, it seems like Texas offices will also start you at 160. But, how does anyone know how bonuses slash raises compare to working in new york city?

I'm interested in knowing too. I know certain firms follow the NY payscale, but the TX-based firms definitely do not.

As of 2007, when Texas offices went to $160k here is the pay scale with bonuses.

1 2006 $160,000 N/A

2 2005 $170,000 N/A

3 2004 $185,000 $15,000

4 2003 $210,000 $35,000

5 2002 $230,000 $50,000

6 2001 $250,000 $65,000

7 2000 $255,000 $65,000

8 1999 $260,000 $65,000

Obviously, bonuses are likely not as high now as they were pre-recession. I could search for bonus information, but I'll leave you to do that. I did the math a while ago, and I remember finiding that even at year 8, when you're making maybe six figures less than a NY associate, you're still better off after taking into consideration COL.

Also, as an aside, certain firms may pay more than this scale. For exame, I know that Weil's payscale is larger than the one listed above. I forget where I found that information, I stumbled upon it when I was studying procrastinating for finals and I didn't bookmark the website.

Source: http://blog.chron.com/legaltrade/2007/0 ... ke-tk-too/

[kalvano]

Bickel and McKool start at $175K, I believe.

[005618502]

Bickel and McKool start at $175K, I believe.

Where did you see/hear this?

EDIT: nvm. Bickel actually puts it on their website:
http://bickelbrewer.com/#/home/text/generic_page,14

[kalvano]

Bickel and McKool start at $175K, I believe.

Where did you see/hear this?

EDIT: nvm. Bickel actually puts it on their website:
http://bickelbrewer.com/#/home/text/generic_page,14

It should be in the NALP forms.

[de5igual]

So in terms of big law, it seems like Texas offices will also start you at 160. But, how does anyone know how bonuses slash raises compare to working in new york city?

I'm interested in knowing too. I know certain firms follow the NY payscale, but the TX-based firms definitely do not.

As of 2007, when Texas offices went to $160k here is the pay scale with bonuses.

1 2006 $160,000 N/A

2 2005 $170,000 N/A

3 2004 $185,000 $15,000

4 2003 $210,000 $35,000

5 2002 $230,000 $50,000

6 2001 $250,000 $65,000

7 2000 $255,000 $65,000

8 1999 $260,000 $65,000

Obviously, bonuses are likely not as high now as they were pre-recession. I could search for bonus information, but I'll leave you to do that. I did the math a while ago, and I remember finiding that even at year 8, when you're making maybe six figures less than a NY associate, you're still better off after taking into consideration COL.

Also, as an aside, certain firms may pay more than this scale. For exame, I know that Weil's payscale is larger than the one listed above. I forget where I found that information, I stumbled upon it when I was studying procrastinating for finals and I didn't bookmark the website.

Source: http://blog.chron.com/legaltrade/2007/0 ... ke-tk-too/

I think Weil, GDC and Latham follow the NYC scale exactly. Forget where I've read that. But I am surprised at how closely the Texas scale mimmicks the NYC scale at least for the first couple of years. Would it be safe to assume most/all the 160K paying firms would follow some form of this scale (or something close to it...assuming they use lockstep and not some "blackbox" system)?

[005618502]

So in terms of big law, it seems like Texas offices will also start you at 160. But, how does anyone know how bonuses slash raises compare to working in new york city?

I'm interested in knowing too. I know certain firms follow the NY payscale, but the TX-based firms definitely do not.

As of 2007, when Texas offices went to $160k here is the pay scale with bonuses.

1 2006 $160,000 N/A

2 2005 $170,000 N/A

3 2004 $185,000 $15,000

4 2003 $210,000 $35,000

5 2002 $230,000 $50,000

6 2001 $250,000 $65,000

7 2000 $255,000 $65,000

8 1999 $260,000 $65,000

Obviously, bonuses are likely not as high now as they were pre-recession. I could search for bonus information, but I'll leave you to do that. I did the math a while ago, and I remember finiding that even at year 8, when you're making maybe six figures less than a NY associate, you're still better off after taking into consideration COL.

Also, as an aside, certain firms may pay more than this scale. For exame, I know that Weil's payscale is larger than the one listed above. I forget where I found that information, I stumbled upon it when I was studying procrastinating for finals and I didn't bookmark the website.

Source: http://blog.chron.com/legaltrade/2007/0 ... ke-tk-too/

I think Weil, GDC and Latham follow the NYC scale exactly. Forget where I've read that. But I am surprised at how closely the Texas scale mimmicks the NYC scale at least for the first couple of years. Would it be safe to assume most/all the 160K paying firms would follow some form of this scale (or something close to it...assuming they use lockstep and not some "blackbox" system)?

I am going to shamelessly bump this because I have heard that TX (think Big 3) firms are more like a 5,000 increase each year. I have heard:

1) 160,000
2) 165,000
3) 170,000
etc...

[walkingpanda]

[/quote]I think Weil, GDC and Latham follow the NYC scale exactly. Forget where I've read that. But I am surprised at how closely the Texas scale mimmicks the NYC scale at least for the first couple of years. Would it be safe to assume most/all the 160K paying firms would follow some form of this scale (or something close to it...assuming they use lockstep and not some "blackbox" system)?[/quote]

I am going to shamelessly bump this because I have heard that TX (think Big 3) firms are more like a 5,000 increase each year. I have heard:

1) 160,000
2) 165,000
3) 170,000
etc...[/quote]

Bump.

Can anyone confirm salary scale in TX?

[Anonymous User]

Also curious about non-Texas-based firms like Sidley and Kirkland that may or may not pay NY scale in their Dallas/Houston offices.

[Anonymous User]

I was told during my SA at one of Houston big three that the salary scale would be incentive-driven. Hitting 2000 hours your second year (and every year thereafter) nets you a permanent increase to your base salary starting your next year (I think something like $25-35K and rises with seniority). Additional bonuses accrue at 2100, 2200 hours and so on, but they are less significant than the 2000-hour bonus. If you don't hit 2000, you are just entitled to a pretty modest increase to base salary somewhat like the above.

If you can hit 2000 hours every year starting your second year, you could end up around $250K by the time you're 4th/5th year. Or at least that's what it sounded like.

[Anonymous User]

I think Weil, GDC and Latham follow the NYC scale exactly. Forget where I've read that. But I am surprised at how closely the Texas scale mimmicks the NYC scale at least for the first couple of years. Would it be safe to assume most/all the 160K paying firms would follow some form of this scale (or something close to it...assuming they use lockstep and not some "blackbox" system)?

I am going to shamelessly bump this because I have heard that TX (think Big 3) firms are more like a 5,000 increase each year. I have heard:

1) 160,000
2) 165,000
3) 170,000
etc...

Bump.

Can anyone confirm salary scale in TX?

No real market scale in Texas for Texas-based firms anymore. My firm pays NYC scale to all class years. Other firms pay modified versions of NYC scale (see post above mine). Some firms are still on the old Texas scale. If you're comparing offers, just ask the recruiters at each firm.

[Stanford4Me]

Market conditions have changed and information isn't as publicly available anymore. I'm not in big law, but I had a HH call about a position with a non-Texas firm in their Dallas office and the salary mentioned was in the 180s as a second year.

I'll +1 the poster above and say that if you're considering offers you should be upfront and ask recruiting. Weil used to publicly announce to their summers how their pay scale was much higher than other firms in the area (I'm talking about Dallas since that's where I work), but I know they had a significant partner departure a few years ago, so I'm not sure if that has affected pay in any way.

If you're curious about pay-scale at specific firms and your curiosity is based on something more than just "wanting to know" (i.e. you're weighing offers from various firms), I can see if I can pry information from my friends who work at various firms. Feel free to PM me.