Market Boutique Firms Forum

[Anonymous User]

What are people's thoughts on a boutique firm paying market price in NYC?

[IAFG]

Uhhh it depends on the boutique, the bonuses, the salary compression, the specialty, your interests...

[071816]

The question doesn't even makes sense.

[Anonymous User]

what do you mean by salary compression?

[Anonymous User]

The question doesn't even makes sense.

Alright, relax...I guess I mean in terms of prestige in the legal community + career sustainability

[IAFG]

what do you mean by salary compression?

It's what happens after your first year e.g. do they give lockstep raises to 2nd-7th yrs

[nonprofit-prophet]

The question doesn't even makes sense.

Alright, relax...I guess I mean in terms of prestige in the legal community + career sustainability

.

[Anonymous User]

I worked at a market-paying NYC boutique. Tiny summer class, so don't want to out self by naming the firm, so not sure how useful this will be.
Pros:
-Seemed like saner work hours, although hard to tell as a summer.
-Partners were very family-oriented and seemed to understand external obligations, although again hard to tell as a summer. However, all the partners seemed to know the associates' wives, husbands, kids, girlfriends, etc. pretty well.
-Good work. Lots of client contact, small case teams, etc.

Cons:
-Pretty insane expectations of high-quality work right out of the gate. Not a lot of hand-holding, which made the associates' lives pretty stressful for the first year.
-Almost no infrastructure. Apparently hard to figure out things from benefits all the way to clerical stuff.
-Edit: Salary apparently dips below market after year 3 (it's market up to year 3 because they want to attract clerks.) I have no idea how much.

[Anonymous User]

I worked at a market-paying NYC boutique. Tiny summer class, so don't want to out self by naming the firm, so not sure how useful this will be.
Pros:
-Seemed like saner work hours, although hard to tell as a summer.
-Partners were very family-oriented and seemed to understand external obligations, although again hard to tell as a summer. However, all the partners seemed to know the associates' wives, husbands, kids, girlfriends, etc. pretty well.
-Good work. Lots of client contact, small case teams, etc.

Cons:
-Pretty insane expectations of high-quality work right out of the gate. Not a lot of hand-holding, which made the associates' lives pretty stressful for the first year.
-Almost no infrastructure. Apparently hard to figure out things from benefits all the way to clerical stuff.

The pros sound awesome! Did you end up working there as an associate?

[Anonymous User]

I worked at a market-paying NYC boutique. Tiny summer class, so don't want to out self by naming the firm, so not sure how useful this will be.
Pros:
-Seemed like saner work hours, although hard to tell as a summer.
-Partners were very family-oriented and seemed to understand external obligations, although again hard to tell as a summer. However, all the partners seemed to know the associates' wives, husbands, kids, girlfriends, etc. pretty well.
-Good work. Lots of client contact, small case teams, etc.

Cons:
-Pretty insane expectations of high-quality work right out of the gate. Not a lot of hand-holding, which made the associates' lives pretty stressful for the first year.
-Almost no infrastructure. Apparently hard to figure out things from benefits all the way to clerical stuff.

The pros sound awesome! Did you end up working there as an associate?

I was a summer this year. I have some public interest/government applications pending, but I'll probably go back.

[Anonymous User]

I worked at a market-paying NYC boutique. Tiny summer class, so don't want to out self by naming the firm, so not sure how useful this will be.
Pros:
-Seemed like saner work hours, although hard to tell as a summer.
-Partners were very family-oriented and seemed to understand external obligations, although again hard to tell as a summer. However, all the partners seemed to know the associates' wives, husbands, kids, girlfriends, etc. pretty well.
-Good work. Lots of client contact, small case teams, etc.

Cons:
-Pretty insane expectations of high-quality work right out of the gate. Not a lot of hand-holding, which made the associates' lives pretty stressful for the first year.
-Almost no infrastructure. Apparently hard to figure out things from benefits all the way to clerical stuff.

Worked at a market paying boutique in Chicago and found exactly the same. I haven't asked about comp after year one but I'm assuming salary compression is a reference to a move off lockstep