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So when I took my staff attorney job I just thought that staff attorneys were people who did the same work (billable hours-wise) and got paid less. Now, after talking to other people, it seems like a more traditional staff attorney gets paid less BUT also has a lower par figure for the year. Am I getting screwed?

Are you talking about the "minimum" billable hours for a bonus for associates or the amount that associates are actually expected to work?

Generally my impression is that staff attorneys are expected to work on the whole a bit less than associates but there is always some variability.

OP here

Well at my firm the two are the same. They push the idea that your par is all you're expected to work and that they are a lifestyle firm. I was talking about the par, which is 1800 for both staff attorneys and associates (which is also the figure that each needs to hit to become eligible for bonus).

1800 is pretty low. I don't think anyone could reasonably expect to work less than that. As long as you're efficient you could do that in 40-45 hours per week.

I realize that it is pretty low (and it is only 45 hours a week). But that's not really the issue. After all, the associates who have the same par work similar hours. Also, people do reasonably expect to work less than that because after talking to other attorneys in the area, some do have significantly reduced par figures (think 1500).