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Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 11:29 am
by Anonymous User
I want to do corporate work, work 55-60 hours per week, and start of at like $90-100k. Is this midlaw in Chicago? What firms (if any) should I be targeting for this?

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 11:33 am
by IAFG
I am guessing you haven't looked at the bimodal distribution of lawyer salaries

Either you work for $60k to get hours fucked or 160k to get hours fucked

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 11:38 am
by Anonymous User
http://www.nalp.org/salarydistrib

Doesn't look flat to me in the middle? Just because there are less of them doesn't mean those jobs aren't out there...

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 11:40 am
by Mal Reynolds
Anonymous User wrote:I want to do corporate work, work 55-60 hours per week, and start of at like $90-100k. Is this midlaw in Chicago? What firms (if any) should I be targeting for this?
Is this how jobs work? Do we go to a job buffet and just mix and match?

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 11:42 am
by 09042014
Anonymous User wrote:I want to do corporate work, work 55-60 hours per week, and start of at like $90-100k. Is this midlaw in Chicago? What firms (if any) should I be targeting for this?
55-60 hours is a lot, that's big law hours.

The bigger question is does anyone in Chicago actually still do corporate work.

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 11:45 am
by IAFG
Anonymous User wrote:http://www.nalp.org/salarydistrib

Doesn't look flat to me in the middle? Just because there are less of them doesn't mean those jobs aren't out there...
You realize the range you are talking about is like 5% of reported salaries right

Then you're speculating any of those are 1) in Chicago 2) private practice 3) corp 4) sub 60 hours/wk in the office

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 11:47 am
by 20160810
What you're looking for is not Chicago midlaw, it's Omaha biglaw.

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 12:34 pm
by jbiresq
IAFG wrote:I am guessing you haven't looked at the bimodal distribution of lawyer salaries

Either you work for $60k to get hours fucked or 160k to get hours fucked
This.

Even a midlaw firm like Ungaretti & Harris requires 1950 billable: https://www.nalpdirectory.com/employer_ ... etti%22%7D

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 12:36 pm
by Jsa725
.

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 12:43 pm
by 09042014
60 hours a week in big law is prob above average. But op is underestimating how much 60 hours absolutely blows.

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 12:46 pm
by IAFG
Desert Fox wrote:60 hours a week in big law is prob above average. But op is underestimating how much 60 hours absolutely blows.
I def am in the office less than 60 hours a week on average, but it's like 45 hours for 3 weeks then 90 for one. And I have no idea when the 90 hour week will pop up.

So do you want average 60 or typical/dependable 60. And you should care about the distinction.

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 12:48 pm
by sighsigh
jbiresq wrote:Even a midlaw firm like Ungaretti & Harris requires 1950 billable: https://www.nalpdirectory.com/employer_ ... etti%22%7D
Hmmm, why are the average hours worked and average billable hours worked lower (or barely higher) than the minimum billable hours?

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 12:51 pm
by Anonymous User
IAFG wrote:
Desert Fox wrote:60 hours a week in big law is prob above average. But op is underestimating how much 60 hours absolutely blows.
I def am in the office less than 60 hours a week on average, but it's like 45 hours for 3 weeks then 90 for one. And I have no idea when the 90 hour week will pop up.

So do you want average 60 or typical/dependable 60. And you should care about the distinction.
OP here. I wouldn't mind at all if my weeks were 45-45-90-45 and you could never predict the 90 hour week. Shit popping up is part of the job

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 12:53 pm
by IAFG
Anonymous User wrote:
IAFG wrote:
Desert Fox wrote:60 hours a week in big law is prob above average. But op is underestimating how much 60 hours absolutely blows.
I def am in the office less than 60 hours a week on average, but it's like 45 hours for 3 weeks then 90 for one. And I have no idea when the 90 hour week will pop up.

So do you want average 60 or typical/dependable 60. And you should care about the distinction.
OP here. I wouldn't mind at all if my weeks were 45-45-90-45 and you could never predict the 90 hour week. Shit popping up is part of the job
The likelihood that you will mind is high.

Wtf are you doing here, you want a biglaw schedule for less money? Is this thread an elaborate justification for paying close to sticker at Loyola or something?

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 1:09 pm
by Anonymous User
IAFG wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:
IAFG wrote:
Desert Fox wrote:60 hours a week in big law is prob above average. But op is underestimating how much 60 hours absolutely blows.
I def am in the office less than 60 hours a week on average, but it's like 45 hours for 3 weeks then 90 for one. And I have no idea when the 90 hour week will pop up.

So do you want average 60 or typical/dependable 60. And you should care about the distinction.
OP here. I wouldn't mind at all if my weeks were 45-45-90-45 and you could never predict the 90 hour week. Shit popping up is part of the job
The likelihood that you will mind is high.

Wtf are you doing here, you want a biglaw schedule for less money? Is this thread an elaborate justification for paying close to sticker at Loyola or something?
How is 60 hours a week Biglaw? I was under the impression Biglaw was more like 80 hours a week.... And I have no idea what "paying close to sticker at Loyola" means.

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 1:13 pm
by IAFG
Okay well if that's what you thought, no, 80 hours average is not typical in Chicago. Just do biglaw. Problem solved.

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 4:08 pm
by Anonymous User
Really? Biglaw associates only work on average 60 hours a week in Chicago? Can other people confirm that? And I still don't get the paying close to sticker at Loyola comment...

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 4:59 pm
by IAFG
Anonymous User wrote:Really? Biglaw associates only work on average 60 hours a week in Chicago? Can other people confirm that? And I still don't get the paying close to sticker at Loyola comment...
I asked about Loyola because I can't imagine why anyone would try to make 90k when you're likely going to work the same hours.

Midlaw doesn't pay you less because they work you less, they pay you less because they bill you out for less.

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 5:15 pm
by RPK34
IME, "corporate midlaw" is pretty rare, especially for first year hiring. You might see some places doing real estate acquisitions, based on the market, but there's not a line of public companies, PE firms, and investment funds looking for midlaw firms to do their legal work.

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 5:16 pm
by Mal Reynolds
Chicago Midlaw: Were here to give you a great dicking.

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 5:17 pm
by bjsesq
Just go to Barlit Beck, man. Easy peasy, problem solved.

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 5:20 pm
by IAFG
RPK34 wrote:IME, "corporate midlaw" is pretty rare, especially for first year hiring. You might see some places doing real estate acquisitions, based on the market, but there's not a line of public companies, PE firms, and investment funds looking for midlaw firms to do their legal work.
Yeah I thought that was right thx for confirmation

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 11:02 am
by Anonymous User
bjsesq wrote:Just go to Barlit Beck, man. Easy peasy, problem solved.
Ha right, because I'm top 5% at UC and could definitely land a gig there...

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 11:10 am
by Mal Reynolds
Anonymous User wrote:
bjsesq wrote:Just go to Barlit Beck, man. Easy peasy, problem solved.
Ha right, because I'm top 5% at UC and could definitely land a gig there...
That was the joke bro.

Re: Chicago Midlaw

Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 11:13 am
by bjsesq
Mel- he says it so you don't have to®