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What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 7:59 am
by Anonymous User
Hey guys,
What does a "good" inhouse position actually look like for a corporate lawyer at a biglaw V100 or NLJ250?
I received an offer at an inhouse company and I have a little over 2 years of NLJ250 biglaw experience. Just want to evaluate how "competitive it is." Also if you received a job that asked for 4-5 years experience but you got it as a 2nd year, would you be weary?
Pay?
Type of work?
How hard is it to get?
Does size of company matter? Small cap, mid cap, large cap?
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 11:27 pm
by Anonymous User
Also interested to hear any perspectives on this topic.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 11:34 pm
by patogordo
high floor, windows that open
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 8:06 pm
by Anonymous User
patogordo wrote:high floor, windows that open
ty
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 9:07 pm
by 84651846190
It looks like any other good job: good pay and decent people to work with. I'm not sure what the point of this thread is. There's usually no way to know for sure what it's like to work somewhere unless you have a friend who's already on the inside. Every in house job is different, so generalizing about them is useless.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 11:17 pm
by Desert Fox
150k? Not getting ass reamed.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 11:31 pm
by KD35
I feel like if you gave us some information about your offer, without revealing too much about yourself, would help people respond to you.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 7:48 am
by Anonymous User
Around 135k in a low cost of living area.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 9:45 am
by Anonymous User
Not OP here. Anyone know the salary range of in-house positions? In the SF area or another high-cost of living area? Is $150k typical, and is this an entry-level salary that is likely to scale up? I'd be a bit disappointed if a successful end to this whole ordeal is a $150k job.
I know the lore -- in-house = better quality of life, better colleagues -- but $150k, as an adult probably raising a family at this point? That isn't close to enough money to raise a family comfortably in a high COL city.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 11:01 am
by Danger Zone
Anonymous User wrote:Not OP here. Anyone know the salary range of in-house positions? In the SF area or another high-cost of living area? Is $150k typical, and is this an entry-level salary that is likely to scale up? I'd be a bit disappointed if a successful end to this whole ordeal is a $150k job.
I know the lore -- in-house = better quality of life, better colleagues -- but $150k, as an adult probably raising a family at this point? That isn't close to enough money to raise a family comfortably in a high COL city.

Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 11:03 am
by FSK
Danger Zone wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Not OP here. Anyone know the salary range of in-house positions? In the SF area or another high-cost of living area? Is $150k typical, and is this an entry-level salary that is likely to scale up? I'd be a bit disappointed if a successful end to this whole ordeal is a $150k job.
I know the lore -- in-house = better quality of life, better colleagues -- but $150k, as an adult probably raising a family at this point? That isn't close to enough money to raise a family comfortably in a high COL city.

I'm not sure what you think the world you live in is actually like.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 11:12 am
by Danger Zone
flawschoolkid wrote:Danger Zone wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Not OP here. Anyone know the salary range of in-house positions? In the SF area or another high-cost of living area? Is $150k typical, and is this an entry-level salary that is likely to scale up? I'd be a bit disappointed if a successful end to this whole ordeal is a $150k job.
I know the lore -- in-house = better quality of life, better colleagues -- but $150k, as an adult probably raising a family at this point? That isn't close to enough money to raise a family comfortably in a high COL city.

I'm not sure what you think the world you live in is actually like.
I'm not vowel what grammar you sentence the syntax you type in is actually potato.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 11:14 am
by FSK
Fair criticism. I stand by my potato though.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 11:19 am
by Danger Zone
Anyway, I don't see what good bitching about your 150k salary on the Internet does. This is why adults with a kid either 1) move out of the high COL area or 2) both have jobs.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 11:23 am
by Desert Fox
flawschoolkid wrote:Danger Zone wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Not OP here. Anyone know the salary range of in-house positions? In the SF area or another high-cost of living area? Is $150k typical, and is this an entry-level salary that is likely to scale up? I'd be a bit disappointed if a successful end to this whole ordeal is a $150k job.
I know the lore -- in-house = better quality of life, better colleagues -- but $150k, as an adult probably raising a family at this point? That isn't close to enough money to raise a family comfortably in a high COL city.

I'm not sure what you think the world you live in is actually like.
The one where a 600k house in SF is too small for a family.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 12:04 pm
by 911 crisis actor
Anonymous User wrote:
I know the lore -- in-house = better quality of life, better colleagues -- but $150k, as an adult probably raising a family at this point? That isn't close to enough money to raise a family comfortably in a high COL city.
Just do share partner at a V10, brother
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 12:57 pm
by 84651846190
Danger Zone wrote:Anyway, I don't see what good bitching about your 150k salary on the Internet does. This is why adults with a kid either 1) move out of the high COL area or 2) both have jobs.
This. Basically every family with kids in NYC/DC/SF includes two working spouses these days.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 1:18 pm
by Desert Fox
Biglaw_Associate_V20 wrote:Danger Zone wrote:Anyway, I don't see what good bitching about your 150k salary on the Internet does. This is why adults with a kid either 1) move out of the high COL area or 2) both have jobs.
This. Basically every family with kids in NYC/DC/SF includes two working spouses these days.
Obama's America
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 1:35 pm
by jbagelboy
probably depends on the company. you'll take a pay cut either way, but considering in-house starts at $150k at HP or apple post-grad (as indicated by their 3L recruitment), I have a tough time believing a 5th year corporate associate lateraling in is making less than that at a large financial institution or profitable tech company. They probably make more.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 10:36 pm
by Old Gregg
jbagelboy wrote:probably depends on the company. you'll take a pay cut either way, but considering in-house starts at $150k at HP or apple post-grad (as indicated by their 3L recruitment), I have a tough time believing a 5th year corporate associate lateraling in is making less than that at a large financial institution or profitable tech company. They probably make more.
Usually more. And when you add in better employee benefits (including 401k match) as well as a good equity package (with stock options at, say, Dropbox, having more potential upside than stock options at Apple), you're looking at above $200k, and perhaps substantially more.
If you manage a lead inhouse role at an earlier stage start-up (say, post Series B), you're looking at a ton of potential upside. More risk, though.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 10:38 pm
by Old Gregg
Keep in mind most execs at bay area tech companies that are not Google, Apple, Facebook, etc. don't make a substantial amount of money in cash. At a certain point, it's preferable to receive equity instead.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 11:19 pm
by Tiago Splitter
In-house at an F500 I'm aware of in NYC starts around 220k plus bonus. Most recent hire was a 6th year from a V20. Pretty sweet gig from what I understand but that's why they don't have to hire often.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 11:22 pm
by Anonymous User
These salary estimates seem really far off from my experience. Some places (like HP) pay higher, but they tend to require longer hours.
Around Boston, most in-house positions for 3-6 year associates start at $120K-$150K, usually with about a 10% bonus....at least this has been my experience over the past 6 months of interviewing and speaking to former colleagues that are in-house.
Do other folks have different insight to offer? If so, please share your experiences as I am conducting my job search assuming that this is the reasonable range for my experience.
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 11:27 pm
by Tiago Splitter
Anonymous User wrote:These salary estimates seem really far off from my experience. Some places (like HP) pay higher, but they tend to require longer hours.
Around Boston, most in-house positions for 3-6 year associates start at $120K-$150K, usually with about a 10% bonus....at least this has been my experience over the past 6 months of interviewing and speaking to former colleagues that are in-house.
Do other folks have different insight to offer? If so, please share your experiences as I am conducting my job search assuming that this is the reasonable range for my experience.
http://s3.amazonaws.com/DBM/M3/2011/Dow ... l_2015.pdf
Page 13 for in-house positions
Re: What does a "good" inhouse position look like post Biglaw?
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 11:36 pm
by Anonymous User
Tiago Splitter wrote:Anonymous User wrote:These salary estimates seem really far off from my experience. Some places (like HP) pay higher, but they tend to require longer hours.
Around Boston, most in-house positions for 3-6 year associates start at $120K-$150K, usually with about a 10% bonus....at least this has been my experience over the past 6 months of interviewing and speaking to former colleagues that are in-house.
Do other folks have different insight to offer? If so, please share your experiences as I am conducting my job search assuming that this is the reasonable range for my experience.
http://s3.amazonaws.com/DBM/M3/2011/Dow ... l_2015.pdf
Page 13 for in-house positions
Thanks. I've seen the report, but it is not consistent at all with what I am seeing in the Boston market so I am looking for other folks' personal experiences speaking with in-house folks and with through their own interview experiences.