Philadelphia MidLaw Forum

[Anonymous User]

One of the recent threads on midlaw categorized midlaw as 100k salary and billables of 1600-1800 hours. What sort of firms like that exist in Philly and are any of them attainable from Penn with bad grades (bottom third)?

[framboozer]

I'll bite. I think these firms straddle the Biglaw/Midlaw line:

Marshall Dennehey
Post & Schell
Rawle & Henderson
Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis
White & Williams
Dilworth Paxson
Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young

I have no idea what kind of grades at Penn would get you a job there or what their hours are, but I strongly suspect ties to the area are paramount. Philadelphia is insular. They don't want someone from Penn with bad grades who just can't get anything else. Are you from the Philly area?

[Frm312]

I'd add Conrad O'Brien to that list

[Traynor Brah]

Also add Wyant Wheeler Hellerman Tetlow & Brown

[jchiles]

Thats a good list, I would expect billables on the higher end, if not a little above, of that 1600-1800 spectrum at most of those firms though.

[BarbellDreams]

Marshall Dennehy will expect you to bill 2400 hours for a 90K salary. Just FYI.

[seespotrun]

Marshall Dennehy will expect you to bill 2400 hours for a 90K salary. Just FYI.

Yeah, I've heard that place sucks.

[mikec0824]

Marshall Dennehy will expect you to bill 2400 hours for a 90K salary. Just FYI.

Yeah, I've heard that place sucks.

I worked in a satellite office of MD and would disagree. Starting salary in philly office is about 100k, satellite offices, depending on region, in Erie I it was 80k. Salary bumps are about 5k per year. Partners make 150-200k, excluding upper management and executive board members. First years usually have a goal of 1900 (160/mo.). The numbers do go up as you progress, but it is really only very senior associates and partners who are expected to bill 2400. By the time you reach that level, with all of the cases you will be dealing with, it is not difficult to average 200 per month. As a second year there were months where I hit 200 in a month. I usually got to the office around 8 and left around 6. I would occasionally do some work on the weekends, but never more than a few hours. There is one level of partnership, and everyone is expected to reach that level. No one is sitting around for 15 years still as an associate. It is not a kill what you eat firm, so work is distributed fairly and readily available.

[transferror]

I would also add:

Obermayer
Cohen Seglias
Klehr Harrison
Montgomery McCracken
margolis edelstein
Stevens & Lee
Buchanan Ingersoll

[LA Spring]

I know a Vandy grad working at Saul Ewing Philly. Might add them to the list, she says she likes the firm.

[seespotrun]

Marshall Dennehy will expect you to bill 2400 hours for a 90K salary. Just FYI.

Yeah, I've heard that place sucks.

I worked in a satellite office of MD and would disagree. Starting salary in philly office is about 100k, satellite offices, depending on region, in Erie I it was 80k. Salary bumps are about 5k per year. Partners make 150-200k, excluding upper management and executive board members. First years usually have a goal of 1900 (160/mo.). The numbers do go up as you progress, but it is really only very senior associates and partners who are expected to bill 2400. By the time you reach that level, with all of the cases you will be dealing with, it is not difficult to average 200 per month. As a second year there were months where I hit 200 in a month. I usually got to the office around 8 and left around 6. I would occasionally do some work on the weekends, but never more than a few hours. There is one level of partnership, and everyone is expected to reach that level. No one is sitting around for 15 years still as an associate. It is not a kill what you eat firm, so work is distributed fairly and readily available.

Sounds like a terrible place to work.

[LA Spring]

Know a lawyer at Pepper (Hamilton?) who transferred from Philly. She said they started her at $135k and she was doing mainly doc review during her first year but then the work became more interesting. She transferred after two years. She said the number of attorneys varied significantly from market-to-market. Not certain if Pepper is considered midlaw, or a tad closer to big law.

[chuckbass]

Know a lawyer at Pepper (Hamilton?) who transferred from Philly. She said they started her at $135k and she was doing mainly doc review during her first year but then the work became more interesting. She transferred after two years. She said the number of attorneys varied significantly from market-to-market. Not certain if Pepper is considered midlaw, or a tad closer to big law.

Pepper Hamilton is Philly biglaw fwiw.

[transferror]

Know a lawyer at Pepper (Hamilton?) who transferred from Philly. She said they started her at $135k and she was doing mainly doc review during her first year but then the work became more interesting. She transferred after two years. She said the number of attorneys varied significantly from market-to-market. Not certain if Pepper is considered midlaw, or a tad closer to big law.

Pepper Hamilton is Philly biglaw fwiw.

Yeah, Pepper is Philly biglaw. Philly biglaw market has traditionally ranged from 130-145k, but a handful of firms are raising starting salaries for this Fall's incoming class.

[chuckbass]

Know a lawyer at Pepper (Hamilton?) who transferred from Philly. She said they started her at $135k and she was doing mainly doc review during her first year but then the work became more interesting. She transferred after two years. She said the number of attorneys varied significantly from market-to-market. Not certain if Pepper is considered midlaw, or a tad closer to big law.

Pepper Hamilton is Philly biglaw fwiw.

Yeah, Pepper is Philly biglaw. Philly biglaw market has traditionally ranged from 130-145k, but a handful of firms are raising starting salaries for this Fall's incoming class.

Have you heard of other firms raising salaries yet besides Dechert?

[aep11]

http://abovethelaw.com/2015/04/nationwi ... -for-real/

Reed Smith 130 ---> 145

[chuckbass]

Oh yeah I forgot about Reed Smith. I'm hoping the other firms that were paying 140-145 do follow Dechert soon.

[transferror]

Oh yeah I forgot about Reed Smith. I'm hoping the other firms that were paying 140-145 do follow Dechert soon.

MLB should, but toss up on the rest. Article below says Duane Morris is evaluating a response.

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia ... aises.html

[chuckbass]

Oh yeah I forgot about Reed Smith. I'm hoping the other firms that were paying 140-145 do follow Dechert soon.

MLB should, but toss up on the rest. Article below says Duane Morris is evaluating a response.

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia ... aises.html

Thanks for the link. Doesn't sound like this has put as much pressure on firms as I would have thought unfortunately.

[Frm312]

I've heard through the grapevine that MLB has already raised to 160 and that ballard is gonna jump to 145

[seespotrun]

Source?

[transferror]

the grapevine

[Danger Zone]

I know a Vandy grad working at Saul Ewing Philly. Might add them to the list, she says she likes the firm.

Saul is considered big for Philly. $135k starting and over 200 attorneys.

[Anonymous User]

I have an OCI for Saul Ewing in a few weeks, likely for the Philly/Chesterbrook/Princeton office.

Any tips for what to expect? I have spoken to an associate there and the firm is my top choice. I have strong ties to the area

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know what Post and Schell starts at salary-wise?