Big Plaintiff Firm's Starting Salary Forum

[Anonymous User]

I was wondering if anyone has any information on typical starting salaries at big NY plaintiffs firms. Think Lieff Cabrasier, Labaton, Bernstein Litowitz, Robbins Geller etc. I know that the consensus tends to be lower base with higher bonus, depending on the year, but was wondering if anyone can give some hard numbers.

[Anonymous User]

I am interested in this as well. Any info would be much appreciated

[Anonymous User]

I know a guy at Lieff in SF. IIRC, he told me they started at 100, and got 5k bumps for the first few years with kinda small (like 5k) bonuses. When you're a fifth year you're eligible to get the title partner, but no equity, and I think you make like 160 or 180 with a 25k bonus. 2 or 3 years after that you're eligible for equity partnership. My friend din't know what they made. He suspected it's a lot.

[anon168]

I was wondering if anyone has any information on typical starting salaries at big NY plaintiffs firms. Think Lieff Cabrasier, Labaton, Bernstein Litowitz, Robbins Geller etc. I know that the consensus tends to be lower base with higher bonus, depending on the year, but was wondering if anyone can give some hard numbers.

Between 100k to 120k.

For what it's worth, neither Lieff nor Robbins Geller are NY Plaintiffs' firms. They are SF and SD, respectively, even though each has offices outside their home cities.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the data points!

Re: Cali base, yes, but both have NY satellite offices with Lieff's actually in NYC. Point was more to say on same level, but more firms that are on the same or similar level would be milberg, Cohen milstien, wolf popper, Altshuler, grant eisenhofer, Kaplan fox etc. (*inster 50-100 lawyer well regarded boutique law firms with institutional clients*)

Unless this was to say that Lieff/Robbins geller are on a different scale being based in California? Curious about this as well.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the data points!

Re: Cali base, yes, but both have NY satellite offices with Lieff's actually in NYC. Point was more to say on same level, but more firms that are on the same or similar level would be milberg, Cohen milstien, wolf popper, Altshuler, grant eisenhofer, Kaplan fox etc. (*inster 50-100 lawyer well regarded boutique law firms with institutional clients*)

Unless this was to say that Lieff/Robbins geller are on a different scale being based in California? Curious about this as well.

Altshuler is not in the 50-100 range, but I'd still consider it in the same general class of firm. However, they pay significantly less-under $70K starting and small bonuses/pay bumps.

[Anonymous User]

Altshuler is another Cali firm. Do Cali firms tend to be lower than their New York counterparts in general?

[Anonymous User]

Cohen M., in DC, offers $135k + bonus, which can range from $0 to nearly 100% of base. $5k/yr raises.

The earlier information about Lieff is correct.

[Anonymous User]

What's the first year salary at Cellino and Barnes?

[Anonymous User]

What's the first year salary at Cellino and Barnes?

No insight on Cellino and Barnes specifically. But worked (1L clerk) at a big Chicago Injury/MedMal firm - tons and tons of little cases (read: Thousands), and several big medmal/catostrophic injury cases.

Pay for associates was shit. Maybe 50k max, if not less for those starting out. However, partners were bringing home serious cash. Have to remember for every one of these shitlaw firms that makes a lot of money, there are 100 more who make nothing.

[Anonymous User]

any clue about Berger & Montague?