Any chance a tiny boutique pays near market? Should I Cancel Interview? Forum

[Anonymous User]

So basically, I'm a 3L. I have an offer, but have not yet accepted, at a regional biglaw firm. Roughly $140k in a location where COL is not too bad. I applied to a small boutique before, and just after I got the biglaw offer the boutique asked for an interview.

Thing is, I'm not sure whether I should even go through with it. I'm soooo sick of interviewing and job stuff, after having been going through it basically since the summer. BUT, this boutique, IF it pays market rate, and does interesting work, I may possibly be interested. It's also in a different geographical area.

The boutique has literally 4-5 attorneys, but it's practice areas look like some big-time stuff: patent lit, ITC litigation, and some other various big litigation. They're even ranked on Chambers for the region. I really don't know what to make of this firm.

Is it safe to say this firm would pay significantly less than my biglaw offer? I have big loans that need to get paid off and a family to feed after all.

Thanks for any guidance y'all!

[lacrossebrother]

My understanding is no. Partners will leave big law to start their own firms where they can do their own thing and work with clients they have a better relationship with --for a smaller fee. I'm guessing they pay 115

[Anonymous User]

Thanks laxbro.

If a do a phone screener with them, is there any way to really broach this so I don't have to go through a flight out and all that rigmarole? That was my gut instinct as well, but I would hate to turn down a firm that pays like a Desmarais or something.

[lacrossebrother]

Dude just do the interview. It's good to meet people in the practice area anyways. Weird to cancel honestly.

But of course you can bring it up. What, you're worried they don't hire you for asking how much they pay, and so you won't interview?

[Anonymous User]

True...yea, good points.

Just running a little ragged atm as a 3L trying to bust out passable grades for my classes I have completely blown off all semester to get myself a job

I guess the only reason not to bring it up is, if it were a great place, the question is could be a bit offputting/presumptuous. I've done an assload of interviews over the past few years and IME $$$ has rarely come up before getting an offer letter

Makes sense tho, thanks bra

[lacrossebrother]

Yea well mention that you need to make a decision with the other firm too soon and then talk about your interests and see what they say about why you should join their firm vs the others. Also if they pay 170 they'll obviously tell you. That's why they pay that.

[North]

Yeah Lax is right about all of that. For sure do the interview, mention your pending offer and its timeline, then take it from there. If you don't get good vibes or don't like anything, call and accept your other offer when you're driving home. Nothing to lose.

[n1o2c3a4c5h6e7t]

Why would it matter whether you cancel the interview? If you already have an offer at a firm that almost certainly pays more, and you value your time and compensation, canceling seems like a no-brainer. Nobody will fault you or likely even remember you in the near future. Going because it's weird to cancel is a poor justification.

[Anonymous User]

Why would it matter whether you cancel the interview? If you already have an offer at a firm that almost certainly pays more, and you value your time and compensation, canceling seems like a no-brainer. Nobody will fault you or likely even remember you in the near future. Going because it's weird to cancel is a poor justification.

That's not my justification. My justification for doing the interview is the off-chance that this 4 person boutique is a better offer than the regional biglaw firm I have an offer from.

The only real counterbalance to that is, I just don't really want to. And have like a week left to finish 3 papers and a 24-hour takehome, all which I've blown off to jobhunt. I guess the only real thing I was wondering, for this thread, is whether there is any chance of the tiny firm actually being a good place, or somewhere that would enable me to pay off loans quicker. I've never seen an itty bitty firm listed on chambers before.

Above from North and laxbra makes sense though. Thanks guys.

[lawschoolftw]

My firm is bigger (25), but definitely meets the "boutique" definition and pays higher than market for the region I'm in. While the odds are you would make less money, it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility that you'd make the same or more at the boutique firm and perhaps even enjoy the culture more. I'd go on the interview; it can't hurt.

[emkay625]

1. It's entirely possible they pay more or they pay market.
2. It's also possible they pay slightly less. But honestly it might be worth it if, for example, the billable hours requirement was less.\/more reasonable.

[kalvano]

Don't just look at the salary - look at hours as well. I'm at a small firm and I make somewhat less than market, but I don't work on Saturdays and only a bit here and there on Sundays, for example.

[Anonymous User]

Good stuff guys thanks