LA Small Firms Starting Salary Forum

[zot1]

Dear TLSers,

I need your help.

I have a friend being considered for a job in a small firm (I think less than 10 attorneys) in the Los Angeles metro area and she needs to figure out how to negotiate starting salaries.

Could those of you working in a small firm in LA provide your starting salary and size of firm?

Thank you!

[zot1]

Anyone?

[LAsonic]

Have a friend at a 10 attorney firm in the LA area (north of 405) and starting salary is ~~$65,000.

[zot1]

Thanks! That's way higher than most salaries I've been hearing about (35k-45k range). Congrats to your friend!

[rpupkin]

Dovel & Luner in LA has eight attorneys and starts first-year associates at $190k/yr

http://abovethelaw.com/2016/04/ca-to-19 ... -salaries/

There is no standard "market" for small law firms in LA.

[zot1]

Dovel & Luner in LA has eight attorneys and starts first-year associates at $190k/yr

http://abovethelaw.com/2016/04/ca-to-19 ... -salaries/

There is no standard "market" for small law firms in LA.

That's impressive, but boutiques (top schools + prestigious clerkship) are different. I've always thought of the LA market as small firms, unicorn midlaw, boutiques, and biglaw.

Thank you though!

[rpupkin]

Dovel & Luner in LA has eight attorneys and starts first-year associates at $190k/yr

http://abovethelaw.com/2016/04/ca-to-19 ... -salaries/

There is no standard "market" for small law firms in LA.

That's impressive, but boutiques (top schools + prestigious clerkship) are different. I've always thought of the LA market as small firms, unicorn midlaw, boutiques, and biglaw.

What are the "unicorn midlaw" firms in LA?

[zot1]

Dovel & Luner in LA has eight attorneys and starts first-year associates at $190k/yr

http://abovethelaw.com/2016/04/ca-to-19 ... -salaries/

There is no standard "market" for small law firms in LA.

That's impressive, but boutiques (top schools + prestigious clerkship) are different. I've always thought of the LA market as small firms, unicorn midlaw, boutiques, and biglaw.

What are the "unicorn midlaw" firms in LA?

I would consider that the one on the first response, a firm with a salary in the 60k-70k range.

[rpupkin]

Dovel & Luner in LA has eight attorneys and starts first-year associates at $190k/yr

http://abovethelaw.com/2016/04/ca-to-19 ... -salaries/

There is no standard "market" for small law firms in LA.

That's impressive, but boutiques (top schools + prestigious clerkship) are different. I've always thought of the LA market as small firms, unicorn midlaw, boutiques, and biglaw.

What are the "unicorn midlaw" firms in LA?

I would consider that the one on the first response, a firm with a salary in the 60k-70k range.

A law firm that pays you $60k-$70K in a major city is now considered "unicorn"? Yikes. The standards have fallen dramatically around here.

[zot1]

At least in the LA market from what I've seen, jobs in the 60k-100k (let me expand it even) for non-biglaw and non-boutique firms are not that common.

Someone feel free to correct me.

[rpupkin]

At least in the LA market from what I've seen, jobs in the 60k-100k (let me expand it even) for non-biglaw and non-boutique firms are not that common.

Someone feel free to correct me.

I'm going to correct you. I'd say $60k - $100K is roughly what you'd expect at a medium-sized firm in LA. It's certainly not a "unicorn" outcome.

[zot1]

At least in the LA market from what I've seen, jobs in the 60k-100k (let me expand it even) for non-biglaw and non-boutique firms are not that common.

Someone feel free to correct me.

I'm going to correct you. I'd say $60k - $100K is roughly what you'd expect at a medium-sized firm in LA. It's certainly not a "unicorn" outcome.

I'm sorry, I phrased that poorly. I meant to say are not AS common as jobs paying below 60k.

[rpupkin]

Just to clarify the standard terminology, there is "shitlaw," "midlaw," "biglaw," and "boutiques."

Your friends who are working at firms that pay $30K-$40K are in the "shitlaw" category.

[zot1]

It's all the same to me. I just want to help a friend out.