What is normal for entry level in house positions in NYC? Forum

[Anonymous User]

From what I know, NYC biglaw is still $180K at the moment. I recently got offered an entry level in house gig for around $100K with bonus. My plan was always to work in house, but I'm not sure if I'm leaving too much money on the table here because I don't know much about what is market for these types of positions. What is average for an entry level in house position in NYC? Does it really depend on things like the type of company and the industry?

[RCSOB657]

As weird as this sounds, have you looked at glassdoor yet?

[Anonymous User]

“Entry level” as in 0 years experience? I’m not sure there is a set range. If you mean entry level in house (after 2-3 yrs biglaw), 100k is quite low.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Yes, I looked at Glassdoor before posting here. And yes, I mean as in straight out of LS and 0 years of exp. I found that because this doesn’t seem very common, it’s hard to gauge if there really is a range or market.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Yes, I looked at Glassdoor before posting here. And yes, I mean as in straight out of LS and 0 years of exp. I found that because this doesn’t seem very common, it’s hard to gauge if there really is a range or market.

There is definitely no "market" for in-house jobs. It depends very much on industry and type of company. A start-up might have low compensation but a shot at a big payout; an entry-level attorney at a huge corporation might have higher starting salary but only slow growth potential. An in-house lawyer at Goldman Sachs will presumably be paid more than an in-house lawyer at a small, regional bank.

Without knowing more, $100k + bonus (assuming bonus is meaningful $) seems reasonable for an entry-level in-house job.

One piece of advice: find out what the advancement options are. Will you be able to advance without having experience practicing at a law firm, or will you be stuck shuttling contracts around?

[albanach]

One piece of advice: find out what the advancement options are. Will you be able to advance without having experience practicing at a law firm, or will you be stuck shuttling contracts around?

This is probably the most important thing. It might be hard to move from your in-house gig unless you can show you advanced while you were there. Also try to find out from attorneys who are there what their work week is like. There's little point in turning down big law for an in-house gig that comes with big law hours and conditions. Whereas if they have families that they go home to and generally have uninterrupted weekends, that's a different proposition. Whatever do, don't insinuate that they don't work hard or that you're looking for something easier. There's a fine balance to be struck.

[Anonymous User]

I went in-house during my second year of practice, having no firm experience (was previously in govt). My salary was $110k which was obviously more than what I was making in govt but less than peers who went in-house from firms. It's twofold though, on the one hand my company is notorious for paying below market (leading to a high attrition rate), and the lack of firm experience probably didn't help me. Because of the lower pay I'm viewing my time here as a stepping stone to something better.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. This is all extremely helpful info. Thank you!

[1styearlateral]

OP here. Yes, I looked at Glassdoor before posting here. And yes, I mean as in straight out of LS and 0 years of exp. I found that because this doesn’t seem very common, it’s hard to gauge if there really is a range or market.

There is definitely no "market" for in-house jobs. It depends very much on industry and type of company. A start-up might have low compensation but a shot at a big payout; an entry-level attorney at a huge corporation might have higher starting salary but only slow growth potential. An in-house lawyer at Goldman Sachs will presumably be paid more than an in-house lawyer at a small, regional bank.

Without knowing more, $100k + bonus (assuming bonus is meaningful $) seems reasonable for an entry-level in-house job.

One piece of advice: find out what the advancement options are. Will you be able to advance without having experience practicing at a law firm, or will you be stuck shuttling contracts around?

TCR.

[Anonymous User]

Yeah, I'd be worried about advancement as well. Lots of in-house counsel positions seem to state x years at a firm as a requirement.