San Diego Firm Salaries Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am wondering if anyone has any information on salaries for 1st year associates at:

Higgs, Fletcher & Mack

and/or

Procopio, Cory Hargreaves & Savich

Both are in San Diego, CA. They don't post their salary numbers, nor do they follow the market rate (so I've heard) of standard BigLaw firms. Any insight is very helpful!

[Anonymous User]

Totally spitballing but I would imagine starting pay around 130-150 (probably on the high side for Procopio and lower for HFM, but who knows) with smallish year to year raises.

[Anonymous User]

Totally spitballing but I would imagine starting pay around 130-150 (probably on the high side for Procopio and lower for HFM, but who knows) with smallish year to year raises.

OP here. That's what I was assuming. I've found older news article from the early 2000's talking about San Diego firm salaries - Procopio always seemed to be ~80% of the typical market biglaw salaries, and Higgs was ~70%. Scaled up and adjusted for inflation, 130-150 seems about right.



Would still appreciate anyone who knows for sure and could shed some light on the subject!

[Anonymous User]

I believe Procopio is more around 150-160, but they normally don't take first-years, so depending on your class year, it could be higher. I know people who have interned at Higgs, and my understanding is that they're more around the 80-90 range.

I also definitely wouldn't categorize higgs as big law, but Procopio is a regional big law firm.

[Anonymous User]

Although not a perfect source, h1b1data lists some salaries for Procopio. Law clerks seem to make around 50k, whereas some lateral attorneys tend to make 200k+.

[Anonymous User]

I believe Procopio is more around 150-160, but they normally don't take first-years, so depending on your class year, it could be higher. I know people who have interned at Higgs, and my understanding is that they're more around the 80-90 range.

I also definitely wouldn't categorize higgs as big law, but Procopio is a regional big law firm.

That raises another question - there are definitely summer positions at both of these firms (although they’re more like internships than summer associate positions), but how often do summer positions convert into full time offers?

[Anonymous User]

I believe Procopio is more around 150-160, but they normally don't take first-years, so depending on your class year, it could be higher. I know people who have interned at Higgs, and my understanding is that they're more around the 80-90 range.

I also definitely wouldn't categorize higgs as big law, but Procopio is a regional big law firm.

That raises another question - there are definitely summer positions at both of these firms (although they’re more like internships than summer associate positions), but how often do summer positions convert into full time offers?

I have seen Procopio hire their interns, but from my understanding, the intern had a close connection to a partner. Procopio's business model is based on lateral recruiting, so I wouldn't bet on getting a position there straight from law school. Higgs is definitely more flexible, and getting a position there is doable, but depends on their hiring needs and your work product. They hire interns to provide opportunities to students and will hire if the need is there. However, I wouldn't view it as a guarantee.

Do you go to USD or one of the other SD schools? San Diego firms are pretty strong on ties.

[Anonymous User]

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