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Midlaw compensation progression?

Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 7:00 pm
by olemiss18
I'm a 2L who accepted a summer associate position at a midlaw (think small biglaw rather than big small-law if that makes sense; the firm operates like a biglaw firm but has just shy of 100 attorneys) in a not expensive city. My SO also accepted a 2L SA in the same city. Neither of us have ties to the city but we both want to be in this region long-term. The city seems great and we think we'd want to be there long-term. I know that the firm starts associates at $100k base pay. I was wondering if anyone knows from similar experience with firms that start around $100k what a 3rd year associate or a 5th year associate could expect.

I know that Midlaw compensation increases are much smaller than biglaw, and that's totally fine. But would $125k as a 5th year be realistic? Just wondering what the scale typically is for midlaw.

Re: Midlaw compensation progression?

Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 12:33 am
by Wubbles
I summered at a similar firm in a similar sounding market with 100k starting pay. From what I gathered, standard raises were 5k max per year, but they weren't guaranteed. Bonuses were 5k-10k max, and also were not guaranteed and didn't sound like they were given out unless someone truly went above and beyond on their billables for the year (i.e. my senior associate friend at the firm cleared 2200 hours with a 1750 minimum and got 8k bonus).

Re: Midlaw compensation progression?

Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 9:03 pm
by Pompeii
I looked at going to a smaller office a V100 located in a mid-sized city. Here's what I have on their data from approximately two years ago. The market there is stagnant so I doubt much has changed.
Year 1 - 100k
Year 2 - 110k
Year 3 - 115k
Year 4 - 125k
Year 5 - 135k
Year 6 - 145k
Year 7 - 155k
Year 8 - 165k

Re: Midlaw compensation progression?

Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2019 12:33 am
by BlackAndOrange84
$5k per year is fairly typical.