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Comp at DWT
Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 4:24 pm
by Anonymous User
It looks like comp at DWT is lagging behind market. They bumped first year salaries to 200k in NY/SF and 190k in LA/DC last year, but after the big special bonuses and Milbank moving to 215k, the gap seems to be even bigger.
The apparent tradeoff is a lower billable requirement and a good firm culture. My question is: for people at DWT, are these tradeoffs worth it? Or do you wish you worked at a market paying firm?
Re: Comp at DWT
Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 9:34 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Thu Jan 20, 2022 4:24 pm
It looks like comp at DWT is lagging behind market. They bumped first year salaries to 200k in NY/SF and 190k in LA/DC last year, but after the big special bonuses and Milbank moving to 215k, the gap seems to be even bigger.
The apparent tradeoff is a lower billable requirement and a good firm culture. My question is: for people at DWT, are these tradeoffs worth it? Or do you wish you worked at a market paying firm?
Not a direct answer to your question, but I worked at a firm close to DWT’s scale, and the real comparison to make is the salary after the first couple of years. There’s serious compression, even without accounting for the bonus differential (like salaries rising by $10K or sometimes less as you progress). The bonuses can also be laughable.
On the plus side, it is relatively easier to make partner at such places compared to, say, a V20-V30.
It’s still a lot of work, and it can be harder to bill a lot with cost sensitive clients. This might not apply to DWT, as I haven’t worked there. I personally liked working at the firm I was at and the trade-off was worth it for me. I think working at that firm was the biggest contributor to my longevity in the profession.