Is 30k a good salary for a law grad? Forum

[timbs4339]

U-haul is just until his JAG gig starts up.

yes but why would he choose a u-haul gig over a legal one if "he really wants to be a lawyer"?

JAG starts in a couple of months, IIRC. How is he supposed to find legal work that only lasts a couple of months? Of are you just trying to make some kind of point?

Now that you mention it though, I did find it confusing that he kept updating the thread with details of his temporary UHaul gig. Why did that ever matter, if he has JAG lined up? What is this thread even here for???

It's just my personal anecdote that I chose to share with anyone interested. I posted details about the entry level u-haul gig because I was amazed that it could pay better than a law clerk position at a firm in Manhattan where I've worked for two years. It was surprising to me, but obviously not to others.

If I didn't have another legal opportunity lined up, I wouldn't be taking the U-haul gig...even if it offered $60,000. I also would've pushed for more money at the job I've got now. Coudld've made an appeal to the senior partner and gotten 40 or 45, maybe. That would be somewhat liveable.

It's a struggle out there, for sure. Good luck to all who are searching and thanks for reading.

The fact that you have two years of experience is what is terrible. Usually they can get away with offering people 30K with no experience. Are you sure it's not just a lowball offer and they wouldn't take 45K or 50K?

[Scotusnerd]

The fact that you have two years of experience is what is terrible. Usually they can get away with offering people 30K with no experience. Are you sure it's not just a lowball offer and they wouldn't take 45K or 50K?

I ain't doing a masters and a bachelors and a bar exam for no 30k. Especially not in NY.

[nelaw2010]

Doorman in NY makes at least $80k/year.

"At least?" So the lowest paid doorman in the entire city makes $80k? I know this is TLS but that's a pretty ridiculous exaggeration.

Ok. My sister goes to Columbia. The doorman at the Columbia owned building (not a dorm) makes $80k/yr.

But still, $30k out of law school??

[Gorki]

Doorman in NY makes at least $80k/year.

"At least?" So the lowest paid doorman in the entire city makes $80k? I know this is TLS but that's a pretty ridiculous exaggeration.

Ok. My sister goes to Columbia. The doorman at the Columbia owned building (not a dorm) makes $80k/yr.

But still, $30k out of law school??

Yep. Welcome to the rest/end of life for quite a few law grads.

[timbs4339]

The fact that you have two years of experience is what is terrible. Usually they can get away with offering people 30K with no experience. Are you sure it's not just a lowball offer and they wouldn't take 45K or 50K?

I ain't doing a masters and a bachelors and a bar exam for no 30k. Especially not in NY.

Then you better go to a good law school. Hell, 20% of GWs class of 2012 was working for around 22K in their fellowship program.

[timbs4339]

Doorman in NY makes at least $80k/year.

"At least?" So the lowest paid doorman in the entire city makes $80k? I know this is TLS but that's a pretty ridiculous exaggeration.

Ok. My sister goes to Columbia. The doorman at the Columbia owned building (not a dorm) makes $80k/yr.

But still, $30k out of law school??

Yep. Welcome to the rest/end of life for quite a few law grads.

This. It's not a ticket to the upper middle class anymore, if there ever was a time that was true.

[Gorki]

This. It's not a ticket to the upper middle class anymore, if there ever was a time that was true.

Lower ranked schools never placed big in BIGLAW, but the costs were about the equiv a student could make clerking part time... so when you graduated jobless w/less debt you had more options to realistically go solo.

Now Boomers have ruined the economy, imposed tort reform, and instituted mandatory arbitration which companies can easily manipulate, and thus there is no Ps work that pays for a solo-style practice.