Average Biglaw SA Salary Forum

[theycallmefoes]

How much do biglaw SAs make, on average?

[ph14]

How much do biglaw SAs make, on average?

~3100/week in major markets.

[theycallmefoes]

How much do biglaw SAs make, on average?

~3100/week in major markets.

Ahem. Wow. Is STL considered a major market? I know there are a few firms - Husch Blackwell, Bryan Cave, Thompson Coburn...

[thesealocust]

Law firm salary info is super public, start searching around.

[thebobs1987]

Law firm salary info is super public, start searching around.

Yeah go to NALP's website. They list almost every major firm in most large cities. With that said, no StL isn't 160. Most of their big law starts at 110-120.

160k markets are NYC, Boston, DC, Chicago, SF, LA, and a good number of firms in Dallas and Houston are going to 160 now.

[Mal Reynolds]

NYC TO 190!!!!!!!!

[Gary]

NYC TO 190!!!!!!!!

Forreal?

[ph14]

NYC TO 190!!!!!!!!

Forreal?

No. It's a joke/meme.

[mephistopheles]

NYC TO 190!!!!!!!!

Forreal?

No. It's a joke/meme.

stop being a naysayer this could be the year

[Theopliske8711]

NYC TO 190!!!!!!!!

Forreal?

No. It's a joke/meme.

You just had to bring reality into this...

[westphillybandr]

What accounts for the differences between firms in NYC? Its small but I'm curious. Some are 3077 and others are 3100

[Mal Reynolds]

What accounts for the differences between firms in NYC? Its small but I'm curious. Some are 3077 and others are 3100

They take a dollar off for every rank below the top ten vault firms.

[iliketurtles123]

What accounts for the differences between firms in NYC? Its small but I'm curious. Some are 3077 and others are 3100

Based on what I've heard, health insurance and other benefits.

I remember talking to an atty who was paid slightly below market in NYC but said his comp from other sources and (benefits) pretty much evened it out.

[Glasseyes]

Who makes the random 200-205k salaries starting out? I hear that they exist, but I don't have a sense who gets 'em.

[ph14]

Who makes the random 200-205k salaries starting out? I hear that they exist, but I don't have a sense who gets 'em.

There are a handful of firms that pay more than the market rate of 160k. Williams & Connolly pays 180k starting salaries for first years, but no bonuses, IIRC. Other boutiques also pay 180k starting salaries ( Wachtell, Susman, Boies, etc. may pay above market bonuses.

People who land these firms go to the top schools and have top grades, for the most part.

[kalvano]

Who makes the random 200-205k salaries starting out? I hear that they exist, but I don't have a sense who gets 'em.

There are a handful of firms that pay more than the market rate of 160k. Williams & Connolly pays 180k starting salaries for first years, but no bonuses, IIRC. Other boutiques also pay 180k starting salaries ( Wachtell, Susman, Boies, etc. may pay above market bonuses.

People who land these firms go to the top schools and have top grades, for the most part.

Don't some top-end patent people start higher, too?

[bk1]

Who makes the random 200-205k salaries starting out? I hear that they exist, but I don't have a sense who gets 'em.

There are a handful of firms that pay more than the market rate of 160k. Williams & Connolly pays 180k starting salaries for first years, but no bonuses, IIRC. Other boutiques also pay 180k starting salaries ( Wachtell, Susman, Boies, etc. may pay above market bonuses.

People who land these firms go to the top schools and have top grades, for the most part.

Don't some top-end patent people start higher, too?

Yes. For example.

[ph14]

Who makes the random 200-205k salaries starting out? I hear that they exist, but I don't have a sense who gets 'em.

There are a handful of firms that pay more than the market rate of 160k. Williams & Connolly pays 180k starting salaries for first years, but no bonuses, IIRC. Other boutiques also pay 180k starting salaries ( Wachtell, Susman, Boies, etc. may pay above market bonuses.

People who land these firms go to the top schools and have top grades, for the most part.

Don't some top-end patent people start higher, too?

Yes, I believe so (e.g., Dovel & Luner). I wasn't intending to be exhaustive in my original post.

[twenty 8]

if you're asking about average. BL/Big Metro is pretty much lock-step at $160. The average pay of BL in secondary markets is probably in the one-twenties because COL is definitely less. We’ve all seen those COL calculators where you earn 30% less and still can afford more (mostly because of housing), especially in parts of the south.

[westphillybandr]

What accounts for the differences between firms in NYC? Its small but I'm curious. Some are 3077 and others are 3100

They take a dollar off for every rank below the top ten vault firms.

This was hilarious. Thanks for sharing.

[20141023]

.

[IAFG]

Who makes the random 200-205k salaries starting out? I hear that they exist, but I don't have a sense who gets 'em.

There are a handful of firms that pay more than the market rate of 160k. Williams & Connolly pays 180k starting salaries for first years, but no bonuses, IIRC. Other boutiques also pay 180k starting salaries ( Wachtell, Susman, Boies, etc. may pay above market bonuses.

People who land these firms go to the top schools and have top grades, for the most part.

Wachtell pays 165. I don't think the other two pay quite 180 either (for base).

[ph14]

Who makes the random 200-205k salaries starting out? I hear that they exist, but I don't have a sense who gets 'em.

There are a handful of firms that pay more than the market rate of 160k. Williams & Connolly pays 180k starting salaries for first years, but no bonuses, IIRC. Other boutiques also pay 180k starting salaries ( Wachtell, Susman, Boies, etc. may pay above market bonuses.

People who land these firms go to the top schools and have top grades, for the most part.

Wachtell pays 165. I don't think the other two pay quite 180 either (for base).

Should've put those in separate sentences. I meant that other boutiques may pay above market (e.g. Dovel, Bickel) and that other big law firms generally pay market but above market bonuses.

[rayiner]

Yes, I believe so (e.g., Dovel & Luner). I wasn't intending to be exhaustive in my original post.

Wait, what the fuck? Is that for real? A bonus that is 3x what the average biglaw 1st year associate is making in 2012?!?

Edit: Never mind... 8 people work there; I didn't realize this was a boutique among boutiques.

Its a plaintiffs firm.

[downinDtown]

http://abovethelaw.com/2012/10/the-160k ... -salaries/

Notable: Bickel & Brewer, litigation boutique in Dallas and NYC, pays first-years $185,000 (or $1 for each hour you're in the office).

http://abovethelaw.com/2011/12/associat ... -partners/

Susman crushes with the bonuses. Basically have to have COA clerkship to get an interview there though