Appropriate salary for a legal conflicts analyst?

September 29, 2008 9:53 AM

I am applying for a job as a legal conflicts analyst, and the employer wants me to list a salary requirement in my cover letter. Problem: I have no idea as to what figure would be appropriate.

This is for a branch of a large international law firm in a mid-size city in the northeastern US. The position involves investigation of conflicts of interest. Candidates are required to have a J.D.

I've looked online but haven't had much luck. Help, please?

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (6 answers total)

Where have you looked online? Have you been to Salary.com yet?

Have you gone to LinkedIn and perused the listings for similar positions? My experience is that LinkedIn jobs offer at least a range, more often than not.
posted by pineapple at 10:00 AM on September 29, 2008

I've always, always left that out of cover letters and application forms, or simply stated that I can't list an expected salary for a job whose scope I can't fully appreciate without meeting face to face with a potential employer. IMO, listing a salary can only A) disqualify you from consideration or B) get you under paid.
posted by paanta at 10:24 AM on September 29, 2008

I've pasted the data from the most recent AALL salary survey for the demographic you indicate below. This is for a Research/Reference position, which is how all my pals who are Conflicts Analysts in firms rank.

Mean salaries for large firms:
301-450 atty's -- 70,182 (ranging from 55,000 on the low 10th pctle to 88,348 on the high 90th pctile end)
> 450 attty's -- 74,671 (ranging from 57,226 on the low to 89,000 on the high end)

Mean salaries in New England:
64,684 (ranging from 48,500 to 83,983)

With MLS & JD in NE (<2> 52,017 (ranging from 39,700 to 61,900)

With JD in NE (no MLS, <2> 78,833 (ranging from 63,000 to 100,000)

Note also that you may well bonus out in these positions too, which can add anywhere from an extra 1000 up to 6K, depending upon "merit."

Hope this helps! Let the green know how you do with your interview!
posted by deejay jaydee at 10:58 AM on September 29, 2008

You might also check Indeed.com's salary tool.
posted by the dief at 11:28 AM on September 29, 2008

Politely declining to provide salary expectations until you gain a better idea of your responsibilities (by meeting face-to-face with the employer) is a good way to go.

Never say something like "At least $_____". If you must list a range, say that you understand from industry research (like from the AALL survey deejay jaydee posted) that these positions typically offer salaries from X to Y.
posted by kjars at 11:53 AM on September 29, 2008

As an HR professional, I would not advise salary.com for any sort of benchmark. Indeed's tool looks to be good, as well as checking with your state's Department of Labor.
posted by Twicketface at 10:26 AM on September 30, 2008