What does a third year associate make at a small firm in DC?
April 28, 2008 10:43 AM Subscribe
Give me your best guess for what 3rd year associates make in small (1-10 person) for-profit firms in DC?
I've looked at lists online and some anecdotal evidence, but still don't have a good handle on this. If my friend is asked to give her salary requirements in an interview at a small for-profit firm in DC, what ballpark should she give? She has been out of law school for 3 years, from a top 15 law school, excellent grades. It looks like maybe $75,000 would be the norm, but I find that sort of hard to believe since there are so many government attorneys in DC, and government attorneys salaries usually range from about $65,000-$120,000, and it's a true 40 hour week. Anecdotes, lists, anything with data welcome.
I've looked at lists online and some anecdotal evidence, but still don't have a good handle on this. If my friend is asked to give her salary requirements in an interview at a small for-profit firm in DC, what ballpark should she give? She has been out of law school for 3 years, from a top 15 law school, excellent grades. It looks like maybe $75,000 would be the norm, but I find that sort of hard to believe since there are so many government attorneys in DC, and government attorneys salaries usually range from about $65,000-$120,000, and it's a true 40 hour week. Anecdotes, lists, anything with data welcome.
Has she been practicing for 3 years in the same type of law as the firm she's applying to?
posted by bitdamaged at 10:59 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by bitdamaged at 10:59 AM on April 28, 2008
Seconding QuantumMeruit. Your range could be anywhere from $50K to $175K or more, depending on what kind of firm it is.
I have frequently heard that small firms are guided by the 1/3 salary and benefits, 1/3 overhead, 1/3 profits for the partners balance. So if your friend thinks she will command $200 per hour for 2000 hours, that's 400K. Divided by 3, that's 133K. Figuring in the value of benefits, $100K would be a good asking price. If she can infer information about the kind of rates this firm charges, she can slide the scale accordingly.
posted by AgentRocket at 11:25 AM on April 28, 2008 [1 favorite]
I have frequently heard that small firms are guided by the 1/3 salary and benefits, 1/3 overhead, 1/3 profits for the partners balance. So if your friend thinks she will command $200 per hour for 2000 hours, that's 400K. Divided by 3, that's 133K. Figuring in the value of benefits, $100K would be a good asking price. If she can infer information about the kind of rates this firm charges, she can slide the scale accordingly.
posted by AgentRocket at 11:25 AM on April 28, 2008 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks all. She's been working as a public defender for 3 years but this is a white collar defense practice.
posted by n'muakolo at 11:29 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by n'muakolo at 11:29 AM on April 28, 2008
Look at where the partners from the firm came from. Are they partners that left a big firm to form a boutique? (and therefore likely brought with them some rather large clients) I feel like white collar crime is likely to be on the higher side of the salary spectrum just because of who the clients would be.
posted by whoaali at 12:44 PM on April 28, 2008
posted by whoaali at 12:44 PM on April 28, 2008
Response by poster: Update: She got offered $80,000 but it looks like she might get as much as $30,000 in a couple different types of bonuses if things go this year the way they have gone in the past.
posted by n'muakolo at 7:09 PM on June 2, 2008
posted by n'muakolo at 7:09 PM on June 2, 2008
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posted by QuantumMeruit at 10:57 AM on April 28, 2008