What does a third year associate make at a small firm in DC?

April 28, 2008 10:43 AM

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.

posted by n'muakolo to work & money (6 comments total)

I have no experience with the DC market, but I know that "small firm" salaries vary greatly on the type of law being practiced. So if your friend is looking at an IP law boutique, the prevailing salary would be greatly different than if she's dealing with a firm doing insurance defense work, Plaintiff's side personal injury, etc.
posted by QuantumMeruit at 10:57 AM on April 28, 2008

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

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 has favorites]

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

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

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