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Ltdentway99
LIF Adult
Member since 9/06 1752 total posts
Name:
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Lawyer Salaries
I really curious about what the average lawyer salary is. I feel like it's a myth that most lawyers make a lot of money. Please feel free to keep this totally anonymous. Granted this survey doesn't take in years of experience, so it's not totally accurate.
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Posted 2/15/08 12:10 PM  |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
I think it really depends on the type of law and size of the firm. Before my brother became a partner in his own firm (THIS WEEK) he really wasn't making what people would think of when they think of a lawyer's salary.
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| Posted 2/15/08 10:36 PM |
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MrsFlatbread
Skinny jeans are in my future
Member since 6/06 10258 total posts
Name:
Baby Momma
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
my aunt is an attorney, she makes about $60,000 annually.
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| Posted 2/16/08 9:16 AM |
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
I'm not an attorney, but I know people who are. I also know some new doctors. They are not initially as loaded as we might think, because often they have a ton of student loan and PRIVATE loan debt to pay off. Just sayin' ;).
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| Posted 2/16/08 11:23 AM |
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nov04libride
big brother <3
Member since 5/05 14672 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
It really totally depends on the size of the firm and how well-ranked it is. The smaller firms on LI don't pay that well from what I've heard, but my brother made over $200,000 his first year incl. his signing bonus and yearly bonus. His firm is ranked the top 5 in the world and he did have a lot of loans from ivy undergrad and ivy law school. Everyone I know from undergrad went to good law schools and were making over $100,000 in the city firms.
Message edited 2/16/2008 7:47:48 PM.
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| Posted 2/16/08 7:47 PM |
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DirtyBlonde
*****
Member since 11/07 7344 total posts
Name:
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
I know a lot of lawyers - the ones who graduted in the top ten of their class are the ones making over $150K straight out the gate.
The rest - it really varies. Plenty are starting the in the $40-50K range, though.
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| Posted 2/17/08 6:32 PM |
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
I don't think there can even be an accurate average salary. It's like asking how much a sales person makes when there are so many types of sales people, in so many industries and with varying amounts of experience.
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| Posted 2/18/08 12:09 AM |
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Domino
Always My Miracle
Member since 9/05 9923 total posts
Name:
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
At my firm, atty just out of law school , not Ivy, not top of the class, (aka Average Joe) starts at 52K
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| Posted 2/18/08 10:05 AM |
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donegal419
St. Gerard, pray for us.
Member since 7/07 7650 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
Many of the lawyers that are making the big bucks are SLAVES to their firms. DH has a J.D. and was in the field for awhile. to make the big salaries, you're working 70-80 hours a week. . . wasn't worth it to him at all. msot lawyers that make big money--all they do is work and what kind of life is that?
One woman i know works for a firm on LI "part-time" as she has young children. her part time job is 40 hours a week. DH's best friend from his days as a DA works for a big firm in the city. She works routinely from 8 AM - 10 PM almost EVERY day.
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| Posted 2/18/08 10:48 AM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
I used to be an administrator in a law firm. It was probably one of the top 50 firms. Ivy league grads out of school started at $135K. that was a few years ago as well.
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| Posted 2/18/08 1:29 PM |
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csorisi
My 2 LOVES
Member since 11/05 1984 total posts
Name:
Corinne
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
It really varies. Big firms are now up to $160k for 1st years--but these salaries aren't that common. On LI they can range from $30k to $90k--it just really depends on the firm, their speciality and what they expect of you. The range is similir in the city, probably higher.
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| Posted 2/18/08 5:19 PM |
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jenn28
LIF Infant
Member since 3/07 178 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
It definitely depends on the type of law and firm. I know someone that almost took a 80,000 pay cut to come out to LI from the city. In the end, he went with the $$$$$
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| Posted 2/18/08 9:47 PM |
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
Posted by donegal419
Many of the lawyers that are making the big bucks are SLAVES to their firms. DH has a J.D. and was in the field for awhile. to make the big salaries, you're working 70-80 hours a week. . . wasn't worth it to him at all. msot lawyers that make big money--all they do is work and what kind of life is that?
One woman i know works for a firm on LI "part-time" as she has young children. her part time job is 40 hours a week. DH's best friend from his days as a DA works for a big firm in the city. She works routinely from 8 AM - 10 PM almost EVERY day.
I would agree with that. I often meet attorneys through the work I do, and they appear pretty well off. However, in addition to the day to day work they do at their firm, they also seem to have a dozen other gigs lined up.
This one attorney who gave me a ride back to Manhattan the other day in his nice brand new BMW, describing his house in the Hamptons, taught at a NYC law school at night and also did a bunch of other projects on the side.
Then you also get people like my crazy ex, (who generally live beyond their means anyways) took out a ton of loans during grad school to "live the Manhattan lifestyle" and now is wondering how to pay them all off because being a lawyer's not his "thing" anymore (sorry---just a spin-off).
I am sure the OP probably knows all this stuff already though. Good luck!!
Message edited 2/19/2008 6:21:14 AM.
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| Posted 2/19/08 6:20 AM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
In addition to the above, the other thing that is inaccurate about this poll is that the lawyers here all have different levels of experience.
So, some of the people earning over $150k might be 1st year attorneys at a big NYC firm, while others might be partners in a smaller firm... Some earning less might have 20 years experience with Legal Aid, while some might be fresh out of school or working part time...
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| Posted 2/19/08 12:47 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
A friend of mine got hired right out of school at the top range you posted. Another friend makes less than I do, and I am not an attorney. I think it depends on so many things...what type of law you practice, the firm you work for, is it for the government...
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| Posted 2/19/08 6:36 PM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
It also depends on the area where you work. I made more when I worked in NYC, but I now work in a lower cost of living area. My hours are also much better now.
I have friends who moved to upstate NY after graduating law school. They both left private practice b/c the salaries were so low. One of my friends no longer practices law. He works for a private school in the financial aid department. The other works for the government in a job that does not require a law degree. Both are making more at those jobs than they were making as lawyers.
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| Posted 2/20/08 5:58 PM |
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Goldi0218
My miracles!
Member since 12/05 23902 total posts
Name:
Leslie
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
Honestly, I think it depends HEAVILY on where you graduate from. Certain law school graduates have jobs secured before they even pass their state's bar exam.
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| Posted 2/20/08 9:20 PM |
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steph4777
**************
Member since 5/05 11726 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
Like everyone said it depends alot of factors - school, Top 10% vs other rankings, private vs public sector, and discipline. After law school, DH went to work for a county agency was was barely making $50K. While a classmate of his went to work for a big firm and was making $135K.
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| Posted 2/20/08 11:46 PM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
Posted by Goldi0218
Honestly, I think it depends HEAVILY on where you graduate from. Certain law school graduates have jobs secured before they even pass their state's bar exam.
I think a majority of graduates have jobs lined up before taking or passing the bar. The goal is to have a job lined up during the late summer/fall after a person's second year of law school.
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| Posted 2/21/08 10:32 AM |
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csorisi
My 2 LOVES
Member since 11/05 1984 total posts
Name:
Corinne
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
Posted by MrsS2005
Posted by Goldi0218
Honestly, I think it depends HEAVILY on where you graduate from. Certain law school graduates have jobs secured before they even pass their state's bar exam.
I think a majority of graduates have jobs lined up before taking or passing the bar. The goal is to have a job lined up during the late summer/fall after a person's second year of law school.
This is correct and even if you aren't from a top tiered school you can still get the big NYC firm jobs--alot of people I graduated with did and I didn't go to a top tiered law school.
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| Posted 2/21/08 2:09 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
Posted by csorisi
Posted by MrsS2005
Posted by Goldi0218
Honestly, I think it depends HEAVILY on where you graduate from. Certain law school graduates have jobs secured before they even pass their state's bar exam.
I think a majority of graduates have jobs lined up before taking or passing the bar. The goal is to have a job lined up during the late summer/fall after a person's second year of law school.
This is correct and even if you aren't from a top tiered school you can still get the big NYC firm jobs--alot of people I graduated with did and I didn't go to a top tiered law school.
I went to a tier two school and I got a top NY firm job right out of law school - well before I passed the bar. Heck, before I finished my second year of law school!  (ETA, the smiley face is just to make the point that I'm not in any way unique in my job or when I got it, LOL! I reread it and it looked like I was trying to brag - LOL)
Law recruiting is somewhat unique... Even if you don't go to a top firm, most people have jobs lined up before they graduate, let alone pass the bar.
Message edited 2/22/2008 4:59:55 PM.
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| Posted 2/22/08 4:59 PM |
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MST9106
My life:)
Member since 6/06 9589 total posts
Name:
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
It really depends WHERE you work because WHERE you work takes into account where you went to school, your grades while in school, etc. With that said, a good NYC law firms will start you at around $250K and the city will start you at around $50-60K. I work for a legal department in a worlwide insurance company and the attorneys here start at around $150-200K with bonuses and other perks.
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| Posted 2/25/08 2:25 PM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
Posted by MST9106
It really depends WHERE you work because WHERE you work takes into account where you went to school, your grades while in school, etc. With that said, a good NYC law firms will start you at around $250K and the city will start you at around $50-60K. I work for a legal department in a worlwide insurance company and the attorneys here start at around $150-200K with bonuses and other perks.
The starting salary for a first year associate at many large NYC firms is $160K before bonus. Typically, those firms expect much longer hours than firms who pay lower salaries. There can also be variations in hours among different departments. Some practice areas tend to be busier or more demanding than others.
At the same time, there are law firms in NYC that pay under $40K or $50K.
While people can make great salaries, keep in mind that many students graduate with over $100K of debt from law school loans.
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| Posted 2/25/08 3:50 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
Posted by MST9106
It really depends WHERE you work because WHERE you work takes into account where you went to school, your grades while in school, etc. With that said, a good NYC law firms will start you at around $250K and the city will start you at around $50-60K. I work for a legal department in a worlwide insurance company and the attorneys here start at around $150-200K with bonuses and other perks.
I'm not sure where you got your information, but it's incorrect. No one's starting out at NYC law firms earning $250k their first year. Currently, top pay in NYC is $160k for first years (right out of law school). With bonuses, total compensation for first-year associates at top-paying NYC firms were in the $195-205k range.
I don't know of any private companies paying first year (no experience) attorneys more than top NY firms either. 
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| Posted 2/25/08 4:07 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: Lawyer Salaries
Posted by MrsS2005
Posted by MST9106
It really depends WHERE you work because WHERE you work takes into account where you went to school, your grades while in school, etc. With that said, a good NYC law firms will start you at around $250K and the city will start you at around $50-60K. I work for a legal department in a worlwide insurance company and the attorneys here start at around $150-200K with bonuses and other perks.
The starting salary for a first year associate at many large NYC firms is $160K before bonus. Typically, those firms expect much longer hours than firms who pay lower salaries. There can also be variations in hours among different departments. Some practice areas tend to be busier or more demanding than others.
At the same time, there are law firms in NYC that pay under $40K or $50K.
While people can make great salaries, keep in mind that many students graduate with over $100K of debt from law school loans.
Also keep in mind that only a small percentage of graduating students are working for the top paying firms... yet have the same amount of debt. 
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| Posted 2/25/08 4:09 PM |
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