LI Attorneys

I am looking to make a move to being an attorney in LI and it seems the salaries are very different than city salaries. For those attorneys or those that know attorneys, what kind of salaries are people making? I posted a poll below so it can be more anonymous. It would also be helpful if you could tell me years out of law school. Thanks!

Re: LI Attorneys

bump

Re: LI Attorneys

I think that if you post this on the career board you will get more responses than the parenting board.

Re: LI Attorneys

Way, way lower than they city. I started out in government work and when I decided to go private sector I was shocked at how many firms on LI kept offering me $30! I'm sure it's going to depend on your field too. What type of law do you practice?

Re: LI Attorneys

You've definitely peaked my interest. Now I'm looking at your poll wondering what 5 people on here are making over $100k and where they work. Share please ladies!

Re: LI Attorneys

I would guess a lot would have to do with what type of law you practice. I would think that a personal injury attorney has a lot more room to make lots more money then a legal guardian.

Re: LI Attorneys

HA!! I wish I was making a salary that fit into your poll! So, what I can tell you, is that if you are a legal services attorney forget about working on LI and hoping to make any salary in your poll.

Re: LI Attorneys

I am a personal Injury Attorney and Morgan is right that it depends on what type of law you practice. In my firm, we also get a referral fee for any cases we bring in which can make a difference. There are attorneys in my office that make more off their referrals than their salaries.

ETA: In my experience and that of my friends, the hours are MUCH better for lawyers on LI too.

Message edited 3/8/2009 3:49:01 PM.

Re: LI Attorneys

I think when people compare NYC salaries / hours to LI salaries/hours they are often comparing apples to oranges. Usually, they are comparing salaries and hours at Big Law firms to those at boutiques / specialty firms on Long Island. There really isn't any comparison. They are two completely different animals.

If you compare the salaries at a practice of comparable size, reputation, and practice area, yes, the salaries in the city will still be higher, but not by enormous margins. Those at small real estate firms in NYC aren't starting out at $160,000 / year like the first year associates in Big Law are. So comparing Big Law salaries to small boutiques is an unfair comparision.

Hours again will not only vary by practice type, but also by firm. There are plenty of lawyers getting buried by hours at LI firms, too, but generally I think the hours and work/life balance are better on Long Island -- plus, I assume you also have the added benefit of a shorter commute. (Don't underestimate the value of that commuting time and certainly don't underestimate the value of work/life balance!) At least, this is what I gather based on my friends who work on the Island - I'm stuck in the city working a million hours right now.

It's hard to generalize about starting salaries on LI, as they vary by practice area and by firm. Even within commercial litigation, you could start anywhere from $40k to $110,000+ on Long Island.

Re: LI Attorneys

Public interest, so i make in the lower range. I graduated law school in 2005. I am actually relocating to Florida, which should be interesting. Good luck!