6 YOE. 1 year at current firm. Relevant prior trial experience but new to this type of law. Boutique plaintiff PI firm in the Midwest (not major city like Chicago) but well-known statewide. Base is 100k with min 25k year-end bonus (received 35k my first year before taxes). No policy for partnership track. No % of settlement fees. No % of referrals. I’ve only been told that those %s are taken into consideration for year-end bonus. And there’s no transparency on what others make. Thoughts?

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not sure but I wish there was transparency with plaintiffs firms like there is with big law

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A1 - you and me both!

5th YOE
Boutique plaintiff firm in southeast. We have different depts that handle about 4-5 areas of law. All contingency fee work.
Not in a major city. But well known state wide.
Base is 140k
10% commission on my settlements.
10% on any case I bring in.
Year end bonus is always 5k.
I cleared 700k this year, last year was right above 500k.

I’d say it’s about the same here, with none of the lawyers discussing pay. I have no idea what anyone else makes.

It’s well known that I make good money and that’s largely based on a referral source that I get origination credit for and have for the last several years. All the attorneys are aware of the cases that come in and that I get credit for them.

The only thing that goes for all, is that everyone gets 10% for a case they bring in.

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A1, good for you! Thanks for the perspective!

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I’d hope you can do better at six years out, even if COL is low. I’m exhausted with seeing experienced associates earning so little. Gives little hope for my and other junior’s futures.

A2 - that’s honestly my fear too that I could be making more base wise 6 years out. I’m trying to consider that I’m relatively new to this type of law though and that the firm I’m at is “bonus heavy.” But who the hell knows what that even means lol I’ve tried to talk to coworkers but they dodge the questions or seem very uncomfortable.

10% origination is very low, at least in NYC. 1/3 of the fee is the standard, with some firms going up to 40-50%

I think about it almost daily. When I agreed to it (got hired) it didn’t really matter. Now it does.

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