Related Posts
Eastbound sunsets 👍🏻

Additional Posts in Big Law
Did you make a mistake working in BigLaw? Why?
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
Eastbound sunsets 👍🏻

Did you make a mistake working in BigLaw? Why?
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Download the Fishbowl app to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
Copy and paste embed code on your site

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

Mentor
Idk specifically about Venable but in my experience A LOT of firms offer (relaticely) high base pay for first years and then compress mid/srs. At the midlaw shops in my city they'll pay first years 215k and 5th years 245k (but dont publicly advertise that fact) so law students see the 215 and think its roughly a market paying firm.
Can confirm I’ve seen a similar squeeze at Saul Ewing despite juniors (and as I understand it, patent agents even) making very close to market pay
They went black box last year so there’s way less salary transparency, even other associates don’t really know. See this ATL article
https://abovethelaw.com/2025/02/biglaw-firm-slams-the-door-on-salary-transparency-goes-black-box/
They’re also known for not advancing associate salaries with their class year if they miss hours, even by a bit, and are not at all transparent about that process or how to “regain” class year salary once being held back a year
I think they have moved to ranges for each class year.