Small firm (2 partners and 0 associates) in LA wants me to come work for them as an associate. They want me to throw out the first number for compensation negotiations... What's typical here?

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Do you already practice in LA? What practice area? What year are you? BL, mid-size?

Why would they ask YOU to throw out the first number? Not cool— strike 1.

You’ll be the only associate? 😑 Not ideal. They’ll be thrilled to have you and you’ll be inundated with work from both of them, prob with conflicting deadlines or, alternatively, you’ll get all the mind-numbing work — strike 2.

Are you the first associate they are hiring? If not, how many associates have they hired previously and why didn’t things work out?

Did the partners come from BL? Does the firm have paralegal(s) with experience? Will you have a secretary, shard secretary?

Personally, I wouldn’t throw out a number unless you know the answer to all these questions.

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Are they former big law? Pay will depend on your JD and the kind of firms you are coming from.

I would say a first year would be around $190K. Shoot for $215K. These boutiques usually pay into the high $200K’s plus year end bonus for 8th years then around $300K for Counsels/Partners.

If you can’t come to an agreement on a salary, there are many other smaller firms that would love to have you. Even a mid-size place with 50 attorneys would get you to $240K.

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What’s the practice? PI, business lit, family, etc.?

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