Small firms need a reality check on salary expectations. Used to work for midsize firm in nyc got laid off and found a new firm. The offer was much lower ( 45k diff) and back to less than 6 figures but given how long I was searching i accepted the role. There is a promise to have a discretionary review at 4 month mark to bring me at 6 figs, but still would be a 30k delta from last firm. I'm working 8 hour days, no billable requirement in litigation. Was I lowballed and is there cont.

like
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

I’ve seen small firms pay above market and below. I think there are several factors including area of law and city.
I have seen firms big and small take advantage of the current market, more supply than demand.
For many smaller firms, when they hire for a new role, they start salary lower because it’s a test/trial period. They want to know how you perform and if you’re the right fit for their smaller company.
Alllllll of that being said -
If I were you, and the market is what it is, stick it out to month 4 but kill it before then.
And when that review comes up be prepared with your numbers and how you contributed to the team (tangible and intangible)
The other option is that you work there while interviewing at other firms that may pay what you were making.

like

Is there justification in asking for what i was making at my old firm given amount of work I'm being asked to do? Is 85k standard? There are few associates and weekend work has already started less than 1 month in...

There is a lot of overflow meant billing 8 but working closer to 12...

At small firms, having one right now, there is issues you may not be aware of. The profit margins in a small firm are not high. Especially with Covid right now. Then add in all the stuff in required to pay for you (insurance, malpractice insurance, benefits, taxes, etc) it can be quiet a lot. You have to set salaries at what it doable long term and not where you're praying a client comes in to so you can pay the staff.

Covid has definitely slowed our practice so if you hang in there, and get through this with them, you'll have a great position for getting a raise once business picks back up

At a small firm your salary is based on how the firm is doing and how much money it's making from your labor (versus someone else's) not how much you are working. In my small firm i worked many 80+ hour weeks in the beginning for much less than the market pay i was making before. Now i make more than what I was making before, but you have to start thinking about the firm and your role in it if you want to last or thrive there, let alone be compensated fairly. If you want to simply be an employee at a specific rate, stay in big law. If you are bringing in clients or good returns, ask for a bonus structured on receivables, which is very reasonable and shows you want to contribute.

Related Posts

Referral opening in UST Global for below skills. DM if interested. #immediateopening #referraldrive UST

Post Photo
like

Polling the group: Stay for one more year at Big 4 firm as a manager and get possibly get promoted next year - or take senior manager job now at a boutique firm? Offering same pay but better hours.

like

Are salaries negotiable at performance review and/or promotion?

like

What does the salary band look like for a Senior Associate, IFS at PwC? Trying to answer the salary expectations question on the application

like

Hi guys I work in One of GCP partnered org. My role sr SQL developer I resigned the current job GOT ROLE in FICO child org as a solution integration consultant role -(AWS,PENTAHO ,SQL we will be using ) -offered CTC 25 fixed + 1L JB + 2.5 BONUS + 0.5 L WFH SETUP = total 29LPA if everything will go smoothly ( bonus vary with comp growth it can be between 1.8L to 2.5l .so final CTC will get down to 28LPA as well - Bangalore but WFH ).Current org retain with 25L +2 LP VARIABLE HYDERABAD COMPANY

like
like

Hi, could anyone help me with the correct salary for QC auditor at Citi?

like

Pwc salary structure? Benefits

Urgent

like

POLL:
How many earn a salary (too low) that prohibits you from living within 30min commute of where you work?

like

How do you navigate when you've already accepted an offer, but you get a better one? I'm supposed to start a new role tomorrow but got an offer for the job I really wanted, and it pays 50k more. Is it horrible if I quit while having just started?

like

What does the salary for a home health visiting nurse in the south look like?

like

Any idea fishes on what's the last client round in EY Parthenon for Deals Strategy - is it a experience discussion/fitment or a proper technical round.

YOE: 8 years
Poaition: Associate Manager

And what's the salary one can demand??

like

First time posting here but… I’m currently a 1st year Tax Analyst making 58,000 plus bonus. I was never informed on how raises work for this company, but it’s the end of the year and there has not been any talk of performance evaluation, which I assumed was when compensation would be covered. This is my first “real” industry job so I’m not too sure. Is it too soon in my career to consider looking else where? The area I live has a pretty height cost of living. (F23)

like

Currently at BNY Mellon with 10 YOE, specifically in Corporate Trust working CLO/CDO’s (first job out of college). I’ve moved around within the bank a few times but I’m just not happy here nor am I where I want to be in terms of comp . I want to pivot into something else but I have no clue what skills I could transfer elsewhere as what we do is so niche. They sucked me in when they said it would be a FA role but we don’t do any modeling, forecasting, etc.. Any advice/suggest/rec’s much apprecia

like

Received less salary this month also. (Same amount as last month)
Why is this happening? Too much tax 🥵

like

Anyone know of any on non-travel roles available?

like

I got promoted from Designer to AD, asked for a 10k raise and was told that was too much. Was it?

Hi all,

I'm currently working at Infosys as MSBI developer and looking for opportunity in any of Big 4. I noticed there is a job vacancy for the role I fit in PWC in Linkedin and here to check if anyone could help me with referral.

TIA.

What is the salary for Cloud expert in Government at PwC and anyone can tell about their experience in this role.

More Posts

Asking for a friend:
What is the salary range for a Financial Advisory experienced associate at PwC based out of NYC? No MBA but a MS. Considering a move from product to consulting.

like

Interesting all the noise about these PPT, my take:

The pandemic took all the upside of an IB analyst life (client meetings in person, fancy trips, suit up, worshiped at networking events) and left all the juniors with the downside (long hours, monkey-like type of job, aggressive work environment).

Not that the complaints are not sort of legitimate but you may need to revise the decision-making process that led you to accept a return offer. Specially if you were looking for less hours.

like

If you are looking for a referral in EY. Please DM. If you are looking for a referral in EY. Please DM.

like

Hi Friends,
I have seen that people with govt. job are getting married easily with lots of dowry.

And here I am with 20+ LPA but still not getting any good matches for marriage.

Why such bhedbhav 😭

likefunny

Im currently working in PwC. So is there any way to move to abroad?

like

I am in need of some advice I have a bachelors in healthcare administration. My long term goal would be a CEO of a hospital. I am looking at masters programs and need some advice as what to get my masters in. I could get my masters in healthcare administration but would like to look at something a little different maybe healthcare leadership or something. Anyone have some advice?

like

What insights can you give me about working at Grey Lion Capital? Good/bad?

like

PE firms with the best WLB?

like

Is there anyway to reduce notice period?

Per offer letter 60 days is mentioned as NP, can I get this reduced to a week?

like

Safe to see friends this weekend?

likefunny

White fuzzy mold all over my pothos' soil. What's going on and how do I fix it? Already lost 2 leaves and I'm assuming this mold is the cause.

like

Will people on notice period get hike letters?

like

How much hike(percent) we can expect in Gds tax for the first year.

like

if someone joined EY gds within how many days he/she can add their dependents???

in which month??

like

Diwali gift scene at GDS??

like

Has anyone been to the UK lately from the US? What are the Covid requirements / restrictions? Thank you!

like

Does your company split data science roles into different practices like data & analytics and software engineering? Does this inhibit collaboration & Where does a data engineer fall?

like

What are everyone’s thoughts on two-tone Rolexes, or just two-tone in general?

Post Photo
like

BTC question.

Less than 3 million BTC left to be mined. What happens to the value of BTC once all 21 million are mined? If it’s not really an efficient payment medium, then is there a max value based on the supply/demand? To clarify, once the supply limit is reached what dictates that btc will continue increasing in value if demand should remain the same (as it’s not a practical payment medium)? Furthermore, is there a way to calculate the approx value of BTC demand once max supply is reached?

like

Additional Posts in Small Law / Solos

I recently gave my small firm notice that I am leaving and moving to another state. I mentioned that I am considering starting my own practice in the new area, and the managing partner suggested that I transition to an “of counsel” position at a 1099 hourly rate (remote) while I got started. I thought the rate was a bit low, but I’m not sure what to compare it to. Anybody have any experience with these arrangements? Any advice on how to structure? Or if it’s worth it? Any input is appreciated.

like

Plaintiff side question - comp is base plus % of fees. Firm has non equity split % with associate working on case. This normal for a non equity partner? Normal associate comp is full % when working with an equity partner.

like

Hi all, I have been practicing for 5 years (admitted in NY & NJ) and recently went in house. I just started a side business of writing blog posts for firms or solo practitioners. DM for more info!

like

Does anyone have any insight regarding compensation for the “of counsel” position? I’m specifically looking for insight from those in California. Thank you!

like

I work at a small, 3 lawyer firm. One of the lawyers is not barred in the state we practice. Because of this, the managing attorney has been having him draft motions and other legal documents and use my name and bar number and having me file them because I will have to appear in court for the matter. Is this normal? I am not provided time to review the materials before I file them so I end up working longer days because I am nervous to file something using my name and bar number.

like

Best way to go about getting contract work for new solo/startup? Should I just ask around the area for people doing that type of work and see if they have anything?

like

Anyone practice DUI in Orange County, CA? Please dm me. TIA

like

Former client( filed a bar grievance that was dismissed, sent me a demand letter that an attorney responded to on my behalf, and filed a BBB complaint against my non-BBB law firm) has now pro se filed a lawsuit against me in small claims court. Alleging misrepresentation, failure to file a lawsuit, and failure to advise during the process. I have phone logs, emails, and billing notes (all of which she has) that show she’s lying. Should I notify my malpractice carrier? All advice appreciated!

like

How much prof liability coverage should a solo plaintiffs attorney carry.

like

Looking for purchase health insurance for business. Has anyone bought health insurance through their solo practice as a corporation. Any recommendations as to who to use. Small firm 1-5

like

Does anybody have a resource available for pricing and billing? I am 2 years out of law school, working as a corporate attorney, and wanting to go solo. Ideally, I will take my corporate client with me, but am working to build work on the side during the transition. Also, do you have any recommendations for document preparation? I would like to draft wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents, but would like a resource that has boilerplate provisions to utilize as a reference.

like

Curious what niche fields you all are aware of. I started my practice a few months ago, focusing on business lit and transactions. I’ve had success, but I feel like I need to zero in on a specialty and direct my marketing that way. So I’m just curious what niche fields are out there. Thoughts?

like

Anyone have any tips or ideas on how to collect money owed from a client? In a few months it’ll be two years since the debt was incurred. We send monthly reminders of the bill. It’s a significant amount (well to us) and the client is now starting to open up and telling everyone about the situation that we helped to resolve.

like

The past two days I’ve spent to my entire day doing things that really can be done by a paralegal. So I hired a freelance para. Any tips to make this a success? What’s your tips to train and get your para up to speed?

like

Started my law firm this month. Have a few of-counsel positions and want to do mostly litigation (civil and commercial in NY). Besides word of mouth and networking, have any of you found any websites or services that generate legitimate leads?

like

How normal is it to be pulled off a trial team because you tell your boss you are moving after trial? I have a trial coming up first week of Oct. This case has been my baby, and I’m going to try it with my boss. I tell my boss up front that, for family reasons, I’ve gotten a new job and will be moving to another city two weeks after trial will likely end. He then gives my trial witnesses to another attorney, but is still going to make me do grunt work. Is he unreasonable or am I?

like

Anyone do subscription based pricing? I’ve been seeing this a lot lately, curious if it works?

likehelpful

You guys have GOT TO CHECK OUT LawChamps.com

I haven’t paid for marketing in over a year and I swear to God all my leads come from there. Sign up and lmk what you think!

likesmart

Does anybody have a good guide or resource they can point to in regards to show clients how to organize their documents for our firm? A lot of time is wasted here going through discovery documents we receive from clients because the docs are disorganized and not annotated - it just becomes a whole scavenger hunt and it’s eating into our time like crazy.

like

Has anyone received equity as contingency comp? I have a potential client with a founders dispute. He doesn’t have cash, and the other founder ripped him off and is now running the company. He wants to sue for equity and wants to pay me with whatever equity he wins. I’ve never done a deal like that. Is that even enforceable? CA law. The startup is actually quite promising.

like

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal