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Do you know anyone in semiconductor industry working as an analog/rfms layout designer/engineer.... Would really like to know what is the industry std for salary Myself 3 yoe 11.5 fixed+ 10-15%variable Tata Consultancy Maxlinear Samsung Texas Instruments Intel Corporation Micron Technology NXP HCL Technologies Ltts SiFive, Inc. Nvidia Synopsys Inc. Cadence Design System MediaTek Microchip Analog Devices Qualcomm Arm Marvell Infineon Technologies IMEC Lam Research Synopsys Inc.
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I’m convinced that all you envision is nowhere near where you’ll find yourself in 10 years. If you’re not happy now, take the job, learn as much as possible. The future is unknowable. We make plans and God smiles. Just grow.
Yes and no. Making good choices with what you have to work with and as much input as you can gather is all you can do. If you’re not happy now, find a new job, sure... but understand that whatever decision you make, there will be consequences. As someone who took that route (not necessarily the contract manager route, but a path that deviated from what I had planned due to market and opportunity forces) ten years ago, I am critical of myself for being a little too cavalier in my approach to my own career path.
I work at Amazon and work with Contract Managers. I agree with a lot of what’s been said here. It would be hard to transition from a contracts manager role to a counsel role if that’s your long term goal. From a friend I know who started in Compliance at Amazon after getting a JD and passing the bar, they had a difficult time trying to get promoted internally to a counsel role (I think they’re still working on it).
From what I’ve seen, most of the CMs do not have law degrees; many have experience in smiler roles at other big companies. In terms of work, CMs do not negotiate the terms of the contracts, but do help administrate them and perhaps draft.
I imagine Amazon’s comp is competitive for CMs and exceeds many first year attorney salaries. But their attorney salaries are that much greater, on par with biglaw.
If your long term goal is to go in house as a lawyer at a tech co, I suggest keeping at it at a law firm for a few years. Try to develop expertise in a subject matter but also be curious about other areas. Amazon tends to hire individuals with either deep expertise or well rounded “smart” people who could spot any issues.
I’m counting RSUs and base salary. You’re right the salary for everyone including Bezos is capped (now at 160).
It depends on what you currently do. Do you work on contracts ? If your work is mostly non transactional then the contracts manager job might actually be beneficial.
At the same time if you stick at ur current job unless it’s some sort of specialized boutique transactional shop, you are not likely to get a corporate counsel position anyways.
It’s often hard to transition between doing small time litigation and transactional work.
I would not say that it would tank it but it will be more difficult to transition to another attorney role at a different company. After 1 year it may be too early to tell if the growth opportunities are limited - do you mean you are not finding a mentor or something else?
Thanks for the reply. I just mean I’ve seen the day to day of the senior attorneys and know that I don’t want that for my future. The fact that I’m doing similar work as them after 1 year tells me that there won’t be many opportunities for growth and this will be my future unless I make a change
I think it depends on what route you want to go. If you’re looking to get back into a firm after the contracts manager job, it may be different than if you want to go the corporate counsel route. It will also likely depend on what area/market you’re in. I went from contracts manager to in-house counsel without much trouble. I just had to wait for the right positions to open up because I’m in a smaller market. I have always known I wanted to work in corporate, so that made my decision easier. Good luck!
People do jump from Contract Manager and Compliance roles to in-house counsel positions, but the degree of difficulty in that will depend on the company. I am by no means an expert, but I think that transition is going to be easier at a smaller company than Amazon.
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This is an old thread, but wanted to chime in and say, if you have a JD, it’s totally possible to move from CM to Associate Corporate Counsel to Corporate Counsel and up at Amazon. I know a few people that have done this, and I know current CMs whose managers are actively preparing their promo docs to move them into ACC roles.
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Got it. Well, if you change your mind and want to work on an interesting and supportive team, send me a DM. Happy to give you more insight into our specific group. You’d mainly be supporting two attorneys (including me) and people in our larger group have been promoted from CM to ACC roles.
You’re not the first person with this idea — one of the more junior attorneys at my firm (3 years of practice) tried this and found themselves competing with other biglaw associates trying to leave. They got the interview but not the offer.
I feel like if she’s at a small law place with 4 people she probably wouldn’t get a biglaw position anyways unless she has top grades/school or this is some sort of special boutique firm.
I really feel like it’s a what the hell do you have to lose moment. I think generally amazon is going to be more stable than a small 4 person shop.
At least those people are able to get interviews, it’s better than if you aren’t doing very much transactional work.
I had an offer for a non attorney compliance role at a F500 tech. Decided to turn it down because long term it seemed difficult to get back on the counsel track if that’s what I wanted. I think it just depends on where you want to be down the road and if this position can get you there.
Not impossible but def difficult to make a transition. I know some who successfully did it while others are still struggling
I disagree. It depends on the company that you start this role at. I started as a senior contracts manager at a midsize company that didn’t quite have the budget to hire counsel right away. Some companies will promote contracts managers and make sure you gage if the company would be willing to promote you during the interview process. If you have a boss that wants to see you grow and groom you, it might be a great decision. Otherwise you may get stuck. I worked as a contracts manager only for 2 years altogether right out of law school (starting at fortune 10 then a midsize company) and was promoted to counsel and now work at a very large organization as counsel.
As long as you stay in legal and do good work, I do not think that an in house job will hurt you as to future law firm employment. That may benefit you as you would get to see the other side of the coin, the view from a clients prospective. Guess you could call it experience. I have worked for government, law firms, in house, and my little own practice and I gain from all experiences and can help clients more with a diverse background.
I am curious how this went for you, as I am in a similar situation. Did you end up taking the CM role, and if yes, has that had any negative effect on your career so far?
Thanks