3 ms·

Wow 70k, that is much lower than I thought. What's the salary trajectory for them? Like 3-5 years into the job?

heavyset_go 7y ago
If you think 70k is low, I know people who went to law school and make much less.
meddlepal 7y ago
If you're not on partner track at a good firm it doesn't grow that quickly. The friends and family I have that are lawyers and are 5 years and some change out have not cracked 100k yet except for one.
- jrochkind1 7y ago
  Even "partner track at a good firm" isn't what it used to be. I think this article was on the HN front page at some point. https://www.wsj.com/articles/being-a-law-firm-partner-was-once-a-job-for-life-that-culture-is-all-but-dead-11565362437 https://www.wsj.com/articles/being-a-law-firm-partner-was-on... (Yes, yes, I know, that article begins with talking about 'second-class' partners who "can expect to make $800,000 at most" [at the top of their careers], I know, $800K is HUGE MONEY, that's still a top tier law firm and NOT anything like median lawyer salaries,that's not the reason I suggest the article. Check it out though, it'll surprise you if you still have a model of legal careers that's an idealized version of a couple decades ago)
geodel 7y ago
It's pretty well known, lawyers' salary is bimodal. Most will make 60-70K while about 15% or so will start with 180K or above [1]. IMO those who start with 60K are more or less set for low end career which don't make for flashy legal shows on TV. 1. https://abovethelaw.com/2018/06/the-most-important-chart-in-the-legal-industry-and-it-has-nothing-to-do-with-the-law/ https://abovethelaw.com/2018/06/the-most-important-chart-in-...
- ianai 7y ago
  How do they secure a top 15% career? Know somebody?
  - wutbrodo 7y ago
    Usually, it means graduating from a top school.
- throw51319 7y ago
  So it's really just like software engineers, or maybe even slightly more bimodal? At least with soft engr you can switch modes fairly easily.

If you think 70k is low, I know people who went to law school and make much less.

If you're not on partner track at a good firm it doesn't grow that quickly. The friends and family I have that are lawyers and are 5 years and some change out have not cracked 100k yet except for one.

jrochkind1 7y ago
Even "partner track at a good firm" isn't what it used to be. I think this article was on the HN front page at some point. https://www.wsj.com/articles/being-a-law-firm-partner-was-once-a-job-for-life-that-culture-is-all-but-dead-11565362437 https://www.wsj.com/articles/being-a-law-firm-partner-was-on... (Yes, yes, I know, that article begins with talking about 'second-class' partners who "can expect to make $800,000 at most" [at the top of their careers], I know, $800K is HUGE MONEY, that's still a top tier law firm and NOT anything like median lawyer salaries,that's not the reason I suggest the article. Check it out though, it'll surprise you if you still have a model of legal careers that's an idealized version of a couple decades ago)

geodel 7y ago

It's pretty well known, lawyers' salary is bimodal. Most will make 60-70K while about 15% or so will start with 180K or above [1]. IMO those who start with 60K are more or less set for low end career which don't make for flashy legal shows on TV. 1. https://abovethelaw.com/2018/06/the-most-important-chart-in-the-legal-industry-and-it-has-nothing-to-do-with-the-law/ https://abovethelaw.com/2018/06/the-most-important-chart-in-...

ianai 7y ago
How do they secure a top 15% career? Know somebody?
- wutbrodo 7y ago
  Usually, it means graduating from a top school.
throw51319 7y ago
So it's really just like software engineers, or maybe even slightly more bimodal? At least with soft engr you can switch modes fairly easily.