- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Life as a Lawyer Advice Needed
Posted on 3/31/24 at 9:36 am to SlowFlowPro
Posted on 3/31/24 at 9:36 am to SlowFlowPro
How am I changing the argument? I said lawyers are over produced and don’t make money. Most lawyers making less than $100k is not good money, especially for the time and debt involved. A PA with a 2 year masters starts at $100k. Lawyers are like veterinarians, people think they make money but many are barely making it. As the average is pulled up by extreme incomes, there are many lawyers making $40-50k. I don’t know anyone who lives comfortably on that.
If you aren’t earning $200-300k in any major city, you can’t even afford a nice house. Most lawyers work in large cities. Do the math.
If you aren’t earning $200-300k in any major city, you can’t even afford a nice house. Most lawyers work in large cities. Do the math.
This post was edited on 3/31/24 at 10:33 am
0
Posted on 3/31/24 at 9:55 am to Unsettled
I wouldn’t sleep on USCe. Columbia is within 1.5 hrs of Greenville, Charlotte and Charleston. There is a lot going on in these cities from both a legal and corporate standpoint. Also, the legal community in SC is pretty tight and many are USCe alumni.
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:17 pm to Drizzt
quote:
The average lawyer’s salary is $60-120,000. That is not real money in my opinion when a Bucee’s manager is paid $100-150,000.
Average 10 year lawyer in Louisiana is making double what a Bucee’s manager is making.
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:29 pm to JerseyJohn
Got some facts to back that up?
Posted on 3/31/24 at 2:03 pm to JerseyJohn
Looks like a manager at Bucee's makes 150k. There's no way the average 10 year attorney in LA is making 300k/year 
I'd guess the average 10 year attorney in LA is making right around $150k.
I'd guess the average 10 year attorney in LA is making right around $150k.
Posted on 3/31/24 at 2:18 pm to TheOcean
The salary numbers in this thread are all over the place
Posted on 3/31/24 at 4:23 pm to Unsettled
Is your daughter looking at a glamorous career in billboard PI law? If so, we’re your state. Honestly, if she wants to work at one of those firms, she could just go to SU Law and possibly pass the bar exam.
Posted on 3/31/24 at 6:43 pm to TheOcean
Average is obviously not a good metric. The question is better presented as what’s a reasonable salary range for law school graduates in the top third of their class with between one and ten years experience working for a firm with more than 10 attorneys. Those attorneys are generally all making more than $100k even in Louisiana, and double that in Texas.
Posted on 3/31/24 at 7:28 pm to TheOcean
quote:
There's no way the average 10 year attorney in LA is making 300k/year
Correct
Posted on 3/31/24 at 8:33 pm to SlowFlowPro
Lot of folks in this thread have no idea what they are talking about. Make sure your daughter talks to real practicing lawyers before she makes any decisions.
Posted on 3/31/24 at 8:56 pm to JerseyJohn
Bro, I don't know what crowds you run in, but you have to think about the sheer population of attorneys working as ADAs, PDs, and or a government agency of some sort. None of them are making $300k. That's a HUGE percentage of attorneys in LA.
Then think about all the attorneys in solo or 2-person firms outside of major metro areas. Maybe 0.5% make $300k once in a while. Then think about the same in urban areas. Maybe 15-20% make $300k regularly? MAYBE.
There is a massive population of attorneys 10+ years in who don't gross $100k/year in LA. It would not shock me if that population approached the median.
Then think about all the attorneys in solo or 2-person firms outside of major metro areas. Maybe 0.5% make $300k once in a while. Then think about the same in urban areas. Maybe 15-20% make $300k regularly? MAYBE.
There is a massive population of attorneys 10+ years in who don't gross $100k/year in LA. It would not shock me if that population approached the median.
Posted on 4/1/24 at 5:24 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
There is a massive population of attorneys 10+ years in who don't gross $100k/year in LA. It would not shock me if that population approached the median.
This is certainly not the case in New Orleans. Not even close to being correct.
I think some in this thread are hyper-fixated on the govt and non profit sectors. Do those positions exist? Sure. But taking one of those jobs is a personal decision (often made before law school).
If the OPs daughter does decently well in school, she will almost 100% clear 100k relatively shortly into her career at a private firm—maybe even on day 1 of her first job.
Posted on 4/1/24 at 6:05 am to JerseyJohn
I own a law firm and net 400k+/yr. Know a ton of lawyers. Lawyers making 300k+/yr in the southeast are in the top 1% salary wise. Louisiana's economy is shite, so 300k+/yr net (or gross) in LA is probably like SFP said: 0.5%. Any way you shake it, practicing law is a pretty terrible way to make a living
This post was edited on 4/1/24 at 6:06 am
Posted on 4/1/24 at 6:32 am to TheOcean
I never said 300k was average at year 10 in Louisiana. The example I was given was 100-150. I have no idea what a Bucees manager makes. Just looked it up and it said 75k. Who knows.
In any event, Yes, most lawyers I deal with are partners in a law firm by year 10 and make 200-300k. I am not including government lawyers and I assume (but do not know ) that plaintiffs lawyers make this or more.
I am sure there are lawyers that struggle, but that is the exception not the rule. If you are billing 1800-2000 hours a year- do the math.
Practicing law is a great way to make a living in Louisiana if you are smart and willing to work hard.
In any event, Yes, most lawyers I deal with are partners in a law firm by year 10 and make 200-300k. I am not including government lawyers and I assume (but do not know ) that plaintiffs lawyers make this or more.
I am sure there are lawyers that struggle, but that is the exception not the rule. If you are billing 1800-2000 hours a year- do the math.
Practicing law is a great way to make a living in Louisiana if you are smart and willing to work hard.
Posted on 4/1/24 at 7:03 am to Dayman
quote:
This is certainly not the case in New Orleans. Not even close to being correct.
I read the ODC emails religiously every month and it's dominated by BR/Nola area attorneys who are taking client money (for relatively small fees less than LC prices) and all the "I'm poor" moves. These are also typically not recent law grads.
Also, since we're talking income, we're talking $300k net. That's a lot for a small firm.
And, again, there are a ton of lawyers being paid by the government in some way who aren't making $100k, let alone $300k. That population in Nola and BR is huge, given all the government jobs.
quote:
Do those positions exist? Sure. But taking one of those jobs is a personal decision
A personal decision that severely affects both the median and average salaries
quote:
If the OPs daughter does decently well in school, she will almost 100% clear 100k relatively shortly into her career at a private firm—maybe even on day 1 of her first job.
Sure. And in no way will that be average.
I mean hell, if she has a full ride to LSU She's not even starting out as an average applicant. Her LSAT is probably 20 points higher than your Loyola or Southern law grads.
This post was edited on 4/1/24 at 7:05 am
Posted on 4/1/24 at 7:09 am to JerseyJohn
quote:
I never said 300k was average at year 10 in Louisiana.
You said:
quote:
Average 10 year lawyer in Louisiana is making double what a Bucee’s manager is making.
Which is about $300k.
Over $300k if you're a general manager
The problem with using this is that there are a lot fewer openings as a manager at Buccees than you'd think, not that LA lawyers make so much.
quote:
I am sure there are lawyers that struggle, but that is the exception not the rule. If you are billing 1800-2000 hours a year- do the math.
This statement is kind of funny on a few levels, given what you're selling/arguing.
Posted on 4/1/24 at 7:14 am to TheOcean
quote:
I own a law firm and net 400k+/yr.
quote:
. Any way you shake it, practicing law is a pretty terrible way to make a living
These 2 don't really work together
Not to sound all law school application essay-y, but it is a rare industry where once you get footing you can run a business with incredibly high-margin services to sell where you can control your volume like a spigot. You can have incredibly flexibility in your lifestyle and opening up other non-lawyer revenue streams pretty easily.
This just requires being smart, educating yourself on the right aspects of the business, and figuring out efficiencies and arbitrage opportunities in your market. The problem with lawyers is they're often terrible at the above and would rather be a worker bee and have most of their output value extracted.
Posted on 4/1/24 at 7:47 am to SlowFlowPro
The article you link to says 100k to 150k. I’m done parsing words with you. I stand by what I originally posted given the hypothetical.
Posted on 4/1/24 at 10:53 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
the sheer population of attorneys working as ADAs, PDs, and or a government agency of some sort
quote:
There is a massive population of attorneys 10+ years in who don't gross $100k/year in LA. It would not shock me if that population approached the median.
I would consider eating my hat if the median attorney income in Louisiana was much over $100k. I would be more shocked if it was $150k versus about $80k if we're going to be 100% frank and honest about it. I see "averages" thrown around all the time, but average means almost nothing in this context.
Posted on 4/1/24 at 10:53 am to SlowFlowPro
(no message)
This post was edited on 4/1/24 at 10:54 am
Page 4 of 7
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News