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BR and Louisiana legal market question
Posted on 11/6/14 at 8:50 pm
Posted on 11/6/14 at 8:50 pm
I can't find anything online pertaining to salary information for any of the bigger BR firms, as none are listed on NALP. Anyone have any idea what firms like Kean Miller, Jones Walker etc. start out at and if they use lock-step? Equity and nonequity partner salary info would also be great. I asked my career services people this question and they all but laughed at me, so I seek the O-T's guidance.
Also, where would I need to finish in my class to get job a big firm job in BR? I'm at T14 school. Jones Walker's site claims you need to be in the top 1/3 of your class. I find it hard to believe that I could get a biglaw job at a top 10 firm but not get hired by Jones Walker's BR office. Hell, over 70% of last years class at my school went your standard 160k biglaw route.
I only choose to go to school outside Louisiana because I'm getting paid around 50k a year through scholarships and benefits from previous employment. I really want to work in LA, but my benefits wouldn't have been maxed out at Tulane or LSU.
Also, where would I need to finish in my class to get job a big firm job in BR? I'm at T14 school. Jones Walker's site claims you need to be in the top 1/3 of your class. I find it hard to believe that I could get a biglaw job at a top 10 firm but not get hired by Jones Walker's BR office. Hell, over 70% of last years class at my school went your standard 160k biglaw route.
I only choose to go to school outside Louisiana because I'm getting paid around 50k a year through scholarships and benefits from previous employment. I really want to work in LA, but my benefits wouldn't have been maxed out at Tulane or LSU.
This post was edited on 11/6/14 at 9:27 pm
13
Posted on 11/6/14 at 8:52 pm to chongo
Your TD post count is WAY to low to be taken seriously in a large BR or NOLA firm.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 8:55 pm to chongo
If you aren't in the top 1/3 at your t14 law school, what makes you think you'd get a job at a top 10 firm? Do you already have an offer from such a firm?
Posted on 11/6/14 at 9:12 pm to chongo
Top third is not an absolute requirement, especially if you go to a well respected school. Regarding associate salaries those are pretty easy to find and you could probably get it from the recruiting departments of those firms. Partners salaries will be more tough.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 9:13 pm to chongo
Don't ever, ever let any firm know you sought salary advice on the OT.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 9:16 pm to chongo
quote:
quesiton
First, fix your typo.
This small firm I used to work for in BR started its new associates at $80K. By small, I mean a dozen attorneys and no other offices except the one in downtown BR.
No knowledge of the bigger firms salaries.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 9:35 pm to chongo
Those firms will be 90-95 for first year associates.
Those same firms in NOLA will be right around 100.
Depending on the school, top 1/3 is likely a must unless you are Ivey league. Law review/journal will help. What year are you in?
Those same firms in NOLA will be right around 100.
Depending on the school, top 1/3 is likely a must unless you are Ivey league. Law review/journal will help. What year are you in?
Posted on 11/6/14 at 9:38 pm to chongo
Calling bullshite on the 160k figure.
Can pay associates a lot less than that, as well as burn and turn them to separate the paper tigers from the real sharks.
Can pay associates a lot less than that, as well as burn and turn them to separate the paper tigers from the real sharks.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 9:39 pm to DthVllyDud
quote:
Calling bullshite on the 160k figure. Can pay associates a lot less than that, as well as burn and turn them to separate the paper tigers from the real sharks.
160 is uniform across the board in big law firms in big legal markets.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 9:51 pm to UpToPar
Thanks for the info. I'm a 1L at Columbia. Where would I need to finish this year in order to be competitive in a BR applicant pool? I know a couple midpack 3Ls who got top 10 offers. I think family connections may have played a role. Would midpack suffice for BR?
Posted on 11/6/14 at 9:57 pm to chongo
I honestly don't know. I know the requirements for the Louisiana schools, but I would be guessing if I told you a number. With that said, I would say top 1/2 at a minimum. Are you from BR? That will help.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:01 pm to chongo
quote:
I know a couple midpack 3Ls who got top 10 offers. Family connections played a role. Would midpack suffice for BR?
FIFY. Without any connections you probably need to be top 10-25% for big firms.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:07 pm to UpToPar
I'm from Maryland. My fiance lives and works in BR and all of her family are from there. I did my undergrad at LSU, but I doubt that will help all that much. Life up here is just way too fast. There's just something special about South Lousiana.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:21 pm to chongo
quote:
I'm from Maryland. My fiance lives and works in BR and all of her family are from there. I did my undergrad at LSU, but I doubt that will help all that much. Life up here is just way too fast. There's just something special about South Lousiana.
So you're at Columbia law and she's in BR? Let me be the first to say she's probably already cheating on you. Oh, and big local firms still pay higher but were hiring fewer during the lean years. So assuming you land a job here, you'll earn enough to score some other girl.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:41 pm to GetBackToWork
Believe it or not, your T14 degree isn't going to blow the balls off the big firms down here. Median sure as shite isn't.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:46 pm to chongo
quote:
I'm from Maryland.
This is going to hurt. No matter what your resume looks like they will think, "why does this guy from Maryland who goes to school at Columbia want to practice law in Baton Rouge. He is going to take off the first chance he gets."
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:50 pm to chongo
quote:
Thanks for the info. I'm a 1L at Columbia. Where would I need to finish this year in order to be competitive in a BR applicant pool?
Assuming you're easy going and socialable, I would say you'd have no problem getting on with a big firm in BR or Nola. Louisiana firms would love being able to put up an associate bio of someone who went to Columbia.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 10:55 pm to Mudge87
85k at one of the "BIG" firms with those credentials.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 11:04 pm to sealawyer
Thanks for all the information. You guys have been more helpful than career services thus far. I'm well aware T14 alone won't blow the socks off really anyone, but I've got other things that I think will help my cause. I did the whole Army 11B thing for four years and I've got a couple of combat pumps. I'm hoping that between my military service and Columbia degree I'll be able to compensate for wherever I end up in my class.
Posted on 11/6/14 at 11:05 pm to chongo
The biggest thing for you will be convincing them that you aren't going to leave BR for a bigger and better firm in 3 years.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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