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Starting salaries level off [by Rebecca Luczycki] Economy blamed for associate pay plateau.
After sharp increases for the past few years,
“At the big firms, clients today are scrutiniz-
3rd year associate: 85,700
salaries for new law school graduates joining
ing their bills more carefully and not initiat-
1st year summer: $1,300/week
firms have hit a plateau.
ing new projects as much,” she said. “Some
2nd year summer: $1,500 /week
of the big firms are not hiring, not increasing
3rd year summer: $1,538/week
Statistics from the National Association for
salaries and even letting people go in some
Law Placement, show that median first-year
cases.”
associate salaries for mid- to large-size
Firm size: 101-250 lawyers 1st year associate: $85,000
firms have remained mostly stable for the
One practice area where salaries continue to
2nd year associate: $87,000
last three years, from April 2000 to April
be robust, however, is Intellectual Property.
3rd year associate: $92,838
2003.
Entry-level IP attorneys command as much
1st year summer: $1,500 /week
as $30,000 more than other practice areas,
2nd year summer: $1,500/week
That is in sharp contrast to the almost 30
and that gap widens as associates rise
3rd year summer: $1,500/week
percent increase in median entry-level pay
through the ranks. Firm size: 251-500 lawyers
between April1999 and April 2000. Donald Chisum, a professor and IP special-
1st year associate: $102,000
First-year associates at firms of 251 or more
ist at Santa Clara University School of Law
2nd year associate: $105,000
attorneys today earn, on average, about
in Santa Clara, Calif., said that is mainly
3rd year associate: $110,000
$110,000.
because of continuing demand for patent
1st year summer: $1,925/week
attorneys. “Their salaries are always going to
2nd year summer: $2,000/week
Of course, salary figures vary by firm size
be higher because of their advanced degrees
3rd year summer: $2,050/week
and location. At small firms, median entry-
and their usefulness to the firms,” he said. Firm size: 501 or more
level pay is $59,500, and at very large firms (more than 500 attorneys), the median jumps
Chart - 2003 Median Base Salaries
1st year associate: $113,000
to about $113,000.
Firm size: 2-25 lawyers
2nd year associate: $120,000
1st year associate: $59,000
3rd year associate: $128,417
In major cities like Los Angeles and New
2nd year associate: $64,500
1st year summer: $2,250/week
York, the prevailing salary for first-year
3rd year associate: $67,250
2nd year summer: $2,275/week
associates is $125,000, a number that has
1st year summer: $865/week
3rd year summer: $2,375/week
remained relatively unchanged over the last
2nd year summer: $924/week
Source: NALP 2003 Associate Salary Survey
three years.
3rd year summer: $93/week
Not surprisingly, the economy has a lot to
Firm size: 26-50 lawyers
edition of The National Jurist, www.nation-
do with salaries leveling off. NALP officials
1st year associate: $71,000
aljurist.com
reported that the last time a plateau like this
2nd year associate: $75,000
was seen was in the recessionary mid-1990s.
3rd year associate: $81,000
This story appeared in the October, 2003
1st year summer: $1,100/week Virginia Greer, director of career services
2nd year summer: $1,250/week
at John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Ga.,
3rd year summer: $1,200/week
said she is not surprised that salaries have leveled off especially at large firms, because
Firm size: 51-100 lawyers
many of them are suffering a backlash as
1st year associate: $80,000
their clients’ business suffers.
2nd year associate: $82,800
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