Source
r/LawSchool•
IRVCath

Job application question

Okay, recent-ish law school grad here, and I saw an opening for an first-year associate position in a DC niche right-wing public interest firm that's been called "the 800-pound gorilla" of its specialty. The application is asking "What would you like your salary to be" and only allows you to enter a number.

I've looked at the Robert Half Salary Guide, but I'm unsure what the firm's size is - I've seen them often in the national news, and met some of their attorneys long ago at a networking event, but I don't know how big they are, and thus can't calculate the probable salary range (Biglaw is differend from mid-sized firms, after all).

Thoughts? Advice?

Posted Jun 8, 2017, 8:18 PM UTC

29
selfpromoting•

A DC niche right-wing public interest firm that's been called "the 800-pound gorilla" of its specialty.

If you're trying to be discrete, you're not. I am not sure what Alliance Defending Freedom pays, but I'd probably ask for 65k-70k. You'll probably end up getting closer to 50k.

4
IRVCathOPJD•

Nah, I just dodn't want people derailing the conversation, but thanks for the protip.

2
Chanel1202•

Have you searched glass door to see if any associates have posted salaries?

3
preasefanksEsq.•

What do you need to survive?

1
IRVCathOPJD•

Could you be more specific? I mean, I'm OK with renting a studio apartment outside the District, but if the minimum market-based salary is six figures, I'm not saying no obviously.

Part of it is that if I took the job I'd be moving across the country. I'm more familiar with the CA legal job market, but I'd suspect the cost of living is comparatively higher in our nation's capital?

2
that-freakin-guy3L•

Calculate your expenses every month, multiply by 12, divide by 0.7 (average 30% tax bracket), and that's the gross income you require to survive. Obviously your tax bracket will change based on your domicile state and income. Add $12,000 to that just to be safe ($24k if you want to be ballsy) and submit it.

2
GMP14Esq.•

I mean, do you want us to throw numbers at you?

I don't think your answer to this question is really going to "make or break" you getting this job.

1
IRVCathOPJD•

Fair enough. I'm just afraid of either a) getting shortchanged or b) asking for a number too high to hire.

Should I be looking at this firm as more comparable to Biglaw, or something smaller? I mean it seems to get a lot of high-profile legal cases, but at the same time it's public-interest law.

1
selfpromoting•

Should I be looking at this firm as more comparable to Biglaw, or something smaller? I mean it seems to get a lot of high-profile legal cases, but at the same time it's public-interest law.

FYI, staff attorney at ACLU make around 50-60k. So just because this firm gets some big cases, it doesn't mean they are paying well.

3