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Good paying job after law school
good paying job after law school / Career / 12:45 AM - Sunday May 11, 2008
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An Alternative Girl (Female, Las Vegas, 36-45, Self-Employed) asked:


Anyone know from experience or friends/family whether I could get a good-paying job after graduating law school, or will I have to start small at a low-paying attorney job and work my way up? I have read horror stories about this online. Is there such a thing as entry-level or low-paying attorney in the first place? If so, what is the point of going to law school? I will be almost 40 once I graduate and pass the bar. Does anyone think it is possible for me to land a good-paying job then?

Update: May 11, 2008.
These responses are great - thank you. Does anyone know what the salary range would be just starting out as a mid-range position? I'm not expecting to make $100,000 in my first law job BUT I used to work in investment banking and they would pay the 20-something yr. old Analysts fresh out of college $60,000 per year plus $10,000 bonus to start. Is this type of salary done in beginning law jobs? Anyone know? Thanks again!


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A Thinker (Female, 29-35, Who Cares?) answered:


I ran a law office for 8 years and with no live experience it is going to be hard when you start. It is better to start in a small firm for little pay and get the experience then start at a big firm and be the errand person.

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A Trendsetter (Female, 36-45, Who Cares?) answered:

Screenname: skaskiknee


Big law firms hire the top graduates from the best law schools, as a general rule. They start their associates at $100K and up.
You work down from there.
The lowest type of pay right out of law school would probably be with legal services or a fellowship or something. Then you might start at $25-28K or so.
There's a whole range of stuff in between.
If you want to try for a top-paying job as an attorney right out of law school, do so, but expect to work very hard, and very long hours.



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A Trendsetter (Female, 26-28, Who Cares?) answered:

Screenname: ready4sumfun


attorney's work for people with money. you can start high (or what seems high until you pay taxes) at first until you don't make partner and then start from scratch again. I'd start looking at law related fields.

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A Sweet Sarah (Female, Charlotte, Who Cares?, Self-Employed) answered:

Screenname: smartblond


doubt it.. you will start probably as an associate and work your way up.. landing a huge job out of school is not really common.. in fact two of my friends are lawyers now with their own practices but it took decades to get to that point

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