- Quickdraw McLaw
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Each year at this time we like to take a look at bonuses. As an added bonus, we also have the results of another compensation survey this year. (You can see last year’s results here.) This is your chance to get an idea of how much money attorneys in Las Vegas make!
While we cannot guarantee the accuracy of any of the results of this survey, we had 98 responses this year. Warning: the results are not for the faint of heart. These numbers may make you think you are underpaid. They may make you think you are not special. Just remember that these are just numbers and do not take into account a number of other factors that come into play when determining compensation. Click through to see the results…
Last year someone asked about a bimodal distribution–with the additional responses regarding practice area we got this year, it looks like that might be due in part to those who practice in the DA/AG/Gov area (15 of our respondents). Our biggest category of respondents’ practice area was Business Litigation (21 respondents). 19 of the respondents practice in insurance (1 in coverage, 16 in defense, 2 in subrogation). 5 of our respondents practice in Criminal Law, 2 practice in family law, and 1 each practice in bankruptcy and professional negligence defense.
First, some general numbers and facts about the survey results. Out of 98 responses:
- the years of experience ranged from less than a year up to more than 30 years of experience
- the lowest reported salary was $60,000 and the highest reported salary was $640,000
- billable hour requirements ranged from none to 2100
- some results may be skewed by outliers, but since this is an anonymous survey, we have no way of verifying the data and have included all of it in our analysis–and where it made sense we tell you the numbers without the outlier
BONUSES
- The good news is that 61% of are respondents are expecting a bonus this year.
- 23% of the respondents expecting a bonus in excess of $20,000.
- 5% are expecting $15,001-$20,000
- 7% are expecting $10,001-$15,000
- 19% are expecting $5,001-$10,000
- 20% are expecting $1,000-$5,000
- 26% are expecting less than $1,000 (including those expecting nothing)
- The majority of those surveyed get a yearly bonus, while those who get a bonus twice a year, quarterly, or monthly made up less than 15% of the respondents
- Based on the survey, if you’re keen on being eligible for a bonus, the best practice area is business litigation, while you’re least likely to get a bonus if you go into the DA/AG/Gov practice area.
- Bonuses were all over the place with regard to experience, so your mileage may vary…
COMPENSATION AND BILLABLE HOURS
Last year someone asked about a bimodal distribution–with the additional responses regarding practice area we got this year, it looks like that might be due in part to those who practice in the DA/AG/Gov area (15 of our respondents). Our biggest category of respondents’ practice area was Business Litigation (21 respondents). 19 of the respondents practice in insurance (1 in coverage, 16 in defense, 2 in subrogation). 5 of our respondents practice in Criminal Law, 2 practice in family law, and 1 each practice in bankruptcy and professional negligence defense.
- ONE YEAR OF EXPERIENCE OR LESS
- 13 respondents
- Average salary is $80,000
- The low salary was $60,000 and the high was $120,000
- 8 reported no billable hour requirement, 2 responded 1800, 1 responded 1900, 1 responded 2000, and 1 responded 2100
- The highest paying practice area is Business Litigation
- 2 YEARS EXPERIENCE
- 8 respondents
- Average salary is $89,000
- The low salary was $60,000 and the high was $140,000
- 5 reported no billable hour requirement, 1 responded 1800, 1 responded 1950, and 1 responded 2000
- The highest paying practice area is Business Litigation
- 3 YEARS EXPERIENCE
- 5 respondents
- Average salary is $101,000
- The low salary was $75,000 and the high was $140,000
- 3 reported no billable hour requirement, 1 responded 1900, 1 responded 2000
- The highest paying practice area is Business Litigation
- 4 YEARS EXPERIENCE
- 7 respondents
- Average salary is $128,000 (although without including the highest salary, the average drops to $106,000)
- The low salary was $75,000 and the high was $257,000
- 3 reported no billable hour requirement, 1 responded 1800, 3 responded 2000
- The highest paying practice area is Personal Injury
- 5 YEARS EXPERIENCE
- 4 respondents
- Average salary is $116,000
- The low salary was $85,000 and the high was $150,000
- 2 reported no billable hour requirement, 1 responded 1850, and 1 responded 1900
- The highest paying practice area is Finance
- 6 YEARS EXPERIENCE
- 6 respondents
- Average salary is $146,000 (although without the highest salary, the average drops to $123,000)
- The low salary was $100,000 and the high was $260,000
- 1 reported no billable hour requirement, 1 responded 1800, 2 responded 1850, 1 responded 1950, and 1 responded 2000
- The highest paying practice area is Business Litigation
- 7 YEARS EXPERIENCE
- 7 respondents
- Average salary is $125,000
- The low salary was $80,000 and the high was $150,000
- 2 reported no billable hour requirement, 1 responded 1800, 2 responded 1900, 1 responded 2000, and 1 responded 2050
- The highest paying practice area is Environmental/Natural Resources
- 8 YEARS EXPERIENCE
- 8 respondents
- Average salary is $149,000 (although without the highest salary, the average drops to $135,000)
- The low salary was $100,000 and the high was $250,000
- 7 reported no billable hour requirement, and 1 responded 2100
- The highest paying practice area is Transactional/Real Estate
- 9 YEARS EXPERIENCE
- 9 respondents
- Average salary is $171,000 (although without the highest salary, the average drops to $149,000)
- The low salary was $95,000 and the high was $350,000
- 5 reported no billable hour requirement, 2 responded 1800, 1 responded 1900, and 1 responded 2000
- The highest paying practice area is Personal Injury
- 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE
- 9 respondents
- Average salary is $148,000
- The low salary was $90,000 and the high was $200,000
- 5 reported no billable hour requirement, 1 responded 1700, 2 responded 1800, 1 responded 1900
- The highest paying practice area is Business Litigation
- 11-15 YEARS EXPERIENCE
- 13 respondents
- Average salary is $181,000
- The low salary was $105,000 and the high was $370,000
- 8 reported no billable hour requirement, 1 responded 1800, 3 responded 1850, and 1 responded 1900
- The highest paying practice area is Insurance Coverage
- 16-20 YEARS EXPERIENCE
- 4 respondents
- Average salary is $271,000
- The low salary was $120,000 and the high was $640,000
- 4 reported no billable hour requirement
- This category had the respondent with the highest salary for the DA/AG/Gov practice area at $200,000
- The highest paying practice area is Business Litigation
- 21-30 YEARS EXPERIENCE
- 4 respondents
- Average salary is $211,000
- The low salary was $105,000 and the high was $300,000
- 3 reported no billable hour requirement, 1 responded 1900
- The highest paying practice area is Business Litigation
- 30+ YEARS EXPERIENCE
- 1 respondent
- Salary is $200,000, plus a percentage of collections as a working attorney
- Practice area is Transactional/Real Estate
What do you think? Are you surprised by any of these numbers? Are they higher or lower than you thought? See any patterns? Is this useful information?
Pretty sure I remember responding to this and that the low salary in my class year is me. Just in time for Christmas.
I'm the lowest in my category too.
Very useful information, thank you.
One question; for future surveys, would it be possible to compile the average hourly billable rate as you have it broken down above?
Well, what this tells me is that it's still not a bad profession to be in if you're looking to make decent money. The average salary goes up pretty consistently by years of experience. I'm one of those who complain about how bad it sucks to be an attorney with all the stress and pain of dealing with a-holes every day. But it could always be worse. I could be in a manual labor job making a low hourly rate and working outdoors (although there are days that I have an "Office Space" dream about working in construction because I'd be able to point at something real that I had a hand in building). I guess I'll look on the bright side today and be happy that I make good money, I have a healthy family and a roof over my head. Come January 2nd I'll be back to complaining. Merry Christmas!
Those are all interesting numbers, however, based on a very small non-scientific sample size of limited utility…
Of course we don't know, assuming the responses are truthful: Is the the compensation inclusive or exclusive of bonuses; Is the compensation a fixed sum or the result of an aberration (e.g. settlement of a large P.I. case which is a one time event); The number of actual hours worked vs. billable hours (the effective earning rate); Number of respondent's with an equity interest in the firm vs. merely discretionary employees, etc.
Some of the numbers seem to be in line with my understanding of the industry (over 25 years experience) but some appear at least to be outliers if not flat out puffery for unknown reasons.
Accept it for for what it's worth as a source of information within an ocean of available information, but don't judge yourself to harshly in comparison to only these results… Have a Merry Christmas, enjoy your families and those you love and cherish.
I am curious which numbers you think are puffery. I am only a few years in so I am sure I have large blind spots here but nothing struck me as unbelievable.
The second year making $140,000 in business lit seems a little high (unless including bonus) and the sixth year making $260,000 in business lit also seems a little high (unless that sixth year is a solo or partner at a small firm or including bonus). The $370,000 for insurance coverage surprised me, but I don't do anything with personal injury or insurance work so that could just be my ignorance.
these numbers seem out of step with what friends tell me.
11:07 Here. I am a business lit associate. The second year high seems believable if including bonus. Market pay at top firms for a first year is $110,000-$120,000 before bonus, so I can believe at least one second year made $140,000. The sixth year pay still seems high.
260 is what big national firms pay 6th years in their market-paying offices.
Never mind. I just googled it and 6th years make 280 in big offices. 5th years make 260.
I'm pretty sure that 11-15 year attorney doing Insurance Coverage is the owner of his own firm (with several attorneys) and I'm pretty sure I know who it is.
Insurance coverage is far more lucrative than insurance defense. There are very few attorneys in town handling coverage work. Most bill their coverage clients 2-3 times what insurance defense clients pay per hour. Someone handling exclusively insurance coverage with a decent volume could easily rake in $300-$400k a year. I handle a mix of insurance defense and coverage (70% insurance defense, 30% coverage) and I'm not far from that.
That's interesting. I did not know that about coverage.
The insurance coverage lawyer in question could also be on the policyholder side. There are several of those in town. Additionally, just because insurance coverage is their primary practice area, doesn't mean they don't do other types of work.
Denton…Denton…Denton…
He's not running. Is there someone else at the RJC you would like to recruit who may consider running? If not, then just accept that it will be Silver and Caddish.
This is too easy to pounce on, that I will pass. Someone else can take a walnut crack at it.
I'm…uh…uh…a…uh…nominee for a…uh..uh…federal judgeship…my…uh…interview…um…didn't go so…uh… well yesterday…Here's…a…uh…excerpt:
Senator: Sir, we've already established that you have never tried a case in any court, have never argued a motion, have never conducted a deposition, can't identify any of the abstention doctrines mentioned, can't identify a Motion In Limine, and have no familiarity with any rules of procedures. Therefore, in complete fairness to you, we will endeavor to make the inquiries even more fundamental. So, in that spirit, what is a Plaintiff?
Nominee: Uh…uh… the answer is not…uh… available at my fingertips and…uh…I recognize…um…there will be…uh…a…learning curve. Uh…could I consult my…uh..staff…and follow up..uh…with a memo on that?
Senator: Sir, what is a tort?
Nominee: It's..uh…a pastry…I think.
Senator: Sir, what is Discovery.
Nominee: It's uh…back when..uh…Spanish..and uh…Italian explorers…were..uh…going to…um…find new places..by…uh..sailing in ships like…uh..about 500 years ago.
Senator: What law school did you attend?
Nominee: Uh…that info..is..uh…not…um…readily available.
Senator:What is your name?
Nominee: Uh…..um…Uh…I'm afraid I…um…really can't uh, give an accurate…uh…answer, off the …uh…top of my head…but my staff can certainly…uh…research the matter.
This dude is a stoner, but he is smarter than some judges on the bench now.
12:06, although clearly a parody of the Matthew Petersen confirmation proceedings in the Senate, is not effective satire because it is not over the top and does not exaggerate things much.
In fact, it's so painfully realistic, that it's not particularly funny.
It's troubling, rather than humorous, because it is eerily similar to how the dialogue actually unfolded.
Just received email from NVCLEBOARD about the 2018 rules. Looks like everyone's price of admission is going up. Instead of paying $40/year, most of us will pay more. That's one way to fund the BOG's Annual Vacation (Convention) and to "encourage" attorney attendance at the BOG's Annual Vacation (Convention). Does Kim F get a raise too? Who comes up with this stuff for State Bar? Is this BOG, Kim or both?
Money to the CLE Board does not go to the State Bar.
After the tone, please leave a message for…..
So, instead of paying $40 to the CLE Board, I pay $60 more over the course of the year either to CLE providers or directly to the Bar? That's a pretty shitty way of shifting fees.
Wtf? Are they now trying to fish at us by messing up the fees so bad when cannot pay them. Nothing to see here…..
Disbar us
So it looks like Congress is going to pass the tax cut. I don't want to get into a big discussion about the overall bill — I'm sure everyone has a lot to say, on both sides — but I do want to talk about one aspect.
Most businesses with "pass-through" income are getting lower rates under this bill. But not "professionals" — specifically including lawyers. This pisses me off, to put it bluntly. A plumber who runs his own LLC or Corp gets a huge tax break, but a solo practitioner gets basically nothing? Argh.
Now that I'm done, I realize I didn't really have a conversation to start, just needed to get that off my chest.
So open a pass-through real estate company to whom your firm pays rent and get the lower tax rates.
Do they do mental health checks on the people who work down at the court house?
No but there is a reason that the windows don't open.
But there are smoking balconies?
You need a smoke on the 15th floor.
I recently heard that Adam Stokes of the 444-4444 and Half Price Lawyers "fame" was hospitalized for something serious. Does anyone know anything about this they can share? Was he in an accident, self-inflicted, drug overdose, etc?
Adam was in a serious accident with a head injury
I hope Adam Stokes is okay.
Is he still in town? I heard he moved to SoCal and was banging tattooed girls in his beach house (seriously).