Bonus Round 2019!!!

  • Law

Each year at this time we like to take a look at salaries and bonuses. In years past, we did a compensation survey to give you an idea of how much money attorneys in Las Vegas make. You can see the results for 2017 and 2016 by clicking on the link. A recent issue of Arizona Attorney magazine includes a similar survey of Arizona attorneys on a larger scale with 3400 responses. We didn’t do a new survey this year figuring that probably not much has changed from past years. What do you think about the current state of pay for attorneys here? Are you underpaid or overpaid? Did you get a bonus? Has your billable hour requirement gone up or down this year? Any predictions on where compensation is headed?

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Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 4:59 pm

Anyone know what kind of raise can be expected at Lewis Brisbois assuming billable hours were exceeded?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 6:37 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Varies. 2-8%

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 5:54 pm

Associates who earn their billable quota receive one ("1") bowl of dicks.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 6:36 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

The dicks placed in the bowel are those of the associates who did not earn their billable quota.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 9:45 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

"dicks placed in the bowel . . ." Now that's funny!

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 6:24 pm

What is an appropriate amount to spend on a gift for a secretary or paralegal? Should I be buying a gift for my boss? I work in a very large office.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 6:36 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Secretaries and paralegals like cash, unless you happen to know them very well and can get them something they actually want. The amount depends on how well you know/like your assistant, the structure of the firm (does the firm give bonuses/gifts-if so, how much), your particular financial situation, and how many other assistants you need to give to. Talk with the other attorneys in the firm to see how much they are giving.

My advice is to err on the generous side. Assistants can make your life much easier or much harder. Show them how much you appreciate what they do.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 6:39 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

As to your second question, my general understanding is that gifts should flow down, but not up. So, no need to get your boss anything. But – treat your staff generously.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 6:26 pm

Not on topic but, does anyone know if I can submit my CLE affirmation before I've completed my CLEs for the year? Or, do I need to wait to submit until after all my hours are completed?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 6:35 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

at 10:16
How can you affirm that you have completed your CLE requirement when you have not?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 9:46 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

That's easy, he/she is a lawyer!

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 6:39 pm

Judicial Commission
Did anyone attend the JP hearings this week? Insights?

anonymous
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anonymous
December 18, 2019 6:47 pm

From what I read it sounds like the Commission staff and prosecutors should all resign or be fired.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 6:54 pm

That office is a fucking joke.

anonymous
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anonymous
December 18, 2019 7:30 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Don’t say “fuck” or I may have to report you to the Blog Discipline Commission. As soon as I’m done sending this dick pic and abusing my animals.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 7:36 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Using cuss words gets an automatic panel hearing with judicial discipline commish. Don't you see the atrocities that court admin pulls down at RJC?

anonymous
Guest
anonymous
December 18, 2019 11:40 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I propose a Judge Seymour Brown standard: If it is less bad than anything he got away with for years, then it shouldn't be the subject of discipline.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 7:04 pm

Merry Christmas. My year end bonus is a 39 minute wait for USPS, and the fact that I am self-employed.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 7:33 pm

My bonus is closing the office for (mostly) the month, giving my paralegal a paid month mostly off (after no vacations for almost 18 months) and taking the month of December mostly off visiting friends and family in a few adjoining states. Still have to deal with the occasional client/OC email but overall no in-person substantive hearings and no December deadlines. Coming back first week of January is gonna suck though.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 9:16 pm

How many billable hours?
Without identifying your firm, please share the annual billable hours expected from associates.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 9:21 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Large ID firm. Varies but I'd say 2000-2100.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 10:55 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Go click on the 2017 and 2016 links above. They have some of the billable hour requirements.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 19, 2019 6:41 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

1700 for associates

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 18, 2019 10:33 pm

Any insight about Resnick & Louis?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 11:16 pm

Base salary is $135K. $30K bonus. 401K match up to 3 percent. 15 years experience. Mid size firm. No billable requirement (we're all kicking it between 1800 and 2100).

I'd like to know salaries at the following firms:

Greenberg
Brownstein
Resnick
Dickensen
Holland & Heart

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 18, 2019 11:18 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

That total package seems good. I made $150K at 8 years experience and felt that was good….but year after year of same salary (now at nearly 20 years) and bonuses between zero and $15K – I'd rather have a lower base and higher bonus expectation based on performance.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 20, 2019 4:53 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I'm at a low base/high bonus firm and it's great but they tax bonuses like crazy, would rather have it in my base/401k

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 21, 2019 3:31 am
Reply to  Anonymous

It's not like the tax withholding on the bonus is actually your tax liability for that amount. It is a temporary over-payment that ultimately is returned to you when you file your taxes. Your actual tax liability is the same whether you get a small base/large bonus or large base/no bonus (so long as total combined amount is the same). The only actual difference is whether you get to hold onto the over-payment during the year or the IRS does as a tax withholding.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 21, 2019 4:24 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

7:31 is correct. I had a $40k performance bonus a couple months ago. The withholding assumes that is the amount I make every paycheck, which isn't remotely accurate. So I overpaid my taxes on that check by several thousand dollars. I will get it back in a few weeks. I usually have my refund by Valentines. It's also quite fun to get a five figure refund (and yes, I know I let the IRS hold my money interest free for a few months).

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 19, 2019 3:38 am

Billables
So how to you get billables above 1800 hrs? There 2080 hours in a year, less 80 hrs for 2 wks vacation and less 80 hrs. (10 days) for holidays, leaving 1,920 working hours. The ABA and others report that lawyers are only producing about 4 hours a day of actual legal work, the rest is on administrative crap.
So who is everyone goosing the client's billing?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 19, 2019 7:12 am
Reply to  Anonymous

You're wrongly assuming attorneys only work 40 hours per week.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 19, 2019 7:44 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Yeah I am probably physically in the office or on my computer at least 2500 hours to hit my 1800 hours requirement.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 19, 2019 7:46 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Also, I feel like I am pretty inefficient but 50% billable efficiency seems ridiculous. I am probably 70% efficient most days, 80% if I am lucky, and 90% when I am under the gun on one or two large projects.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 19, 2019 2:49 pm

I billed around 1800 this year. $100k base. $2k Christmas bonus. $2k bonus earlier this year. $65k in origination fees.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 19, 2019 4:55 pm

PI guy here. 100k base. another 100k in origination bonus. no billables. another bonus is coming on here and hearing how you ID guys eat a bowl of dicks the entire year just to get a 2k bonus at the end LOL

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 19, 2019 5:19 pm

4th year. ~150k base. 1800. don't know bonus yet but expect 20-25.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 19, 2019 5:22 pm

25th year commercial lit 1200-1300 billed. 500k total

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 19, 2019 6:46 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Nice. I'm a 10th year and make a little less (450), but I work my ass off. Like double what you work.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 19, 2019 6:47 pm

10th year. Real Property. 1600 hours. $180k between base, bonus, and origination. I could make more at this firm if I wanted to put in more hours, but I am content with this work/life/compensation balance.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 19, 2019 11:07 pm

Sounds like I went into the wrong area of law.

Amsberry Law Firm
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Amsberry Law Firm
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