Bonus Round 2020!!!

  • 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 links. In 2019, Arizona Attorney magazine included a similar survey of Arizona attorneys on a larger scale. 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? Did 2020 dramatically alter your firm’s pay structure? 

For those of you willing to share some details about your pay, we suggest leaving a comment that puts some your information in the following format:  [Years in practice]-[Type of practice: CR for criminal, CI for civil, F for family, G for government, P for private practice]-[2020 gross salary to the nearest $10K+bonus if any]. Example for someone who has practiced for 17 years and does private practice criminal defense for a gross salary of $387,000 with no bonus other than being their own boss:

17-CR/P-390,000+no bonus

We know it’s not exact, but maybe it will help someone else in the legal community figure out what they should be making.

39 Comments
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 4:19 pm

15CL/P – $240,000 + $65,000 bonus based on collections

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 22, 2020 11:30 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Your base tells me you're at a big firm. That tells me your receipts are likely in excess $800K and you likely have some of your own clients? Which would then tell me – you're grossly underpaid and likely overworked? If I'm correct- quit. If I'm wrong – where are you working man, name names so we can all apply.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 22, 2020 4:54 pm

Over the years, there have been 3 attorneys who attempted to force issues and make me work on Christmas Eve or between Christmas and New Years. I remember all of them by name. Just thinking about them makes me boil with contempt, particularly the fellow who tried to invade my Christmas Eve.

I have tried, in the past, to assume the best in these people. Perhaps they don't observe Christmas, or have a spouse and kids and thus don't fully appreciate how offensive it is to encroach on this time. As time has passed, that view has receded. These three people are just dicks.

I share this with anyone who is tempted to be a dick this week. Know that your actions will be remembered and resented for years. Your foul will likely be brought up by the target of your behavior in war stories for years to come.

Don't be a dick.

Merry Christmas.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 6:29 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Well, what if your name IS Richard?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 6:34 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Unavoidable existential crisis, obviously. God speed, dick. God speed.

Nasty Ned
Guest
Nasty Ned
December 22, 2020 8:15 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

8:54: You're a chick, right?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 8:43 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Not 8:54, but cheep cheep, dick.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 9:58 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

It's Dick to you! not dick, you dick.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 5:06 pm

5-CL/P- $120K base + $27,500 bonus.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 5:11 pm

12-CL/P – $160K + bonus dependent on hours that is not worth the extra time

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 11:25 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

How many required hours for your base?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 23, 2020 12:04 am
Reply to  Anonymous

1950

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 5:16 pm

4 CI/P – $95k base + 8k bonus

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 5:26 pm

Anyone else see Newsmax's CYA "clarification" of its Dominion coverage? All fun and games until your lawyers say you're going to be paying punitives.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 22, 2020 5:41 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Anyone who SHOULD have seen it probably didn't. And if they did, it was more than likely disregarded. "Newsmax is just throwing a bone to the WHINING RADICAL LIBS, they'll get back to the REAL NEWS that proves great leader won the election with 777 electoral votes despite Hunter Biden's TREASON." Or some idiot nonsense like that.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 5:37 pm

13-ID $110k+25k

Aesop
Guest
Aesop
December 22, 2020 6:15 pm

The official governing body in 1776 was called Parliament.

In 2020, the Congress and Courts and the rest of the Deep State are still The King's Parliament and His Majesty's Court. And President Trump isn't their king, as they've told you for four long years.

The Continental Congress was an unauthorized, unsanctioned, unlawful, treasonous, and seditious assembly, and every man-jack of them were eventually targeted for arrest and hanging. If you're expecting GOVERNMENT as it is presently constituted to plan or carry out anything like a revolt, you don't understand things very well.

You're going to have to find and BE the leaders you're waiting to have appear, or there ain't gonna be none of those.

Let that sink in until it fills your marrow.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 7:30 pm
Reply to  Aesop

That is revolting.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 8:26 pm
Reply to  Aesop

The funniest part about these deep state wackos is the civil servants. Have you ever worked with a civil servant? The idea that you could get any of them to give two shits about anything, much less be that organized, is just preposterous. All they care about is the number of hours left until retirement. They don't do any extra minute of work and they don't care about anything but themselves. They sure as hell are not organizing some conspiracy level nonsense. They're basically the post office with a slightly better dress code. Not that they dress better…they all look like hell. They just have the option to dress better and choose not to because they don't care about fashion either.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 22, 2020 9:35 pm
Reply to  Aesop

10:15, you should really listen to Newsmax's and Fox News' "clarifications" (ahem, retractions) they issued today. There is no deep state conspiracy changing votes at Hugo Chavez' behest. There is nothing. These "news" outlets are about to get sued all the way to Venezuela if they don't seriously repent for being a haven for defamation.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 23, 2020 12:24 am
Reply to  Aesop

10:15 I kinda see your point. Our government has become tyrannical in many respects. I really sympathize with the sentiment.

However, I do not quite agree with the last bit calling for a revolt. For a few reasons. I mean yes the federal government is far to powerful and rife with corruption. Yes it would be great to see deep state held accountable for their actions. But I mean, a revolt? Even assuming something semi-successful took place, it would destroy our economy, likely cost untold human life, destroy the economy and US dollar, and negatively impact living standards for years to come. And for what, even assuming this revolt succeeds it is only a matter of time before we devolve into yet another corrupt, criminal, and unjust system of government. It's just human nature dude.

But I highly doubt any kind of revolt would be even remotely successful. First of all, how would people organize? Deep state controls mainstream media outlets and big tech, so that's problem number one. Next, I do not think at least at present there would be widespread willingness to join such a revolt. Sure you meet a decent amount of people who in theory support the idea of removing the deep state and all that stuff. But when it comes down to it, how many would be willing to give up comfortable life and face probable incarceration/death? I doubt many. So best case for your revolt would be small groups of IRA like people. That is not going to change anything.

So, while support the patriot sentiments, I do not support calling for any sort of revolt. All that has potential to really do is stir up two or three boogaloo dummies to do God knows what sort of terrible thing.

F%*! the deepstate, but ya know, chill on the whole rise up narrative. Only thing I can see coming out of that is stirring up a couple of crazies giving more fuel to the right wing is extremist narrative.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 6:40 pm

22- CR/G $170K – no bonus

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 6:47 pm

3CL/P- 90k-30k bonus with minimal effort.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 7:39 pm

7CL/P-180k-30k bonus based on hours and collections

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 7:58 pm

5CL/P – 140k-20k bonus plus referral fees

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 22, 2020 9:11 pm

11CI/Nonprofit – 75k + bonus that the help I provide my clients means more to them than anything I did working in private practice. Plus I get to spend lots of time with my wife and kids and never have to think about billable hours again.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 22, 2020 10:01 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Similar vibes on my end. 5CI/P-$80k + bonus/origination/referral, but great quality of life. Good balance with personal/family life, a fair amount of pro/low bono, no hours requirement.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 10:23 pm

Car accident victim seeks legal malpractice attorney referrals. Vegas attorney failed to file a complaint and statute of limitations has passed. Please help. Thanks.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 11:20 pm

2CL/P- 140k + 15k based on hours

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 22, 2020 11:23 pm

I love looking at how much more money my colleagues are making than I am. We should an "hours billed per year" line for the private practice suckers (of which I am). I'll go first $150K. 20 year. Partner. Firm. Bonus? LOL! Maybe $10K. 1700 billable hours this year, typically 1900. Who wants to tell me what a loser I am first for "only" billing 1700? Go.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 22, 2020 11:24 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

*add an "hours billed per year" line…

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 23, 2020 5:31 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Former private practice sucker here. You are not a loser for only billing 1700 as long as you're collecting on most of those hours. I never sniffed my billable "requirement" in my previous life but I collected over 98% of my time every year so my revenue was still pretty good. Never got a bonus, but never got hounded either. It was actually not too bad, but I wouldn't go back.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 23, 2020 12:28 am

1CL/P-$86,500 + no bonus.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 23, 2020 12:41 am

8-CL/P-$160k + $20k bonus for exceeding billable requirement (1850) by 200 hours.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
December 23, 2020 12:43 am
Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 23, 2020 5:04 am

4-CL/P $130+$30. Need to hit 1800 hours. Credit for up to 200 hours of nonbillable in different categories.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 23, 2020 6:17 pm

6 CL/P solo – $160 + no bonus

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 24, 2020 3:31 am

It is because of this site that I decided to just go on my own this year. (9-CL/P – $110k + bonus at last firm). It's too early to say how things will work out, but I'm 1000% happier. So… thanks.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 24, 2020 6:47 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

You will be fine. I started a firm about 15 years ago. Word of advice. You will reach a point or multiple points where you doubt yourself and want to give up because of fear. Push through. Most people give up when they are so close to their goal because of fear.