- law dawg
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Each year at this time we like to take a look at salaries and bonuses. In some 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. But it’s a lot of work and, as you’ll see below, we’ve adopted a different method for seeing where pay is at. If you want something more formal, Arizona does its own detailed survey every three years on a much larger scale. You can view the 2022 results in Arizona Attorney magazine. However, if you want to view the 2025 results it will cost you at least $150. While’s it not exactly the same as Nevada, it has some useful information to consider. According to BCG Attorney Search Compensation Report, Nevada ranks 16th in the U.S. with a mean annual salary of $142,750. The Boyd Class of 2024 Summary Report indicates a mean salary for men of $117,120 while women only have a mean of $104,299.
What do you think about the current state of pay for attorneys here? Are you underpaid or overpaid? Did you get a bonus? When (and how often) is your bonus paid? Has your billable hour requirement gone up or down this year? Any predictions on where compensation is headed? Is inflation dramatically altering your firm’s pay structure? Have you noticed a gender gap?
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]-[2025 gross salary to the nearest $10K+bonus if any](Yearly billable requirement). 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 with no billable requirement:
17-CR/P-390,000+no bonus(none)
We know it’s not exact, but maybe it will help someone else in the legal community figure out what they should be making. And finally, it’s just a number. Your results may vary. Just because someone is getting paid more does not mean you’re not fairly compensated. You may have some incredible perks that the number doesn’t adequately represent.
15-CI/P-$130k base + $122k originations + $5k Christmas bonus = $257k
18-CI/P-$225K+$25K. (1500 billables)
5-CI/P-$180k + $30k bonus. (1800 billables)
Should also add if you’re a partner, non-equity partner, associate, or solo
25-CR-G-$191k (no bonus, no billables) = $191k
Our firm bonus structure for staff this year is simple. Outstanding staff will get a bonus equal to 2 paychecks. Not outstanding staff will get bonus equal to 1 paycheck. 2 staff members will get not get a monetary bonus but will get to keep their jobs through the beginning of the year so they are not terminated over the holidays.
Second place gets a set of steak knives.
You need to give the bad staff a one year membership in the jelly of the month club.
@9:10am harsh, but fair.
Coffee is for closers
2-CI/P associate, $180k + $5-10k bonus. no billables
8/P – $225K base – no bonus (1,350 billed)
what kind of law do you practice? 1350 billed is sweet. Do you have to work all year long or can you take 2-3 months off with that requirement?
14–Civil/Mainly Defense, 185 +origination %, 1950 min, 5000 every 50 over.
How’s LBBS treatin’ ya?
No offense but you’d make more in the public sector at this point. You’d also have no billables and a full pension.
Really? There’s a post above from a 25-year govt worker making $191k. How much was that person making at year 14? Not OP. But, $5k for every 50 hours over min isn’t too shabby. Also, not LBBS attorney.
It looks good on paper but do the math. That bonus translates to being paid $100 an hour. That’s super low for a 14-year vet.
$100/hr = $200k/year
How does Plaintiff Injury work. Usually salary + a percentage of verdict/settlement collected? Does hours bill go into the equation?
Open your own office. For the most part, being an associate at a personal injury firm sucks. On your own, you make more money, have more autonomy, and have greater say in the types of cases and client you work with.
How do you get cases after opening your own office? Isn’t it better to make money than not?
How does anyone get cases? you make friends with a few chiropractors, do a few cases, take a few conflict cases, get a few referrals from friends, make friends with an attorney who doesn’t do PI and set up mutual referrals, and go from there
20-CI/P: 275K base + bonus is % of fees brought in over min threshold = 325k bonus. No billables.
Can you share the % and minimum threshold?
12– Civil/Mainly Defense– 2000 Required — 235K with a bonus 7500 every 50 hours above, plus % of origination/billing credit.
8-CI/G-$150k base + $6000 bonus + employer funded PERS/Insurance/Disability/Life (No billables)
10-CI/P – Partner – 300,000 +25K
is this commercial litigation?
18-G-149k salary + no bonus
$60.00 – IFYKYK
now that’s funny…but maybe next year $120.00
15-CI/P, about $300k, solo.
Interesting discussion on total compensation….anyone commenting here is not the top earners (they don’t have time for this blog) nor the low end earners (also, don’t have time for this blog)……one observation is the “of counsel” or non-equity partners have way more in common with the government employees than they think: non-owner mentality. I don’t think an owner’s mentality can be taught…..you either have it or you ask “what are the minimum billables.”
Happy Holidays!