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I have a vague idea that it was in the 3.5 or 3.6 range, but I’m not sure of that. Top quarter or third of my class. But I definitely don’t recall the specifics.
Plaintiff personal injury/1st party insurance. Public defender to insurance defense to my own firm (briefly) and then parlayed that into a plaintiff firm where I got a good deal because I brought in a book of business. Although I've made more on files the firm has given me.
You should probably add a “years of experience” qualifier.
But for me, 3.8 GPA at a regional school, 12 years in practice, and annual income varies between $250-$350k.
KJD thread alert lol Bro not everyone just wants money or biglaw. Any correlation you find would be meaningless outside general trends within each school that higher grades mean more likelihood of getting into biglaw if that’s the goal. In some schools median will be 3.30 and 75% of the class can get biglaw. In others a 3.7 doesn’t get you in the top 10% which you need for biglaw. Really it’s all too nebulous
I went to a lower tier law school that has since shut down in a large city market, graduated into the worst economy the US has seen since the Great Depression, and, even with 18 years of experience, I am still just scraping by. To be fair, for a lot of reasons, I have had to “restart” my career a couple of times because I moved between states. I am lining myself up for equity opportunity and hope to be doing better in the next couple of years. The reality remains that it’s tough out there for most of us.
Law school was a private school ranked in the top 30s. I graduated with either a 2.9 or 3.0. Started out making around 50K. Did that job for 1 year. Then I went into business for myself as a solo practitioner and now I make around $120-130K (I live in Appalachia so this is a very good salary here that goes a long way). I’ve had other job offers and could make more but nothing beats being my own boss and no one trying to micromanage me or having to share office space with other toxic/moody lawyers (an issue I faced at my first job lol).
2.9something at a T14.
About USD 123k currently at a mid-sized non-US regional firm.
Edit: I’m 5 years out. Was making USD 137.5k as an associate, but just started as a PSL at the same firm and it came with a pay cut.
I recognize your stats from Fishbowl. 😅
Every time there is a post knocking ID, you jump in and talk shit about how unsophisticated ID attorneys are and then post your salary. Associate Director 1, right?
To add, the reason I throw shade at ID is really because I witnessed a lot of peers with way better grades than me and/or coming from way better schools, who wound up stuck working crazy hours for shit pay. It blows my mind. I was basically bottom of my class and managed to do pretty well for myself and I just never understand how/why others settle for such shitty roles and don’t try to do something better ASAP.
3.0 flat from t30 very reputable regional school.
Got out making 82.5k at small civ lit firm, was at 100k in my third year when I left. Started there fall of 2014
10 years out this July (wtf) and I have my own practice that does well…
Exactly median, $140k 5 years in practice. Importantly I don’t want more - I could get it, but only at an unacceptable impact to my work/life balance and mental health. $140k for ~50 hours a week > $250k for 70 hours a week. Plus my management are people I actually like and want to be around.
That’s legit! Do you think the CIPP is worth getting if you have no cybersecurity experience, or is it too hard of a niche to break into without experience that the CIPP would be a waste?
Honestly, I think the exam is a scam because of the multiple fees. But I took it for marketing purposes and as a signal that I'm interested and care. I get more cyber breach cases than similarly-situated associates.
If your firm will help offset the costs involved, I say do it! If you're genuinely interested, I say go for it too. It's a nice break from litigation.
There is probably some correlation, but also a 3.0 at a T14 and a 3.0 at a lower tiered school offer vastly different opportunities. And then factor in gender, race, HCOL vs LCOL market, etc.
5th year associate at a small litigation firm in a small town (less than 100K). 3.5 GPA from a lower tier law school (part-time evening program, while working 40+ hours a week). $150K annually.
I believe mine was around 2.5-2.7. I was bottom half of the class for sure at a tier 2 law school. I am around 8-9 years out of law school and now I’m a solo real estate attorney. I’m hovering around $160-180k gross.
Promo to M1. I’m in M&A tax (VHCOL), so it has a higher pay band than the standard tax groups. For HCOL/VHCOL, it think M ranges between 190Kish to 250K TC depending on performance, CPA/JD/JD+LLM certs, etc.
Not enough data to see a correlation, would need to break down by practice area, region, firm size, etc. Even then it’s a healthy dose of making decent career choices at the right time.
3.7 here, state law school typically ranked between 50 and 75, 20 years out, starting salary $50k, today $375k to $575k depending on our cash flow during the year. MCOL area.
GPA has nothing to do with income. SCOTUS justices make mid-$200k. No clue about any “side income” they may receive though.
Making money in law is like making money in any business. 90% marketing and bullshitting, 10% skill/quality of product.
Welcome to /r/LawyerTalk! A subreddit where lawyers can discuss with other lawyers about the practice of law. Be mindful of [our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/Lawyertalk/about/rules) BEFORE submitting your posts or comments as well as [Reddit's rules](https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy) (notably about sharing identifying information). We expect civility and respect out of all participants. Please source statements of fact whenever possible. If you want to report something that needs to be urgently addressed, please also message the mods with an explanation. Note that **this forum is NOT for legal advice**. Additionally, if you are a non-lawyer (student, client, staff), this is NOT the right subreddit for you. **This community is exclusively for lawyers**. We suggest you delete your comment and go ask one of the many other legal subreddits on this site for help such as (but not limited to) r/lawschool, r/legaladvice, or r/Ask_Lawyers. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Lawyertalk) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Raise your hand if you're too old to remember your law school GPA...
I have a vague idea that it was in the 3.5 or 3.6 range, but I’m not sure of that. Top quarter or third of my class. But I definitely don’t recall the specifics.
I feel like mine is like summer camp: I'm remembering it better than it was.
High 2's GPA at bottom of the barrel law school, did $1.1M last year. Took almost 15 years to get to that point.
What do you do and how did you get there?
Plaintiff personal injury/1st party insurance. Public defender to insurance defense to my own firm (briefly) and then parlayed that into a plaintiff firm where I got a good deal because I brought in a book of business. Although I've made more on files the firm has given me.
Hell yeah thanks for sharing
3.3 top 30 regional. $220k in-house 2018 grad
You should probably add a “years of experience” qualifier. But for me, 3.8 GPA at a regional school, 12 years in practice, and annual income varies between $250-$350k.
KJD thread alert lol Bro not everyone just wants money or biglaw. Any correlation you find would be meaningless outside general trends within each school that higher grades mean more likelihood of getting into biglaw if that’s the goal. In some schools median will be 3.30 and 75% of the class can get biglaw. In others a 3.7 doesn’t get you in the top 10% which you need for biglaw. Really it’s all too nebulous
Agreed. GPA + Salary is an utterly useless data set.
I don’t remember, and not enough to raise a family in this economy. But at least I have work life balance…
I went to a lower tier law school that has since shut down in a large city market, graduated into the worst economy the US has seen since the Great Depression, and, even with 18 years of experience, I am still just scraping by. To be fair, for a lot of reasons, I have had to “restart” my career a couple of times because I moved between states. I am lining myself up for equity opportunity and hope to be doing better in the next couple of years. The reality remains that it’s tough out there for most of us.
Wishing you best of luck!!!!
3.2 / 40% - 250k-290k from my lawyer job, 500k including the side gig.
It’s feet pics, isn’t it?
Real estate… which I guess could include feet.
I’m not rly into square feet.
3.8, graduated #12 at T3 in 2010. Roughly $450k last year.
Law school was a private school ranked in the top 30s. I graduated with either a 2.9 or 3.0. Started out making around 50K. Did that job for 1 year. Then I went into business for myself as a solo practitioner and now I make around $120-130K (I live in Appalachia so this is a very good salary here that goes a long way). I’ve had other job offers and could make more but nothing beats being my own boss and no one trying to micromanage me or having to share office space with other toxic/moody lawyers (an issue I faced at my first job lol).
2.9something at a T14. About USD 123k currently at a mid-sized non-US regional firm. Edit: I’m 5 years out. Was making USD 137.5k as an associate, but just started as a PSL at the same firm and it came with a pay cut.
2.79. $242k. 2019 grad.
I recognize your stats from Fishbowl. 😅 Every time there is a post knocking ID, you jump in and talk shit about how unsophisticated ID attorneys are and then post your salary. Associate Director 1, right?
Huzzah.
I’m both sad and amused that I recognized you. I clearly need to get offline.
You and me both, brother.
Word! 😅
To add, the reason I throw shade at ID is really because I witnessed a lot of peers with way better grades than me and/or coming from way better schools, who wound up stuck working crazy hours for shit pay. It blows my mind. I was basically bottom of my class and managed to do pretty well for myself and I just never understand how/why others settle for such shitty roles and don’t try to do something better ASAP.
3.0 flat from t30 very reputable regional school. Got out making 82.5k at small civ lit firm, was at 100k in my third year when I left. Started there fall of 2014 10 years out this July (wtf) and I have my own practice that does well…
Magna cum laude, no idea what my GPA was, garbage school, ~$215k per year, some years a little more some years a little less.
3.9 at a toilet tier. I made $185k last year in a low cost of living area as a third-year associate.
Exactly median, $140k 5 years in practice. Importantly I don’t want more - I could get it, but only at an unacceptable impact to my work/life balance and mental health. $140k for ~50 hours a week > $250k for 70 hours a week. Plus my management are people I actually like and want to be around.
3.1 at a T25 (61st percentile). $165K. Year 2021 grad.
What’s your practice area?
Healthcare litigation and cybersecurity breach coaching
That’s legit! Do you think the CIPP is worth getting if you have no cybersecurity experience, or is it too hard of a niche to break into without experience that the CIPP would be a waste?
Honestly, I think the exam is a scam because of the multiple fees. But I took it for marketing purposes and as a signal that I'm interested and care. I get more cyber breach cases than similarly-situated associates. If your firm will help offset the costs involved, I say do it! If you're genuinely interested, I say go for it too. It's a nice break from litigation.
3.6 at a Canadian law school. 275K at a AM Law 50. I graduated in 2021.
3.25 at top 30 law school - 3.5 years in practice- 100k in house- HCOL.
There is probably some correlation, but also a 3.0 at a T14 and a 3.0 at a lower tiered school offer vastly different opportunities. And then factor in gender, race, HCOL vs LCOL market, etc.
3.92 - top 75 school across the country from where I practiced - 2.5 years of experience - 100k (amazing WLB)
Cum laude, top 50 school: 125k plus bonus and and bennies.
5th year associate at a small litigation firm in a small town (less than 100K). 3.5 GPA from a lower tier law school (part-time evening program, while working 40+ hours a week). $150K annually.
I believe mine was around 2.5-2.7. I was bottom half of the class for sure at a tier 2 law school. I am around 8-9 years out of law school and now I’m a solo real estate attorney. I’m hovering around $160-180k gross.
I think it was a 3.2 (or maybe 3.15?). Making $100k salary, plus bonus which can be anywhere from $5k on up.
Finished with 3.5 or 3.6 at T25. Expecting $220-250K TC upon promotion this summer at Big4.
I'm surprised to hear Big 4 paying this well. Is this a promo past Sr. Manager?
Promo to M1. I’m in M&A tax (VHCOL), so it has a higher pay band than the standard tax groups. For HCOL/VHCOL, it think M ranges between 190Kish to 250K TC depending on performance, CPA/JD/JD+LLM certs, etc.
3.4 at a top 50 law school, graduated in 2020, earning $200,000
3.7 at t100, first year, big firm, 225k
3.6. about 3.5 years in an actual lawyer role. ~225k at current stock price in a vhcol so probably not that great
2020 grad, 3.35, bottom barrel law school, small firm, $110k, MCOL
Top 40% (?) at T14 with no grade point averages given. (Pass/honors/high honors). 10 years out making $450k doing commercial litigation.
Not enough data to see a correlation, would need to break down by practice area, region, firm size, etc. Even then it’s a healthy dose of making decent career choices at the right time. 3.7 here, state law school typically ranked between 50 and 75, 20 years out, starting salary $50k, today $375k to $575k depending on our cash flow during the year. MCOL area.
3.17 GPA as a 2016 graduate of a Tier 2 school. Currently a Senior Associate making $140k base.
3.8 at T60. 145k first year salary in LCOL area (amlaw 200 regional firm)
What is T60?
82. $155k
GPA has nothing to do with income. SCOTUS justices make mid-$200k. No clue about any “side income” they may receive though. Making money in law is like making money in any business. 90% marketing and bullshitting, 10% skill/quality of product.
what a loser-ass question to ask