Calling lawyers -- starting salaries for associates in NJ area?

Parent Cafe
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<p>I’m blanketing the world w/resumes for attorney positions…I’ve gotten back some requests for my ‘salary requirements.’ I’ve been out of the field for 7 years (except for some pt time work). </p>

<p>Just wondered if someone had a thought on what one should say? Throw it back to the employer? Give a range? My past position (7 yrs ago) is in a different field (public service - 4 yrs) so I don’t think that salary would be relevant.</p>

<p>If anyone had an idea I’d really appreciate! (I’m in NJ). Have an email in my outbox I need to complete w/some kind of figure that won’t scare someone away but would justify grinding myself to a fine powder at a law firm! :-)</p>

<p>Thank you!!!</p>

<p>PS I did research this, but just found starting salaries at huge firms – the places I’m applying are smaller (10-20 attnys).</p>

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<p>What type of law? Are you near NYC? Where did you attend law school and what type of public service work did you do and for how long?</p>

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<p>There is a law forum.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the thoughts! Guess I’m too chicken to post a ton of identifying info, even though I’m desperately seeking info!!! :-)</p>

<p>I’ll check out the law forum.</p>

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<p>If you don’t want to put yourself on blast, I would suggest sending a PM sally, jonri who are very helpful on the law school forum or to cartera45, who is a recruiter who fills request for attorneys</p>

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<p>If you’re anywhere near NYC, you’ll find that a tremendous number of attornies have been laid off in the last few months. Since you seem to be getting interest, I’m thinking you have practiced in an area that must be of interest to firms. I would consider just saying negotiable based on job requirements and locking down interviews.</p>

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<p>You can find some salary information, sorted by state, on Findlaw.com - here’s the link, I think, to New Jersey info: [FindLaw</a> | Legal Career Center](<a href=“http://www.infirmation.com/shared/insider/payscale.tcl?state=NJ]FindLaw”>http://www.infirmation.com/shared/insider/payscale.tcl?state=NJ). Also try [Greedy</a> Associates](<a href=“http://greedyassociates.com/]Greedy”>http://greedyassociates.com/).</p>

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<p>Jolynne, I do not know if this is going to be of any help since your area of practice may be something other than patents and trademarks, but check a law forum called the IP Law Server. I do not know if there is any salary information. I search the threads in it when I need “free” patent info before I ask our attorneys any dumb questions. [The</a> Intellectual Property Law Server](<a href=“http://www.intelproplaw.com/]The”>http://www.intelproplaw.com/)</p>

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<p>Jolynne, an answer from the Newark area, a large firm- ~$115,000 for a starting associate.</p>

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<p>Thank you very much for those responses!!! I appreciate it.</p>

<p>Email is sitting in my outbox–another (job hunting) friend said, “Don’t delay, just mail something!” Other lawyer friends are looking into the issues & I’m hearing differing figures.</p>

<p>I think I’m going to grab hmom5’s statement “My salary would be negotiable based on the job requirements.” That was my thought — I really wanted to get into an interview and get a positive vibe from them (toward me & vice versa) before I started talking $$.</p>

<p>Thanks again! Off to email & hope they don’t get ticked that I’m lobbing it back in their court.</p>

<p>Edit–just emailed hmom5’s statement verbatim. Crossing fingers. I’ve also pm’d one of the people you suggested, sybbie, thank you.</p>