P R E F A C E
The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey (formerly 2007 Judged Salary Survey) is a unique resource
among legal publications. It provides current and essential information on more than 500 of
the top U. S. law firms, including each firm’s primary practice areas, hiring trends, and salary and
benefits information. The Salary Survey is an important resource for several reasons. First, the scope
of the Salary Survey is unmatched in that it details information about more than 500 national
and regional law firms. Second, its coverage is exhaustive, as the firms are analyzed according to
15 different parameters. Third, its degree of detail is substantial. The compilation of thorough
information about each firm — such as year of establishment, number of offices, office locations,
number of attorneys, and key practice areas — make the Salary Survey an invaluable addition to
every law library. The structure of the Salary Survey facilitates its use as a resource: the facts and
tables in each chapter are organized in a clear, accessible format so that readers have volumes of solid
information at their fingertips.
The primary purpose of the 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey is to serve as a bridge between law
firms and attorneys. Although an overwhelming amount of information about law firms is accessible
from the Internet and numerous other sources, finding trustworthy, accurate information about
law firms is a challenging task. Thus, attorneys and law students who seek to evaluate firms based
on critical hiring and salary information may be overwhelmed at the daunting task of finding and
sorting this information. The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey is an invaluable resource in that it is
a compilation of volumes of information in an easy-to-use format that spares readers the frustrating
and time-consuming process of exploring the market and gathering bits of statistical information
about top law firms.
The Salary Survey is designed to provide up-to-date information about recent changes to law firm
salaries, hiring practices, and key practice areas; thus, it allows attorneys and law students to use this
information in the evaluation of their own employment prospects. Here, their academic records,
work histories, and unique talents and abilities will all come into play. Salary Survey is one of the
most important guides any legal professional, who is serious about his career, can own. Over the last
two years, the survey has helped thousands of legal professionals in evaluating their employment
prospects in the U.S. legal marketplace.
v
The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
Identifying Trends xiii
Appendix I: First-Year Salaries Offered by Law Firms xiv
Appendix II: Salaries of Summer Associates in Law Firms xv
Appendix III: The Law Firm Size xvi
Appendix IV: Offices of the Law Firms xvii
Adams and Reese LLP 1
Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C. 6
Adler Murphy & McQuillen LLP 9
Akerman Senterfitt P.A. 11
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP 16
Allen & Overy 21
Allen, Matkins, Leck, Gamble, Mallory, &
Natsis LLP 23
Alston & Bird LLP 26
Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C. 30
Andrews Kurth LLP 33
Archer & Greiner P.C. 37
Arent Fox LLP 41
Armstrong Teasdale LLP 45
Arnall Golden Gregory LLP 50
Arnold & Porter LLP 53
Arnstein & Lehr LLP 58
Ashurst 62
Ater Wynne LLP 65
Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz 68
Baker & Daniels LLP 70
Baker & Hostetler LLP 74
Baker & McKenzie 79
Baker Botts LLP 83
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 86
Balch & Bingham LLP 91
Ball Janik LLP 95
Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP 98
Banner & Witcoff, Ltd. 103
Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP 106
Barley Snyder LLC 109
Barnes & Thornburg LLP 112
Baron and Budd, P.C. 117
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC 120
The Bayard Firm 123
Beirne, Maynard & Parsons LLP 125
Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLC 128
Bergmann and Moore, LLC 131
Berkes Crane Robinson & Seal LLP 133
Best & Flanagan LLP 135
Best Best & Krieger LLP 137
Bickel & Brewer 141
Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP 144
Bingham McCutchen LLP 147
Blake Cassels and Graydon LLP 151
Blank Rome LLP 154
Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP 159
Bollinger, Ruberry & Garvey 163
Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC 165
Bondurant, Mixson, & Elmore, LLP 170
Borton Petrini, LLP 173
Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry, PLC 176
Bowen & Lloyd, PLC 180
Bracewell & Guiliani LLP 182
Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP 186
Brault Palmer Grove White & Steinhilber LLP 190
Bricker & Eckler LLP 192
Briggs and Morgan, P.A. 196
Brinks, Hofer, Gilson & Lione 199
Broida and Associates, Ltd. 203
Bromberg & Sunstein LLP 205
Brown McCarroll LLP 208
Brown Rudnick Berlack Israels LLP 211
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck 215
Brunswick Group LLP 220
Buchalter Nemer 223
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC 225
Budd Larner, P.C. 231
Bullivant Houser Bailey PC 234
Burns & Levinson LLP 239
Burr & Forman LLP 243
Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada PLCC 247
Butzel Long 249
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
vi
The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
Bryan Cave LLP 254
Cades Schutte LLP 259
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP 262
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP 266
Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP 269
Cantey & Hanger 272
Carlsmith Ball LLP 275
Carlton Fields 278
Carr McClellan Ingersoll Thompson & Horn 283
Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, LLP 285
Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP 288
Cesari and McKenna LLP 291
Chadbourne & Parke LLP 293
Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Martin 297
Chapman and Cutler LLP 300
Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP 304
Christensen, Miller, Fink, Jacobs, Glaser, Weil &
Shapiro, LLP 307
Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP 309
Clark & Elbing LLP 313
Clark Hill PLC 315
Clark, Thomas & Winters 319
Clausen Miller P.C. 322
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP 326
Clifford Chance LLP 330
Clyde & Co 333
CMS Cameron McKenna
(CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre) 336
Cohen & Grigsby, P.C. 339
Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, P.A. 343
Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford LLP 346
Connell Foley LLP 348
Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP 351
Cooley Godward Kronish LLP 354
Cooley Manion Jones LLP 359
Corboy & Demetrio PC 361
Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP 363
Covington & Burling LLP 366
Cowles & Thompson 370
Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated 373
Cox Castle & Nicholson, LLP 376
Cozen O’Connor 379
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP 385
Crowe & Dunlevy 387
Crowell & Moring LLP 391
Cummings & Lockwood LLC 394
Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP 398
Davis & Harman LLP 402
Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP 404
Davis Polk & Wardwell 408
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP 411
Davis, Malm & D’Agostine PC 416
Day Pitney LLP 418
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP 422
Dechert LLP 425
Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP 430
Dickinson Wright PLLC 435
Dickstein Shapiro LLP 439
Dilworth Paxson LLP 442
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP 445
DLA Piper 450
Dorsey & Whitney LLP 457
Dow, Lohnes & Albertson, PLLC 462
Downey Brand LLP 466
Doyle Restrepo Harvin & Robbins, LLP 469
Dreier & Baritz LLP 471
Drew Eckl & Farnham, LLP 473
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP 475
Duane Morris LLP 479
Duncan & Allen 484
Dykema Gossett PLLC 486
Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC 490
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP 494
Emmet, Marvin & Martin LLP 499
Epstein Becker & Green P.C. 502
Faegre & Benson LLP 506
Farella Braun & Martel LLP 510
Farrell Fritz, P.C. 513
Fellers, Snider, Blankenship, Bailey & Tippens, P.C. 516
Fennemore Craig, P.C. 518
vii
The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
Fenwick & West LLP 522
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett &
Dunner LLP 526
Fish & Richardson P.C. 530
Fisher & Phillips LLP 534
Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto 539
Foley & Lardner LLP 542
Foley Hoag LLP 547
Folger Levin & Kahn LLP 550
Ford & Harrison LLP 553
Foster Pepper PLLC 558
Fowler White Boggs Banker P.A. 562
Fox Rothschild LLP 566
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. 572
Freeborn & Peters LLP 575
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 577
Frey Petrakis Deeb Blum & Briggs 580
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP 582
Frost Brown Todd LLC 585
Fulbright & Jaworski LLP 591
Fulwider Patton LLP 596
Gallagher & Kennedy, P.A. 598
Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP 602
Garvey, Schubert & Barer 606
Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger, &
Vecchione, P.C. 610
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP 614
Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla 618
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. 620
Godwin Pappas Ronquillo L.L.P 624
Goldberg Kohn 627
Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel LLP 630
Goodwin Procter LLP 633
Gordon & Rees LLP 636
Gordon, Feinblatt, Rothman, Hoffberger &
Hollander, LLC 641
Gordon, Thomas, Honeywell, Malanca, Peterson &
Daheim L.L.P 644
Goulston & Storrs, PC 647
Graham & Dunn 650
Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody 652
Gray, Plant, Mooty, Mooty & Bennett, P.A. 654
Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP 658
Greenberg Glusker 660
Greenberg Traurig, LLP 663
Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC 671
Gunderson Dettmer 674
Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A. 677
Hall & Evans LLC 680
Hall, Booth, Smith & Slover PC 682
Hancock & Estabrook, LLP 685
Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin 687
Hanson, Bridgett, Marcus, Vlahos & Rudy, LLP 690
Harris Beach PLLC 694
Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis LLP 699
Harry Gee, Jr. & Associates 701
Harter, Secrest & Emery LLP 703
Hartman & Craven LLP 707
Hawkins & Parnell LLP 709
Haynes and Boone, LLP 711
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P. A. 716
Heller Ehrman LLP 719
Helms Mulliss & Wicker, PLLC 724
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP 728
Hodgson Russ LLP 734
Hogan & Hartson LLP 738
Holland & Hart LLP 743
Holland & Knight LLP 749
Holme Roberts & Owen LLP 756
Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP 760
Hoover Slovacek LLP 763
Howard Rice Nemerovski Canady Falk & Rabkin 765
Howrey LLP 768
Hughes & Luce, LLP 772
Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP 776
Hunton & Williams LLP 780
Husch & Eppenberger, LLC 785
Ice Miller LLP 789
Irell & Manella LLP 793
Jackson Lewis 796
viii
The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
Jackson Walker LLP 802
Jacob, Medinger, & Finnegan LLP 806
Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro LLP 808
Jenner & Block LLP 811
Jones Day 815
Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere &
Denegre L.L.P. 821
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP 825
Kacal, Adams & Law PC 830
Karr Tuttle Campbell 832
Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP 835
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP 838
Kaye Scholer LLP 842
Keesal, Young & Logan, P.C. 847
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP 850
Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman, LLP 854
Kenyon & Kenyon LLP 858
Kilpatrick Stockton LLP 861
Kimble, MacMichael & Upton 865
King & Spalding LLP 867
Kirkland & Ellis LLP 871
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP 875
Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum P.C. 881
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, LLP 883
Kraft Palmer Davies, PLLC 887
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP 889
Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard 892
Kutak Rock LLP 895
Ladas & Parry LLP 900
Lahive & Cockfield LLP 902
Lane Powell PC 904
Latham & Watkins LLP 910
Lathrop & Gage L.C. 915
Law Offices of Wong, Wong & Associates, P.C. 920
Leahey & Johnson P.C. 922
LeClair Ryan 924
Leonard, Street and Deinard, P.A. 929
Lewis and Roca LLP 932
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP 936
Lewis, Rice, & Fingersh, L.C. 940
Leydig Voit & Mayer, LTD 943
Lindquist & Vennum PLLP 946
Linklaters 949
Lionel Sawyer & Collins 952
Locke, Liddell & Sapp LLP 956
Loeb & Loeb, LLP 960
Lord, Bissell & Brook LLP 963
Lovells 967
Lowenstein Sandler PC 970
Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps, LLP 974
Mager Law Group 978
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP 980
Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP 984
Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP 987
Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. 991
McAfee & Taft 995
McCarter & English, LLP 997
McDermott Will & Emery 1001
McDonough Holland & Allen PC 1006
McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore LLP 1009
McGlinchey Stafford PLLC 1012
McIntosh, Sawran, Peltz & Cartaya, P.A. 1015
McKee Nelson LLP 1017
McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP 1020
McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton 1024
McLeod, Alexander, Powel & Apffel, P.C. 1027
McNair Law Firm, P.A. 1029
McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC 1032
Mendes & Mount, LLP 1036
Merchant & Gould P.C. 1038
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP 1042
Middleton Reutlinger 1046
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP 1048
Milberg Weiss LLP 1051
Miles & Stockbridge P.C. 1053
Miller & Chevalier Chartered 1057
Miller & Martin PLLC 1060
Miller Johnson Snell & Cummiskey, PLC 1064
Miller Nash LLP 1067
Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C. 1071
ix
The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo P.C. 1076
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP 1080
Mitchell Warner Law Offices, P.A. 1083
Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP 1085
Moore & Van Allen PLLC 1089
Morgan & Finnegan, LLP 1092
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP 1095
Morris James LLP 1102
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP 1105
Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP 1107
Morrison & Foerster LLP 1112
Morrison, Mahoney & Miller LLP 1117
Moses & Singer LLP 1120
Mound Cotton Wollan & Greengrass 1123
Much, Shelist, Freed, Denenberg, Ament, Bell &
Rubenstein PC 1126
Munger, Tolles, & Olson LLP 1128
Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. 1131
Murphy Wasinger, LC 1134
Murtha Cullina LLP 1136
Musick Peeler & Garrett LLP 1140
Neal, Gerber, & Eisenberg LLP 1143
Needle & Rosenberg 1146
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP 1150
Nexsen Pruet Adams Kleemeier, LLC 1156
Nissenbaum & Associates, LLC 1160
Nixon Peabody LLP 1162
Norris, Mclaughlin & Marcus P.A. 1168
Nutter, McClennen & Fish LLP 1171
Ober|Kaler 1175
O’Melveny & Myers LLP 1178
Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP 1182
The O’Quinn Law Firm 1185
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP 1187
Osborne Clarke 1191
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP 1194
Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler LLP 1198
Pattishall, McAuliffe, Newbury, Hilliard &
Geraldson LLP 1201
Patton Boggs LLP 1203
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP 1207
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP 1213
Paule, Camazine &
Blumenthal Professional Corporation 1216
Peabody & Arnold LLP 1218
Pedersen & Houpt 1220
Pepper Hamilton LLP 1222
Perkins Coie LLP 1228
Phelps Dunbar LLP 1233
Phillips Lytle LLP 1238
Pierce Atwood LLP 1242
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP 1246
Pircher, Nichols, & Meeks 1251
Plunkett & Cooney, P.C. 1253
Polsinelli, Shalton, Welte & Suelthaus, PC 1257
Porter & Hedges, LLP 1261
Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP 1264
Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C. 1268
Post & Schell, P.C. 1272
Posternak, Blankstein & Lund LLP 1275
Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP 1277
Powell Goldstein LLP 1280
Proskauer Rose LLP 1284
Pullman & Comley, LLC 1288
Quarles & Brady LLP 1292
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges, LLP 1296
Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster 1300
Rader, Fishman, & Grauer PLLC 1303
Reed Smith 1305
Reid and Riege, P.C. 1310
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C. 1312
Rivkin Radler LLP 1315
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP 1317
Robinson & Cole LLP 1322
Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson 1325
Roetzel & Andress 1328
Ropers Majeski Kohn & Bentley PC 1333
Ropes & Gray LLP 1337
Rose Law Firm, a Professional Association 1340
Ross, Dixon and Bell, LLP 1342
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The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons LLP 1346
Rubin and Rudman LLP 1351
Ruden McCloskey Smith Schuster Russell, PA 1353
Rutan & Tucker LLP 1357
Salans 1360
Saul Ewing LLP 1363
Schiff Hardin LLP 1368
Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP 1373
Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP 1378
Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, P.C. 1381
Schwartz Cooper Chartered 1385
Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold LLP 1388
Seeger Weiss LLP 1393
Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek 1395
Severson & Werson, a Professional Corporation 1398
Seward & Kissel LLP 1401
Seyfarth Shaw LLP 1404
Shartsis Friese LLP 1408
Shearman & Sterling LLP 1410
Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green, PA 1414
Shefsky & Froelich 1417
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP 1420
Sherin and Lodgen LLP 1424
Sherman & Howard L.L.C. 1426
Shipman & Goodwin LLP 1430
Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. 1434
Shulman Rogers Gandal Pordy & Ecker, P. A. 1438
Sidley Austin LLP 1441
Sills Cummis Epstein & Gross P.C. 1444
Simmons & Simmons 1448
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP 1450
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom 1453
Smith Anderson Blount Dorsett Mitchell
Jernigan LLP 1457
Smith Gambrell & Russell, LLP 1460
Smith Moore LLP 1463
Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP 1466
Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. 1468
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP 1473
Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP 1478
Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff &
Sitterson, P.A. 1484
Steptoe & Johnson LLP 1487
Stern & Montana, LLP 1491
Stevens & Lee P.C. 1493
Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP 1498
Stirba & Associates 1504
Stites & Harbison, PLLC 1506
Stoel Rives LLP 1510
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP 1516
Strasburger & Price, L.L.P. 1520
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP 1524
Sughrue Mion, PLLC 1528
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP 1531
Sullivan & Worcester LLP 1535
Susman Godfrey LLP 1538
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP 1541
Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP 1546
Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP 1549
Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP 1553
Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP 1557
Thompson & Knight LLP 1561
Thompson Coburn LLP 1565
Thompson Hine LLP 1569
Thorp Reed & Armstrong, LLP 1573
Tonkon Torp LLP 1576
Torys LLP 1579
Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP 1582
Troutman Sanders LLP 1585
Tydings & Rosenberg LLP 1590
Tyler Cooper & Alcorn, LLP 1593
Ulmer & Berne LLP 1597
Ungaretti & Harris 1600
Ungarino & Eckert, LLC 1603
Venable LLP 1606
Vinson & Elkins LLP 1609
Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease LLP 1613
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz 1617
Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis LLP 1620
Warner Norcross & Judd LLP 1624
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The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A. 1628
Watson Farley & Williams LLP 1631
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP 1633
Welsh & Katz, Ltd. 1637
Weston Benshoof Rochefort Rubalcava Maccuish LLP 1639
White & Case LLP 1642
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston L.L.P. 1646
Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. 1649
Wiggin & Dana 1652
Wildman Harrold 1656
Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. 1658
Wiley Rein LLP 1662
Williams & Connolly LLP 1666
Williams Mullen 1669
Williams, Kastner & Gibbs PLLC 1674
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP 1678
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP 1681
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati 1686
Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker LLP 1690
Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C. 1696
Winston & Strawn LLP 1700
Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A. 1704
Withers Bergman LLP (Withers LLP) 1707
Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP 1710
Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C. 1714
Wolff & Samson PC 1717
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC 1720
Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP 1726
Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP 1730
Firms Merged
Alschuler Grossman Stein & Kahan LLP 1733
Beckley Singleton 1733
Blackwell Sanders LLP 1733
Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner, LLP 1733
Day, Berry & Howard LLP 1733
Dewey Ballantine LLP 1733
Gardner, Carton & Douglas 1734
LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae LLP 1734
Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman &
Robbins LLP 1734
Preston Gates & Ellis LLP 1734
Sachnoff & Weaver, Ltd 1734
xiii
I D E N T I F Y I N G T R E N D S
The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey provides data about compensation, hiring, and key
practice areas of the top 500+ national and regional U.S. law firms. Taken as a whole, this
information reveals trends that exist across the continuum of law firms that all members of the legal
community — experienced attorneys, junior associates, and matriculating law students — may use
to make career moves or simply to better understand the legal community.
One piece of information that is of interest to all attorneys is a breakdown of current salary trends.
The salary structure of law firms is generally defined by basic parameters such as firm size and
location, salary, and supplemental compensation for lawyers and summer associates. Average starting
salaries for associates in the U. S. has increased if we compare with first-year salaries of 2006.
According to our research, in 2006, approximately 0.4% of the law firms surveyed offered first-year
salaries in the range of $150,000 to $175,000. But in 2007, the percentage of the firms offering
salaries in this range increased to 26.84%. On average, 48% of the surveyed firms offered starting
salaries approximately in the range of $135,000 to $175,000.
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The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
Appendix I: First-Year Salaries Offered by Law Firms
Fig. 1: Comparison of number of firms offering first-year salaries (in different ranges)
during 2006 and 2007
Table 1: Data showing the salaries offered to first-year associates by all law firms’ offices
covered in the 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey.
Sr. No. Salary Offered in First Year
(in $)
No. Firms % Firms
1 Less than 75,000 9 1.27
2 75,000–89,999 29 4.09
3 90,000–104,999 91 12.85
4 105,000–119,999 105 14.83
5 120,000–134,999 132 18.64
6 135,000–149,999 152 21.47
7 150,000–175,000 190 26.84
Total 708
Illustrative Example: 190 law firms pay first-year associates a salary in the range of $150,000 to $175,000.
Generally, firms prefer to hire attorneys through their summer associate programs. Several law firms
pay their summer associates almost as much as their permanent attorneys. About 50% of summer
associates are paid between $2,400 and $3,100 per week. For the sake of comparison, if we convert
the salary of attorneys to per-week income, we see that about 37% do not draw more than $2,400
per week; meaning that their salary per annum is less than $120,000. The 2007 survey shows that
about 1.5% of the firms surveyed pay their associates below $1,200 a week. We can compare this
with the 2006 survey, where less than 1% of the firms surveyed were paying below $1,200.
F irs t Y e a r Sa la r ie s O ffe re d b y La w F irm s
05 0
1 0 01 5 02 0 02 5 0
Less
than
75,00
0
90,00
0 –10
4,999
120,0
00 –13
4,999
150,
000
– 174
,99
9
S a la ry offe re d in the firs t ye a r (in $ )
No. o
f Firm
s
2 0 0 62 0 0 7
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The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
Appendix II: Salaries of Summer Associates in Law Firms
Fig. 2: Comparison of number of firms offering salaries to summer associates (in different
ranges) during 2006 and 2007
Table 2: Data showing the salaries offered to summer associates.
Sr. No. Salary Offered per Week
(in $)
No. Firms % Firms
1 less than 1,200 10 1.5
2 1,200–1,599 73 10.8
3 1,600–1,999 121 17.9
4 2,000–2,399 132 19.5
5 2,400–2,799 174 25.7
6 2,800–3,100 165 24.4
7 more than 3,100 2 0.3
Total 677
Illustrative Example: 174 top law firms pay their summer associates salaries in the range of $2,400 to $2,799 per week.
Aspiring attorneys are always eager to learn about the important parameters of a large law
firm. Is it the size, the number of offices, or the geographical location of a firm’s office that
matters most?
S alaries o f S u m m er Asso c ia tes in law firm s
050
100150
200250
300
< 1,200 1,200 –1,599
1,600 –1,999
2,000 –2,399
2,400 –2,799
2,800 -3,100
> 3,100
S a la ry o ffe re d / w e e k (in $)
No. o
f Firm
Offi
ces
20062007
xvi
The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
Appendix III: The Law Firm Size
Table 3: Data showing the number of attorneys employed by the top law firms
Sr. No. No. Attorneys Employed No. Firms % Firms
2006 2007 2006 2007
1 1–99 146 135 28.6 27.2
2 100–199 140 133 27.5 26.8
3 200–499 129 131 25.3 26.4
4 500–999 61 60 12 12.1
5 1000–1999 24 27 4.7 5.4
6 More than 2000 10 10 2 2.1
Total 510 496
Illustrative example: 135 firms (27.2%) of the total law firms surveyed employ less than 100 lawyers in all their offices.
Of the top law firms, only a few have more than 20 locations (i.e., Baker & McKenzie, Jones
Day, and DLA Piper). Nearly half of the total firms surveyed (47.5%) have fewer than four
locations. About 95 % of the firms surveyed have fewer than 20 offices.
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The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
Appendix IV: Offices of the Law Firms
Table 4: Data showing the number of offices set up by the law firms.
Sr. No. No. Offices per Firm No. Firms % Firms
2006 2007 2006 2007
1 1–4 251 233 48.7 47.5
2 5–9 151 141 29.3 28.7
3 10–14 57 62 11.1 12.6
4 15–19 30 28 5.8 5.7
5 20–49 22 24 4.3 4.9
6 More than 50 4 3 0.8 0.6
Total 515 491
The trends presented in this survey of the selected firms are based on the data collected
from NALP, Martindale, and the websites of the respective law firms.
Reference:The 2007 Judged Salary Survey. Compiled by Judged. Las Vegas: Judged, 2007
1
Main Office1, 2
Adams and Reese LLP
One Shell Square
701 Poydras Street, Suite 4500
New Orleans, LA 70139
Mrs. Kristen Koppel
(Legal Recruiting Manager)
Facts3
Year of Establishment 1951
Number of Offices 10
Number of Attorneys 300+
About the Firm4, 5
Adams and Reese is a diverse law firm with more than 300 attorneys in offices throughout the South
Central United States. The firm not only provides services in the legal arena, but also represents
clients in litigation and transactional matters and general client counseling. The clients of the
firm range from S corporations to regional businesses to Fortune 100 organizations. The firm has
developed HUGS -- a volunteer program called Hope, Understanding, Giving, and Support -- and
encourages pro bono services with programs such as CA&RE (Caring Adams & Reese Employees)
as part of its commitment toward the community. The firm offers a comfortable and friendly work
atmosphere and hires diverse and well-qualified professionals.
Hiring Criteria6
All applicants have to fulfill certain conditions, which include being among, preferably, the top 25%
of their classes and having experiences in moot court, law review, and/or judicial clerkship.
Attorney Recruiting
The firm hires first-year associates from its summer associate program. Third-year law students who have
not undergone training in clerkship for the firm cannot apply for the position of first-year associate.
Summer Associate Program
Only second-year law students with excellent academic records are hired by the firm to participate
in its summer associate program. Its Washington, DC, office does not run a summer program. Its
504-581-3234 504-566-0210
http://www.adamsandreese.com
Website
Phone FaxMain Contact
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The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
Birmingham office hires second-year law students as well as a few outstanding students who have
completed only their first year of law school.
Salary7
Firm
location
1st
Year
2nd
Year
3rd
Year
4th
Year
5th
Year
6th
Year
7th
Year
8th
Year
Summer
Associate
Mobile, AL (2007) $85,000 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $1,100/week
New Orleans, Jackson,
Baton Rouge, LA (2007)$90,000 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $1,250/week
Memphis, TN (2007) $90,000 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $1,450/week
Birmingham, AL (2007) $95,000 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $1,250/week
Nashville, TN (2007) $100,000 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $1,450/week
Houston, TX (2007) $120,000 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $2,000/week
Benefits/Package/Supplemental Compensation8
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Life & AD&D Insurance
Disability Insurance
Workman’s Compensation
401(k)
Employee-Assistance Program
Wellness Program
Flexible Benefit Plan
Pre-Tax Deduction For Transportation/Parking-Reimbursement For Qualifying Expenses
Parental/Sick Leave
Technology (Laptop, PDA etc.)
CLE
Business-Casual Dress Code
Areas of Practice9
I. Litigation Practice Group
Business Litigation
Tort Litigation
Energy & Environmental Litigation
Specialty Litigation
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The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
II. Special Business Services Practice Group
Energy & Environmental
Entertainment & New Media
ERISA & Employee Benefits
Governmental Relations
Healthcare
Intellectual Property & Technology
Labor & Employment
III. Transactions and Corporate Advisory Services Practice Group
Banking & Finance
Commercial Restructuring & Bankruptcy
Corporate/Securities/Mergers & Acquisitions
Economic Development
Forestry
Public Finance
Real Estate
Tax
Other Offices10, 11
Firm Location Address
Baton Rouge 450 Laurel Street, Suite 1900
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
Phone: 225-336-5200
Fax: 225-336-5220
Birmingham Concord Center
2100 Third Avenue North, Suite 1100
Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: 205-250-5000
Fax: 205-250-5034
Houston One Houston Center
1221 McKinney Street, Suite 4400
Houston, TX 77010
Phone: 713-652-5151
Fax: 713-652-5152
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The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
Jackson 111 East Capitol Street, Suite 350
Jackson, MS 39201
Phone: 601-353-3234
Fax: 601-355-9708
Memphis Brinkley Plaza
80 Monroe Avenue, Suite 700
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: 901-525-3234
Fax: 901-524-5419
Mobile RSA Battle House Tower
11 North Water Street, Suite 23200
Mobile, AL 36602
Phone: 251-433-3234
Fax: 251-438-7733
Nashville Fifth Third Center
424 Church Street, Suite 2800
Nashville, TN 37219
Phone: 615-259-1450
Fax: 615-259-1470
Nashville/Music Row 901 18th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-341-0068
Fax: 615-341-0596
Washington, DC Market Square North
401 9th Street NW, Suite 610 South
Washington, DC 20004
Phone: 202-737-3234
Fax: 202-737-0264
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The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
Referenceshttp://www.nalpdirectory.com/dledir_search_results.asp?fscid=f325101&yr=2007&orgtypeid=F
http://www.adamsandreese.com/about_the_firm/about.html
http://www.adamsandreese.com/about_the_firm/about.html
http://www.adamsandreese.com/about_the_firm/community_service.html
http://www.adamsandreese.com/about_the_firm/overview.html
http://www.nalpdirectory.com/dledir_search_results.asp?fscid=f325101&yr=2007&orgtypeid=F
http://www.adamsandreese.com/careers/students.html
http://www.nalpdirectory.com/dledir_search_results.asp
http://www.nalpdirectory.com/dledir_search_results.asp?fscid=f325101&yr=2007&orgtypeid=F
http://www.adamsandreese.com/practice_areas/full_listing.html
http://www.adamsandreese.com/contact_us/overview.html
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
6
Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C.
Main Office1, 2
One Citizens Plaza, 8th Floor
Providence, RI 02903-1345
Website
http://www.apslaw.com
Main Contact
N/A
Phone
401-274-7200
Fax
401-751-0604
Facts3, 4
Year of Establishment 1960
Number of Offices 3
Number of Attorneys 67
About the Firm5, 6
Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C., is a medium-sized firm offering specialization in various practice areas
for a diverse clientele. The mainstay is civil and criminal trial work. The firm’s talented attorneys
offer services in 25 practice areas to clients that include Fortune 100 and 500 corporations, public
and private businesses of all sizes, and NGOs. Well-known among the defense bar, the firm offers
consistent mentoring and training programs in a fast-paced environment. The firm has a tradition of
hiring laterals who have trained at other firms. It has offices in several other New England locations.
Hiring Criteria7, 8
Attorney Recruiting
Practicing attorneys with strong credentials are recruited by the firm.
Summer Associate Program
The firm seeks applications from second-year law students with good academic credentials.
Salary
N/A
Benefits/Package/Supplemental Compensation
N/A
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The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
Areas of Practice9
Administrative LawAlternative Dispute ResolutionAppellateBankruptcy LawBusiness & Corporate LawCommercial FinanceConstruction LawCriminal Law/White-Collar DefenseEnergy & TelecommunicationsEnvironmental LawFinancial & Estate PlanningGovernmental & LegislativeHealthcareHigher EducationInsuranceIntellectual PropertyLabor & EmploymentLitigationMergers & AcquisitionsProducts Liability Law/Toxic Tort LawPublic FinanceReal EstateSecurities LawTax LawTechnology Law
Venture Capital
Industries10
BiotechnologyChemicalsConstructionElectronicsEnergyFiber OpticsFinancial ServicesGamingGovernmental EntitiesHealthcareHigher EducationHospitalityIndustrial Ceramics
••••••••••••••••••••••••••
•••••••••••••
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The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
InsuranceJewelryMedical DevicesMotion Pictures & TelevisionPharmaceuticalsPlasticsPrecious MetalsPublic SectorReal EstateRetailSports & EntertainmentTelecommunicationsTextilesUtilities & Energy
Wire & Cable
Other Offices11
Firm Location Address
Boston 175 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110-2210
Phone: 617-482-0600
Fax: 617-482-0604
New Hampshire PO Box 536
Bristol, NH 03222-0536
Phone: 603-744-1021
Fax: 603-744-2799
Referenceshttp://www.apslaw.com/recruit.cfm?view=1
http://www.martindale.com/Adler-Pollock-Sheehan-PC/law-firm-540820.htm
http://www.apslaw.com/firm.cfm
http://www.apslaw.com/
http://www.apslaw.com/firm.cfm
http://www.apslaw.com/pdf/brochure.pdf
http://www.apslaw.com/firm.cfm
http://www.apslaw.com/recruit.cfm?view=1
http://www.apslaw.com/groups.cfm
http://www.apslaw.com/industries.cfm
http://www.apslaw.com/index.cfm
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1733
Firms Merged
Alschuler Grossman Stein & Kahan LLP
This firm joined with Bingham McCutchen LLP in 2007. For details please refer to Bingham
McCutchen LLP.
Beckley Singleton
Beckley Singleton, one of the oldest law firms in the State, has combined with Lewis and Roca,
LLP. As of September 1, 2007, the combined entity is doing business in Nevada under the
name of Lewis and Roca, LLP. Please see Lewis and Roca for information.
Blackwell Sanders LLP
Blackwell Sanders LLP completed its merger with Husch & Eppenberger, LLC on 3rd January
2008. The official new name of the law firm is Husch Blackwell Sanders, LLP. For details,
please refer to Husch Blackwell Sanders, LLP.
Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner, LLP
In 2006, technology and real estate–finance law specialist Brown Raysman Millstein Felder &
Steiner, LLP merged with construction, energy, and project-finance law experts Thelen Reid &
Priest, LLP. The new firm is now known as Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner, LLP. For
details please refer to Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner, LLP.
Day, Berry & Howard LLP
On January 1, 2007, the merger of Day, Berry & Howard LLP and Pitney Hardin LLP became
effective, creating Day Pitney LLP, a firm of approximately 400 attorneys operating in nine
offices located in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Boston, and Washington, DC. For details
please refer to Day Pitney LLP.
Dewey Ballantine LLP
Dewey & Ballantine LLP combined with LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae LLP in 2007. The
two firms started operating as Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP (“Dewey & LeBoeuf ”) effective October
1, 2007. For details please refer to Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP.
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The 2008 LawCrossing Salary Survey
Gardner, Carton & Douglas
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP and Gardner Carton & Douglas LLP merged in November, 2006,
and the combined firm is now known as Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. For details please refer to
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP.
LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae LLP
LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae LLP combined with Dewey & Ballentine LLP in 2007. The
two firms started operating as Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP (“Dewey & LeBoeuf ”) effective October
1, 2007. For details please refer to Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP.
Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP
The firm has changed its name from Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP to
Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP (“Coughlin Stoia”). For details please refer to
Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP.
Preston Gates & Ellis LLP
Preston Gates & Ellis LLP merged with Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP
(K&LNG) effective January 1, 2007. The combined entity is now called Kirkpatrick &
Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP, and the firm is branded as “K&L Gates.” For details on K&L
Gates, please refer to Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis, LLP.
Sachnoff & Weaver, Ltd
Sachnoff & Weaver Ltd., a leading Chicago law firm, and Reed Smith LLP, a Top-20
international law firm, have merged effective March 1, 2007. Now Sachnoff & Weaver Ltd. is
known as Reed Smith. For details please refer to Reed Smith.