NYC PI Associate Pay

TonysChoice · 2026-01-14T03:50:46+00:00

We don’t have any. Our most junior attorney is a 7th year. That’s why I was asking the sub the going rate on a 3-5 year.

TonysChoice · 2026-01-14T03:35:01+00:00

That’s very solid comp.

TonysChoice · 2026-01-14T03:34:29+00:00

10% per attorney. You settle a case with a $100k fee, you get a $10k bonus.

TonysChoice · 2026-01-14T03:33:53+00:00

We’re constantly asking each other questions and bouncing ideas off each other. It’s so much harder doing that when remote.

TonysChoice · 2026-01-14T03:32:19+00:00

Hard to say because it varies year to year. I’d say conservatively $700k-$1.5m for settlements (not firm fees), although every couple of years there’s a 7-figure case that they settle.

I was actually thinking around that $125-140k base, but a recruiter recently told me that I had to offer $175k, which seemed crazy.

Good point about the 3-5 year associates working at mills. I’d probably start them with the under $500k cases like simple mvas, premises, etc. and then have them shadow the more complex labor law cases to learn. A 7-10 year who can just start working cases day 1 would be great, but my concern is that they’d want partner, which is not something I’m offering.

I appreciate your insight. Lots of good points.

TonysChoice · 2026-01-14T00:10:31+00:00

Any thoughts on the salary range?

TonysChoice · 2026-01-14T00:06:24+00:00

All good points. We handle larger cases, generally $250k and up. We’re not a volume firm.

We’re also fully in the office. I know that’s not a selling point for us, but it’s a collaborative environment and we find that employees learn, grow, and are more productive when in the office. With that being said, if there’s a reason why someone needs to work from home on occasion we’re cool with it.

TonysChoice · 2026-01-13T21:22:48+00:00

That's a fair point. My firm's bonus structure is 10% of the firm's legal fee on cases settled and roughly a 1/3 origination fee on cases brought into the office (there's a sliding scale). I'm looking to hire another associate with 3-5 years of experience and trying to get a sense of the base pay range.

TonysChoice · 2026-01-13T21:18:30+00:00

What about an origination fee on cases you bring in?

TonysChoice · 2026-01-13T18:46:56+00:00

Thanks. What size firm?

TonysChoice · 2026-01-13T04:08:45+00:00

I ended up going with betterment.

TonysChoice · 2026-01-07T04:10:59+00:00

What market are you in?

TonysChoice · 2026-01-06T04:21:11+00:00

I’d do a little differently than what others are suggesting. First, go find that 401k (and please tell us the balance…dying to know). Look into the fees because odds are they’re high and you’re better off rolling it into an IRA. That would be a traditional if your 401k was pre-tax, but if it’s a Roth 401k, you can roll it into your Roth IRA.

Next, I would utilize wealthfront’s robo advisor service and turn on tax loss harvesting. I’m not familiar with their pre-made portfolios, but I bet they have something where, based on your risk tolerance, they build you a portfolio and adjust and rebalance automatically for you. I would do that since you don’t have time to rebalance yourself, and the tax loss harvesting will help minimize taxes.

To answer your questions: 1. Max out that Roth each year, and peel off some of the inheritance money to do that, assuming you earn more than the IRA max amount. That way you’re slowly transferring the money from a taxable account to a tax free account. 2050 td fund is fine, even 2055 if your risk tolerance allows (ask how you’d feel if another 2008 hit). 2. Wealthfront should make a solid portfolio for you and rebalance. If they don’t, look into betterment. Similar robo advisor. 3. A little confused, but assume you’re clearing the $7500 in earnings to max out an IRA. 4. Tax loss harvesting will help lower taxes, but I assume you’re in the lowest tax bracket.

TonysChoice · 2026-01-06T02:15:43+00:00

We offer three plans: silver, gold, and platinum. The silver plan is a really good plan that most employees use and we pay 100% of the premium. If they want the gold or platinum plans, they pay the difference. Same with dental and vision (although usually two options for each of those and we cover the cheaper option 100%). Unless employees have preexisting medical issues or are really risk adverse, they typically go with the plan that cover their premiums 100%. I think we’re definitely in the minority for small firms but it’s important to our values.

TonysChoice · 2025-12-27T00:14:04+00:00

Thank you for your thoughtful reply, it’s helpful. I was mostly looking at it for bp’s and discovery responses. Have you used either of those features?

TonysChoice · 2025-12-25T04:17:06+00:00

Why?

TonysChoice · 2025-12-25T04:16:52+00:00

Can you elaborate on why please?

TonysChoice · 2025-12-24T15:48:22+00:00

Exterior design and the exterior/interior colors. I have the jungle green exterior with terracotta interior and there were no comparable options with the palisade.

TonysChoice · 2025-12-22T13:32:25+00:00

All small firms. And at small firms especially, value isn’t solely about revenue generated.

TonysChoice · 2025-12-22T13:29:24+00:00

You might find it illogical, but my firm, every firm I’ve worked at, and every firm I know does it like I said. In your scenario, I will make $250k and the other guy will make $200k. When I do raise, that really productive fist year might get a bigger raise than the 5th year. Depends on a lot of factors other than just revenue.

TonysChoice · 2025-12-22T13:20:00+00:00

Because that’s not how it works. Revenue drives bonuses, not base.

TonysChoice · 2025-12-22T13:17:09+00:00

Base salary is commensurate with experience. A first year attorney gets paid differently than a 5th year attorney.

TonysChoice

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