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Topic: Should I stay @ PTO? (Read 2598 times) |
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somerandomguy
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I need to get a real grip on what I may make after graduating from LS.
Currently, I work @ the PTO and they are paying for school. I have BSEE degree
I'm under the impression that I'll make between $120-150K out of school as a patent attny.
But, how much am I going to have to work for that? In a year or so, I'll be a primary examiner and make $100K, get 4 weeks vacation, 3 weeks sick time, and a VERY laid back work env. I could work at home completely, work at home part of the time, or even just do OT at home. The PTO offers that I can work up to 50 hours paid OT every two weeks. So, I could bump my salary to $120K really easy with a little more work. I'd be looking @ consistent and steady, albeit small (3-5%/yr) raises.
So, in other peps opinions, how much more am I going to work to be an attny? What will my pay look like in 5 years?
Ideas?
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Isaac
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Posts: 3472
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Re: Should I stay @ PTO?
« Reply #1 on: Oct 27th, 2006, 9:48am » |
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on Oct 27th, 2006, 9:05am, somerandomguy wrote:| I'm under the impression that I'll make between $120-150K out of school as a patent attny. |
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If you land the job with the starting salary you postulate, you might expect to earn 180k as base salary as a fifth year associate with the potential for bonuses. The hours won't be as cushy as for a primary examiner who has no problem making production and you probably won't be working from home other than occasionally.
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Isaac
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SoCalAttny
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Re: Should I stay @ PTO?
« Reply #2 on: Oct 27th, 2006, 10:01am » |
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At a firm you serve at the pleasure of the partners. When I asked for advice upon starting I was told, "F*** up and you're gone". Gee, thanks. PTO is most likely a little more tolerant. Money sure is nice, but it is not given away for free.
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ViperTX
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Posts: 3
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Re: Should I stay @ PTO?
« Reply #3 on: Dec 17th, 2006, 5:05pm » |
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I'm not an attorney, but it seems to me that an associate at any law firm would earn less $150K....unless they are bringing some large clients with them.
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| « Last Edit: Dec 17th, 2006, 5:06pm by ViperTX » |
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Isaac
Senior Member
Posts: 3472
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Re: Should I stay @ PTO?
« Reply #4 on: Dec 18th, 2006, 6:00am » |
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on Dec 17th, 2006, 5:05pm, ViperTX wrote:| I'm not an attorney, but it seems to me that an associate at any law firm would earn less $150K....unless they are bringing some large clients with them. |
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The starting salary for a brand new associate at large NY firms is $145k not including bonus. Large DC firms pay about 10k less. Very few of my law school classmates landed those kinds of gigs.
Smaller firms pay salaries somewhere between 70-80k and what the big firms pay. Working hours vary, but nobody appears to be giving away money IMO.
Again, money isn't everything, as SoCalAtty suggests. I've talked to a couple of 1st year attorneys who are ex-examiners who wonder if they made the right choice.
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Isaac
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