Nationwide Pay Raise Watch: Phoenix

Today our tour of non-mega-markets swings through the American Southwest. Say hello to Phoenix!
This article is a bit dated, but still informative and generally accurate. From the Business Journal:

Phoenix-area law firms face a major hurdle in recruiting top legal talent: They do not offer starting salaries as high as those found in California, on the East Coast, or in other established commercial centers.

That’s making it tough for Phoenix firms to recruit top professionals to support the Valley’s growth. An entry-level attorney for a top Phoenix law firm is earning an average of $110,000 a year….

That figure trails entry-level pay in traditional legal metros such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington and Chicago.

Additional discussion, plus a collection of data points assembled by a helpful tipster, after the jump.


From a well-informed and diligent Phoenix source:

Not sure how things will change with DLA, Sonnenschein and Ballard Spahr moving to PHX within the last year. The PHX market has long been dominated by local firms: Snell & Wilmer, Fennemore Craig, Lewis & Roca, Gallagher & Kennedy.

Current starting salaries at Phoenix law firms:

Ballard Spahr $123,000 (effective July 1, 2007, per their web site)

Bryan Cave $120,000 (NALP)

Greenberg $125,000 (rumor)

Quarles Brady $115,000 (NALP)

Perkins Coie $115,000 (NALP)

Sonnenschein $120,000 (NALP, not clear how its recent move will affect PHX)

Squire Sanders $130,000 (effective Sept. 1, 2007)

DLA $135,000 (rumor; insignificant presence in PHX market)

Snell & Wilmer $125,000 (effective Sept. 1, 2007)

Fennemore Craig $110,000 (crickets chirping on any move)

Lewis & Roca $110,000 (NALP, crickets also chirping)

Some national firms above have not moved in other markets (Cal.). We’ll see how it affects PHX when they do move.

We thank our tipster for the great legwork — and ask you to add your two cents in the comments. Thanks.
Salary gap puts Phoenix law firms behind rivals [Business Journal of Phoenix]
Related: Open threads focused on Denver, Hartford, Philadelphia, Seattle, New Jersey, Atlanta.

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