First-Year Attorney Salaries Average $131,313 Annually
New lawyers at plaintiffs firms should note that starting pay varies significantly depending on the size of the firm.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Employment
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The National Plaintiffs' Law Association reports that first-year attorneys at plaintiffs law firms earn an average annual salary of $131,313. This compensation data, drawn from a survey conducted in late 2024 and early 2025, highlights significant pay variations based on firm size.
Why it matters
Understanding these baseline figures helps new legal professionals gauge market standards for entry-level compensation and bonus structures. Because firm size heavily influences starting pay, this data provides a benchmark for evaluating job offers and career trajectories in the plaintiff-side sector.
First-year attorneys at plaintiff-side firms earn an average of $131,313 annually, with average bonuses reaching $21,195. Pay varies significantly by firm size, ranging from $106,111 at smaller practices to $160,857 at firms with more than 100 attorneys.
The players
National Plaintiffs' Law Association
An industry organization that represents the interests of attorneys and firms specializing in plaintiff-side litigation.
The details
Compensation in the plaintiffs bar remains varied, as nearly half of firms utilize a structured or lockstep pay policy, while 21.5% have no formal raise structure in place. The data shows a notable pay gap between smaller firms and large organizations. Furthermore, the typical bonus structure is inconsistent, with a $21,195 average and a $15,000 median, suggesting that supplemental pay can be highly variable depending on individual firm policy.
Timeline
The survey of plaintiff-side attorneys was conducted between late 2024 and early 2025.
Money Landscape
This data update provides a necessary snapshot of current legal market compensation in an era of growing pay transparency. It sits within a competitive employment environment where firm size serves as a primary driver of the base salary floor for incoming legal talent.
New attorneys should review these benchmarks when evaluating offers to understand how firm size impacts their base salary and potential bonus range. Discussing these industry-wide averages with a career counselor or financial professional can help you better negotiate your total compensation package.
The takeaway
Entry-level compensation in the plaintiffs bar is heavily dependent on firm size, with larger firms currently offering a significant salary premium. Review your offer letter carefully to clarify whether your firm follows a lockstep, merit-based, or discretionary raise structure.
Further reading
For broader trends on workforce compensation, see Employment.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ABA Journal - Law News Now.
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