🔍 1999 NYC Lawyer Salary Breakdown by Chat GPT

Liane Wilson Licensed New York Bar 1999

1. Big Law Associates (Entry-Level)

  • Hourly Billing Rate: $150–$250
  • Billable Hours: ~2,000/year
  • Salary: $95,000–$125,000/year
  • Bonus: ~$10,000–$20,000

By 2000, NYC firms were raising starting salaries to $125,000, setting national trends.

2. Big Law Partners

  • Hourly Billing Rate: $300–$600
  • Annual Compensation: $300,000 to $1M+

Income varied based on equity status, client origination, and specialty.

3. Solo or Small Firm Attorneys

  • Hourly Rate: $100–$250
  • Estimated Salary (Net): $60,000–$150,000/year

Income varied widely by client base, location, and overhead costs.

4. Government & Public Interest Lawyers

  • Annual Salary: $35,000–$60,000/year

Includes Assistant DAs, Legal Aid attorneys, and public defenders in NYC.

💵 Inflation Adjustment

$100,000 in 1999 ≈ $185,000 in 2025 (USD)