Look I think a lot of it comes down to what kind of numbers one regards as 'impressive'.
5-10 years ago, Deliotte, P&G, Thales were coming into graduate careers fairs, poaching law and engineering graduates into 120k positions off the bat with huge growth promise. This does not happen anymore. 5-10 years ago, a douchebag carpet salesman could earn his real estate agent hefty commission on loans to buy up warehouses and showrooms. This is winding down.
I think now days, and certainly into the next 10 years, a projection of 150-180k is for a moderately successful lawyer (lets give ourselves benefit of the doubt here
) in a sensible area of practice is both realistic, and imho impressive.
Of course, 150-180k at the age of 30 does not buy (or finance) you a porsche, but you are sitting in a 370Z or an A4 if you like...and thats nothing to complain about
.