Most legislation corporations have methods in place in relation to wage and bonus determinations. In lots of situations, legislation corporations consider an legal professional’s work on a yearly foundation, and at the moment resolve what wage enhance the legal professional will obtain, if any, and whether or not the legal professional will obtain a bonus at corporations that would not have lockstep bonus insurance policies. Nevertheless, some smaller legislation corporations would not have methods in place to cope with wage and bonus determinations, and a few smaller outlets have flexibility in relation to wage determinations. At these outlets, it’d make sense to proactively search a pay elevate.
I as soon as labored at a small legislation agency that made wage choices no extra ceaselessly than yearly. One of many associates on the agency thought that he was underpaid, and the market fee was probably a lot increased than that affiliate was incomes on the agency. This affiliate spoke to the managing companion at he agency about receiving a pay elevate instantly although the companions used to make wage determinations across the holidays. The managing companion informed this affiliate to put in writing a memo about the entire work that this affiliate did within the earlier yr, and the way beneficial he was to the agency. The managing companion mentioned he would share the memo with the opposite companions, and they’d use this data when deciding if that affiliate ought to obtain a pay elevate.
The affiliate confirmed me the memo he drafted, and it was masterfully written. The memo mentioned the entire work this affiliate had accomplished for the agency within the continuing yr and the way these duties went above and past different associates on the agency. The affiliate additionally mentioned how productive he was and the way a lot cash he generated for the agency, which he argued warranted a wage enhance. My colleague additionally argued that it will be much less disruptive to maintain that affiliate on the store with the next wage than attempt to discover one other legal professional to switch the affiliate that requested for the wage enhance.
The managing companion finally informed this affiliate that his fingers had been tied till the annual assessment course of was performed. The managing companion didn’t wish to give any form of preferential remedy to the affiliate that requested for a pay elevate since this might damage morale and lead others to imagine that the agency was being unfair in treating this affiliate higher than different attorneys. The affiliate was not happy with this final result, however this agency coverage made sense. Managing companions want to consider the great of a legislation agency and its staff at massive and never essentially in regards to the wants of 1 particular person legal professional.
Nevertheless, on the annual assessment course of, this legal professional ended up receiving a greater compensation package deal than he might need acquired if he didn’t ask for a pay elevate earlier within the yr. Evidently, the memo this affiliate drafted arguing for a pay elevate had a considerable affect on administration on the agency, they usually determined to extend this affiliate’s wage so the legal professional had an incentive to remain on the store. A few of the different associates on the agency wished that they’d additionally spoken up sooner about requesting a wage enhance in order that they too might have acquired a rise of their compensation.
After all, asking for a pay elevate, or asking for extra compensation of any form will be awkward, and could also be not possible at some outlets at which individuals are paid a set quantity relying on expertise. Nevertheless, attorneys shouldn’t be afraid to ask their employers for extra money. Even when attorneys usually are not instantly paid extra compensation, this might set the stage for the next wage sooner or later.
Jordan Rothman is a companion of The Rothman Legislation Agency, a full-service New York and New Jersey legislation agency. He’s additionally the founding father of Scholar Debt Diaries, an internet site discussing how he paid off his scholar loans. You’ll be able to attain Jordan by e-mail at jordan@rothman.legislation.
