Advice: Asking to be *bumped* up to actual class year Forum

[Anonymous User]

double post

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone else see the advantage of being a year lower as a previous poster mentioned? (being compared to associates with less experience, more time before getting kicked out, etc.)?

Not really. I see it as decreasing the likelihood that you can stick it out long enough to reach the higher echelons of compensation since, eg, now you have to make it through four years without burning out (at a 3000 hr pace no less) to break 200k/yr salary rather than three years. That is material, assuming you do plan to leave rather than gunning for partner.

That doesn't answer the question of whether you should ask though...personally I would ask a trusted senior associate how he or she thinks it would be received. If s/he says it is a bad idea, for whatever reason, I'd drop it and if you still care about catching up with your class, I'd lateral.

I completely understand your frustration...I just think the politics of this type of ask are treacherous (as unfair as that is) so proceed with caution.

Has anyone ever heard of someone being bumped up a class for doing a really good job or whatever (not prior to starting because of an MBA or clerking) but like one day they were a midyear second associate and the next a midyear third yr associate? Just curious

[itbdvorm]

Just ask. All this risk aversion in this thread is crazy.

Partners dont care or notice. you're not going to get fired from a V10 by asking for a class year bump if your work is good and you're billing that much.

just say you came in a year under, you've outperformed that year and you think you deserve a bump. dont mention any confusion about starting a year under when making your case.

If they say no, look into lateraling to a similar firm that has your niche and slow down. 2900 hours is effing insane even at a V10, why are you billing that much? You aren't getting anything for it. at 2900 hours you should be turning down work left and right.

Yes, again.

After confirming you're doing well (senior associate you trust), ask either associate development or a partner you feel close to / doing a lot of work for.

I know we've done this.

[Anonymous User]

Just ask. All this risk aversion in this thread is crazy.

Partners dont care or notice. you're not going to get fired from a V10 by asking for a class year bump if your work is good and you're billing that much.

just say you came in a year under, you've outperformed that year and you think you deserve a bump. dont mention any confusion about starting a year under when making your case.

If they say no, look into lateraling to a similar firm that has your niche and slow down. 2900 hours is effing insane even at a V10, why are you billing that much? You aren't getting anything for it. at 2900 hours you should be turning down work left and right.

Yes, again.

After confirming you're doing well (senior associate you trust), ask either associate development or a partner you feel close to / doing a lot of work for.

I know we've done this.

OP - thanks this is helpful. In what scenarios have you seen your firm do this??

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone else see the advantage of being a year lower as a previous poster mentioned? (being compared to associates with less experience, more time before getting kicked out, etc.)?

Not really. I see it as decreasing the likelihood that you can stick it out long enough to reach the higher echelons of compensation since, eg, now you have to make it through four years without burning out (at a 3000 hr pace no less) to break 200k/yr salary rather than three years. That is material, assuming you do plan to leave rather than gunning for partner.

That doesn't answer the question of whether you should ask though...personally I would ask a trusted senior associate how he or she thinks it would be received. If s/he says it is a bad idea, for whatever reason, I'd drop it and if you still care about catching up with your class, I'd lateral.

I completely understand your frustration...I just think the politics of this type of ask are treacherous (as unfair as that is) so proceed with caution.

Has anyone ever heard of someone being bumped up a class for doing a really good job or whatever (not prior to starting because of an MBA or clerking) but like one day they were a midyear second associate and the next a midyear third yr associate? Just curious

Yes

[itbdvorm]

Just ask. All this risk aversion in this thread is crazy.

Partners dont care or notice. you're not going to get fired from a V10 by asking for a class year bump if your work is good and you're billing that much.

just say you came in a year under, you've outperformed that year and you think you deserve a bump. dont mention any confusion about starting a year under when making your case.

If they say no, look into lateraling to a similar firm that has your niche and slow down. 2900 hours is effing insane even at a V10, why are you billing that much? You aren't getting anything for it. at 2900 hours you should be turning down work left and right.

Yes, again.

After confirming you're doing well (senior associate you trust), ask either associate development or a partner you feel close to / doing a lot of work for.

I know we've done this.

OP - thanks this is helpful. In what scenarios have you seen your firm do this??

In exactly the scenario you describe. Lateral w/some sort of question about capabilities knocked back a year, then "caught up"