Offer Letter Language Forum

[Anonymous User]

Got offer letter from firm... Surprisingly it says that compensation for summer associates for 2012 is still being determined. NALP has the salary figures for the firm listed explicitly (doesn't say TBD or left blank). What do you think the best way to clarify this is? How worried should I be?

Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

Got offer letter from firm... Surprisingly it says that compensation for summer associates for 2012 is still being determined. NALP has the salary figures for the firm listed explicitly (doesn't say TBD or left blank). What do you think the best way to clarify this is? How worried should I be?

Thanks.

They all say that (at least 3 of mine did). Don't worry about it.

[kahechsof]

I have noticed that among the 160 firms, there are different weekly amounts listed on NALP for summers. Hmmmm.
Doesn't make any difference to me, since anything I make is coming out of my need-based grant for next year. I'm working BigLaw for free. Hmmmm.

[Anonymous User]

Got offer letter from firm... Surprisingly it says that compensation for summer associates for 2012 is still being determined. NALP has the salary figures for the firm listed explicitly (doesn't say TBD or left blank). What do you think the best way to clarify this is? How worried should I be?

Thanks.

They all say that (at least 3 of mine did). Don't worry about it.

thank you. i just breathed a big sigh of relief.

[Anonymous User]

My offer doesn't mention compensation at all.

[Anonymous User]

my offer letter says that I must continue my academic achievement at or above the level I have maintained thus far.... that can't be really true, right?? I was under the impression that offers usually stand unless you really shit the bed.

[kahechsof]

My offer doesn't mention compensation at all.

It is probably unpaid then.

[Anonymous User]

Is there any way to ask about compensation without sounding like money is the only thing you care about? I got an offer at a small Lit boutique and they don't say anywhere what they pay. Is there a general convention to doing this? Sorry for anon but I have been outed on the site under my name.

[Anonymous User]

my offer letter says that I must continue my academic achievement at or above the level I have maintained thus far.... that can't be really true, right?? I was under the impression that offers usually stand unless you really shit the bed.

What!? BS! Which firm wrote that?

[FlightoftheEarls]

my offer letter says that I must continue my academic achievement at or above the level I have maintained thus far.... that can't be really true, right?? I was under the impression that offers usually stand unless you really shit the bed.

What!? BS! Which firm wrote that?

A decent number of firms have offer letters that say that. It doesn't necessarily make it true, and firms that do consider grades rarely have that level of rigidity to their offer evaluations.

[YourCaptain]

my offer letter says that I must continue my academic achievement at or above the level I have maintained thus far.... that can't be really true, right?? I was under the impression that offers usually stand unless you really shit the bed.

What!? BS! Which firm wrote that?

A decent number of firms have offer letters that say that. It doesn't necessarily make it true, and firms that do consider grades rarely have that level of rigidity to their offer evaluations.

I know GDC is typically brought up - any others?

[Anonymous User]

bump re: firms w/ "Maintain your grades" language

[Anonymous User]

my offer letter says that I must continue my academic achievement at or above the level I have maintained thus far.... that can't be really true, right?? I was under the impression that offers usually stand unless you really shit the bed.

lol enjoy Dewey

[Anonymous User]

my offer letter says that I must continue my academic achievement at or above the level I have maintained thus far.... that can't be really true, right?? I was under the impression that offers usually stand unless you really shit the bed.

lol enjoy Dewey

lol how did you know? is that the only firm that does this?? do they really???

[Anonymous User]

my offer letter says that I must continue my academic achievement at or above the level I have maintained thus far.... that can't be really true, right?? I was under the impression that offers usually stand unless you really shit the bed.

lol enjoy Dewey

lol how did you know? is that the only firm that does this?? do they really???

my letter specifies that my academic achievement must be at a level "comparable" to that which i showed them

[Anonymous User]

my offer letter says that I must continue my academic achievement at or above the level I have maintained thus far.... that can't be really true, right?? I was under the impression that offers usually stand unless you really shit the bed.

lol enjoy Dewey

lol how did you know? is that the only firm that does this?? do they really???

my letter specifies that my academic achievement must be at a level "comparable" to that which i showed them

bumping this - should I be worried about this?

[imchuckbass58]

bumping this - should I be worried about this?

No. It's just a hedge so that if you totally shit the bed in terms of grades they don't have to hire you. Many other firms would do the same thing, they're just not as explicit about it (though some are - several of my offer letters had similar language).

[Anonymous User]

Shamelessly bumping the compensation question. Can I ask a partner at a small lit boutique: "What is the compensation at the office: i.e. what is starting pay and is it lockstep, etc.?"

[kahechsof]

Shamelessly bumping the compensation question. Can I ask a partner at a small lit boutique: "What is the compensation at the office: i.e. what is starting pay and is it lockstep, etc.?"

Yes.

[Anonymous User]

my offer letter says that I must continue my academic achievement at or above the level I have maintained thus far.... that can't be really true, right?? I was under the impression that offers usually stand unless you really shit the bed.

lol enjoy Dewey

lol how did you know? is that the only firm that does this?? do they really???

I doubt they are the only firm but their language was almost exactly this.

[Anonymous User]

If an offer letter doesn't state salary they either aren't paying market, or they aren't sure they can pay market, and then you can count on having below market bonuses if you decide to work there.

[Anonymous User]

My offer letter says it's not determined yet but that last year was $3,0XX per week.

Also, nothing about maintaining grades. I somehow feel less stress in that regard being a transfer, since I don't have any GPA here and it'd be difficult to say that my GPA dropped when transferring into a T14.

The grade stuff, however, seems conflictory with people saying that coasting is allowable.

[Anonymous User]

If an offer letter doesn't state salary they either aren't paying market, or they aren't sure they can pay market, and then you can count on having below market bonuses if you decide to work there.

Calling flame. Have received a number of offers from firms that historically pay market everything and they all say some variation of this.

[Anonymous User]

If an offer letter doesn't state salary they either aren't paying market, or they aren't sure they can pay market, and then you can count on having below market bonuses if you decide to work there.

Don't think this is true. I've seen a number of offer letters from firms that will definitely be paying market that don't mention salary, grades, etc. Just, this is a formal offer, we enjoyed meeting you and would love for you to accept, call me if you have questions.

[Anonymous User]

my offer letter says that I must continue my academic achievement at or above the level I have maintained thus far.... that can't be really true, right?? I was under the impression that offers usually stand unless you really shit the bed.

What!? BS! Which firm wrote that?

A decent number of firms have offer letters that say that. It doesn't necessarily make it true, and firms that do consider grades rarely have that level of rigidity to their offer evaluations.

I know GDC is typically brought up - any others?

GDC offer letter that I got said nothing about grades.