Should I get a raise after getting my JD? Forum

[Anonymous User]

So I accepted a position with a firm I worked at during my 3L. They paid me $20 an hour. This firm typically doesn't hire out of law school, I think I'm the first. Our deal is that once I take the bar I will return to work and they will continue to pay me $20 an hour full time and I will take on additional duties but obviously not the practice of law. Once I get licensed I will the benefits + salary (70k).

I almost feel like I should probably get some kind of raise from $20 since I will be taking on more duties and have earned the degree but I don't want to piss anyone off before I start either.

[Tanicius]

So I accepted a position with a firm I worked at during my 3L. They paid me $20 an hour. This firm typically doesn't hire out of law school, I think I'm the first. Our deal is that once I take the bar I will return to work and they will continue to pay me $20 an hour full time and I will take on additional duties but obviously not the practice of law. Once I get licensed I will the benefits + salary (70k).

I almost feel like I should probably get some kind of raise from $20 since I will be taking on more duties and have earned the degree but I don't want to piss anyone off before I start either.

None of this really matters at all if you get or don't get that 70k. I wouldn't bother bringing it up.

[SemperLegal]

So I accepted a position with a firm I worked at during my 3L. They paid me $20 an hour. This firm typically doesn't hire out of law school, I think I'm the first. Our deal is that once I take the bar I will return to work and they will continue to pay me $20 an hour full time and I will take on additional duties but obviously not the practice of law. Once I get licensed I will the benefits + salary (70k).

I almost feel like I should probably get some kind of raise from $20 since I will be taking on more duties and have earned the degree but I don't want to piss anyone off before I start either.

None of this really matters at all if you get or don't get that 70k. I wouldn't bother bringing it up.

Its quite a long time between graduation and swearing in. Thats a lot of additional labor they are going to get out of you. I would ask for a raise. If they say no, ask for a bar stipend.

[BlakcMajikc]

So I accepted a position with a firm I worked at during my 3L. They paid me $20 an hour. This firm typically doesn't hire out of law school, I think I'm the first. Our deal is that once I take the bar I will return to work and they will continue to pay me $20 an hour full time and I will take on additional duties but obviously not the practice of law. Once I get licensed I will the benefits + salary (70k).

I almost feel like I should probably get some kind of raise from $20 since I will be taking on more duties and have earned the degree but I don't want to piss anyone off before I start either.

None of this really matters at all if you get or don't get that 70k. I wouldn't bother bringing it up.

Its quite a long time between graduation and swearing in. Thats a lot of additional labor they are going to get out of you. I would ask for a raise. If they say no, ask for a bar stipend.

I would ask for the bar stipend first -- kind of makes sense -- for you to work for them as a lawyer, they have to "invest" in you actually taking the bar and making sure you can afford to take the bar.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Did you work full time during school? Because if not, I would think the additional duties would get chalked up to shifting to full-time from part-time and not actually merit more pay. To me that suggests just waiting till you get admitted for the raise, but it depends on the firm and how you think they'd react - if you don't ask, you don't get, etc. etc.

[Tanicius]

I just don't think it's worth potentially costing you your cushy 70k/year position for a few extra hourly bucks in the interim by alienating your boss.

[JenDarby]

I wouldn't ask for more hourly, but you should ask for a bar stipend. I agree with Nony that the extra work will be chalked up to working full time since it's not like your actual skill set is changing by taking a test. At least you will be making some money while you wait out your bar results. I'm not sure how much of a raise they would give you if you consider 70k/yr is around 33.50/hr for standard hours. It's not THAT long to continue to receive your same pay rate.