Negotiating Offers Forum

(On Campus Interviews, Summer Associate positions, Firm Reviews, Tips, ...)
Forum rules
Anonymous Posting

Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are revealing sensitive employment related information about a firm, job, etc. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.

Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned.
bigbobbybass

New
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2013 4:04 pm

Negotiating Offers

Post by bigbobbybass » Mon Jul 07, 2014 6:47 pm

I received an offer from a small firm (think 10-15 attorneys) in New York City for employment after graduation. I'm entering 3L year at a T25 school. I know that I'll be able to negotiate my offer, likely just a few thousand dollars, but I was hoping for some advice on the best way to actually negotiate with the managing partner. Does anybody have any suggestions?

User avatar
transferror

Silver
Posts: 816
Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:42 pm

Re: Negotiating Offers

Post by transferror » Mon Jul 07, 2014 6:53 pm

Do you have any competing offers? What are the firm's primary practice areas? What is the salary range of your current offer? Plaintiff or defense work (assuming civil, which is pretty safe at 5+ atty's)? How are your grades at this T25, which really means T21-25? Do you have any info on what they normally pay an incoming associate?

bigbobbybass

New
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2013 4:04 pm

Re: Negotiating Offers

Post by bigbobbybass » Mon Jul 07, 2014 7:00 pm

transferror wrote:Do you have any competing offers? What are the firm's primary practice areas? What is the salary range of your current offer? Plaintiff or defense work (assuming civil, which is pretty safe at 5+ atty's)? How are your grades at this T25, which really means T21-25? Do you have any info on what they normally pay an incoming associate?
I don't have any competing offers at the moment, which is certainly going to limit how aggressive I can be here. The firm primarily does commercial litigation, and it's a mixture of plaintiff and defense. The current offer is $55,000, plus a bonus, which I'm guessing will be around 8-10%. My grades are very average. I think they normally pay between $55-60,000, but it's a small firm, as I said, so there's certainly not a ton of precedent here.

I suppose my real question is about strategy. Is it best to come at them with a specific counteroffer, or just to ask them if they can do better? What kind of tone should I be taking? I've never been in a job negotiation before, so I'm unsure how to handle this.

User avatar
transferror

Silver
Posts: 816
Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:42 pm

Re: Negotiating Offers

Post by transferror » Mon Jul 07, 2014 7:24 pm

bigbobbybass wrote:
transferror wrote:Do you have any competing offers? What are the firm's primary practice areas? What is the salary range of your current offer? Plaintiff or defense work (assuming civil, which is pretty safe at 5+ atty's)? How are your grades at this T25, which really means T21-25? Do you have any info on what they normally pay an incoming associate?
I don't have any competing offers at the moment, which is certainly going to limit how aggressive I can be here. The firm primarily does commercial litigation, and it's a mixture of plaintiff and defense. The current offer is $55,000, plus a bonus, which I'm guessing will be around 8-10%. My grades are very average. I think they normally pay between $55-60,000, but it's a small firm, as I said, so there's certainly not a ton of precedent here.

I suppose my real question is about strategy. Is it best to come at them with a specific counteroffer, or just to ask them if they can do better? What kind of tone should I be taking? I've never been in a job negotiation before, so I'm unsure how to handle this.
I'm a rising 2L so take my advice for what you will, but you need to first and foremost close the offer and secure a job. It's unclear whether you have essentially accepted an offer and now you are merely negotiating pay, or whether this meeting/negotiation will determine whether or not you choose to work for this firm and conversely whether they are willing to hire you (despite the offer). If the latter, just secure the damn job. If the former, solidify the amount/terms of the bonus and be aggressive in figure but polite in manner during the negotiation. Since you do plaintiffs work, ask about any chance for bonuses based on contingency earnings.

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


Post Reply Post Anonymous Reply  

Return to “Legal Employment”