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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?

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?

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.

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.