I'm at a smaller firm without clear promotion/raise structures (just 2 partners and me) and my 1-year anniversary is coming up. I was considering asking for a raise but am not sure if it's appropriate or how to do it.
Of course every firm/person's position is unique. Normally I'd think a raise is appropriate because I've been here a year, done good work, and previous hires (who they had to fire) were hired at a higher salary based on years of experience. So I feel like there's support for matching my salary to previous associates with those same years of experience. Also they just lost their highest paid employee a few months back (he quit and they haven't replaced him). The reasons I hesistate to ask for a raise is that I am not hitting my billables and I want to leave. The billables thing isn't me slacking; I think it just got alot slower this summer (when I look at partner billables they are also lower than in past months). Which makes me concerned about firm stability and finances generally. Which brings me to the second issue: I don't see this as a viable place to stay. Is it shitty to ask for a raise when you plan to jump ship as soon as possible?
I turned down other (higher paying AND PSLF eligible) jobs to be here (for various reasons) and that suggest to me that a raise is supported by the market. Of course, I could just ask for an annual review and wait for them to bring it up but I know someone in a similar position (different firm) who didn't ask for anything and then basically felt like she had to accept what was given and there was no room for negotiation.
Anyone asked for a raise and, if so, how?
How/Why To Ask for a Raise Forum
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Johann
- Posts: 19704
- Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2014 4:25 pm
Re: How/Why To Ask for a Raise
you always have to look out for yourself in these sort of situations, so of course it is appropriate to ask for a rise even though you may leave.
as for how to ask, you can take a couple of approaches - have a raise net figure in mind. if you are at 55 now, maybe you have 60 in mind, and ask for that. or just say youve been there a year and think it fair that the partners discuss restructuring your compensation based on the experience youve gained in the last year. if discussing salary makes you uncomfortable, write an email to partners asking for your salary to be reconsidered in light of your year of experience and jsut mention you wrote the letter to have an easily referenceable lsit of experiences. then just list the experience youve gained - discovery, court appearances, negotiations, clients referred etc. i would try to keep it brief. and then just close the letter asking for a date to have a discussion/meeting about your raise once the necessary partners have reviewed.
good luck!
as for how to ask, you can take a couple of approaches - have a raise net figure in mind. if you are at 55 now, maybe you have 60 in mind, and ask for that. or just say youve been there a year and think it fair that the partners discuss restructuring your compensation based on the experience youve gained in the last year. if discussing salary makes you uncomfortable, write an email to partners asking for your salary to be reconsidered in light of your year of experience and jsut mention you wrote the letter to have an easily referenceable lsit of experiences. then just list the experience youve gained - discovery, court appearances, negotiations, clients referred etc. i would try to keep it brief. and then just close the letter asking for a date to have a discussion/meeting about your raise once the necessary partners have reviewed.
good luck!
