Advice re Lateral Bonus
Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2021 5:05 pm
I am going to lateral to a new firm soon (I have already accepted the offer, but we are finalizing start dates).
I have not told my old firm. I don't plan to tell them until I receive my bonus, which is likely to happen around December 15th (they historically pay out the bonus around then).
The new firm is giving me a $25K in signing bonus, as per the accepted offer letter.
The question is, what happens if my old firm (the one still employing me now) says that it will be giving all associates in good standing the new DPW special bonus, but make those payouts later in time, such as on Dec. 31?
Should I ask the new firm I will be going to to add the new bonus on top of the signing bonus (and will I have any negotiating leverage given that I've already accepted the offer)? Or should I try to stick around the current firm until Dec 31 and collect the special bonus from them? The problem with that second option is that I'm on some really busy matters and I was hoping to mentally just check out around the holidays and still leave on good terms. But if I don't give notice until after receiving the new bonus, I'm gonna have a really busy, shitty next month or so (including potentially helping on a trial that is set to begin in early January!). So sticking around to be able to receive the special bonus around Dec. 31 will prevent me from giving notice sooner and even potentially have to give notice right before a trial starts, which is a shitty thing to do.
Any advice?
I have not told my old firm. I don't plan to tell them until I receive my bonus, which is likely to happen around December 15th (they historically pay out the bonus around then).
The new firm is giving me a $25K in signing bonus, as per the accepted offer letter.
The question is, what happens if my old firm (the one still employing me now) says that it will be giving all associates in good standing the new DPW special bonus, but make those payouts later in time, such as on Dec. 31?
Should I ask the new firm I will be going to to add the new bonus on top of the signing bonus (and will I have any negotiating leverage given that I've already accepted the offer)? Or should I try to stick around the current firm until Dec 31 and collect the special bonus from them? The problem with that second option is that I'm on some really busy matters and I was hoping to mentally just check out around the holidays and still leave on good terms. But if I don't give notice until after receiving the new bonus, I'm gonna have a really busy, shitty next month or so (including potentially helping on a trial that is set to begin in early January!). So sticking around to be able to receive the special bonus around Dec. 31 will prevent me from giving notice sooner and even potentially have to give notice right before a trial starts, which is a shitty thing to do.
Any advice?