Top Law Schools

Big Law firm approached me with an offer. They have been searching for someone with my profile for nearly seven months with no success. Firm offered a full bonus if I hit my prorated hours and said it's not really the "practice" of the firm to guarantee the bonus and they want to properly incentivize people to hit hours... but I now have data from current associates and ones who had offers in the past 10 months (even very recently) who received guarantees -- nothing particularly special about the circumstances either.

How do I respectfully present that data in a counteroffer to secure a guaranteed end of year bonus?

For additional context, I'm a corporate senior associate with demonstrated success in business development and have worked with partners at this firm.

If I understand correctly, you are asking how to call your potential employers liars as a counter-offer. Is this correct ?

I don't think you even need to present the data. Just stand firm and tell them it's a non-negotiable condition for you. If it's truly been as difficult as you've said for them to fill this position, and if you know for certain they've recently guaranteed the same thing to recent lateral hires, they'll inevitably cave and make it part of your sign-on package.

CanadianWolf wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:57 pm

If I understand correctly, you are asking how to call your potential employers liars as a counter-offer. Is this correct ?

Lol, yep, OP is asking how to call out potential employer's lie without calling them a liar. Wish I had advice for you.

It’s a pointless exercise because nothing changes if you catch them in the lie.

You could have rock-solid evidence they offered every other applicant more money. What would it matter? They chose not to do it for you. Calling out their bullshit won’t raise your offer.

Monochromatic Oeuvre wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 06, 2022 8:31 pm

It’s a pointless exercise because nothing changes if you catch them in the lie.

You could have rock-solid evidence they offered every other applicant more money. What would it matter? They chose not to do it for you. Calling out their bullshit won’t raise your offer.

I feel like this is a scenario where it would've been great to have a recruiter handling all of this for you.

Excellent117 wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 02, 2022 7:15 pm

I don't think you even need to present the data. Just stand firm and tell them it's a non-negotiable condition for you. If it's truly been as difficult as you've said for them to fill this position, and if you know for certain they've recently guaranteed the same thing to recent lateral hires, they'll inevitably cave and make it part of your sign-on package.

Monochromatic Oeuvre wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 06, 2022 8:31 pm

It’s a pointless exercise because nothing changes if you catch them in the lie.

You could have rock-solid evidence they offered every other applicant more money. What would it matter? They chose not to do it for you. Calling out their bullshit won’t raise your offer.

Agree with both of these. You don't need to call it out, just tell them this is a sticking point for you.

If they say w/e bullshit they say about their offer being what they do, you can politely say you've heard otherwise, but in any event, it doesn't matter because you're not joining without a guaranteed bonus.

Your negotiating leverage is to not accept the offer. What they've done in the past isn't relevant.

LBJ's Hair wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 07, 2022 11:00 pm

Excellent117 wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 02, 2022 7:15 pm

I don't think you even need to present the data. Just stand firm and tell them it's a non-negotiable condition for you. If it's truly been as difficult as you've said for them to fill this position, and if you know for certain they've recently guaranteed the same thing to recent lateral hires, they'll inevitably cave and make it part of your sign-on package.

Monochromatic Oeuvre wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 06, 2022 8:31 pm

It’s a pointless exercise because nothing changes if you catch them in the lie.

You could have rock-solid evidence they offered every other applicant more money. What would it matter? They chose not to do it for you. Calling out their bullshit won’t raise your offer.

Agree with both of these. You don't need to call it out, just tell them this is a sticking point for you.

If they say w/e bullshit they say about their offer being what they do, you can politely say you've heard otherwise, but in any event, it doesn't matter because you're not joining without a guaranteed bonus.

TITCR. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's irrelevant like some posters have said, but it's also not really negotiating leverage. If they say they won't do it because they never have/will, then by all means politely call them out. But they can just as easily respond with "tough luck, you're not getting it anyway" and you have no recourse. It's like when you ask your parents if you can do something other kids (or even your siblings) routinely get to do - they can always say "no, because I said so" and you have zero recourse. Even if their stated reason is bullshit, calling them out still doesn't really get you anywhere.

Anyway, if you don't end up accepting please out the firm. Lying during negotiations is pretty shitty, and in the least it's relevant to those considering lateraling to the firm.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 08, 2022 12:16 am

Your negotiating leverage is to not accept the offer. What they've done in the past isn't relevant.

While I agree with this advice, if you want negotiations to continue, then it would be better if you address the primary reason that you are rejecting the offer (without suggesting that the firm's statements regarding guarantees are untruthful).