Remote working for lawyers became the norm when COVID-19 hit the U.S. in mid-March 2020 and businesses closed to comply with local stay-at-home orders. Quite a few law firms don’t expect to return to the office officially until early 2021, especially in major markets such as the Northeast and California. Many see remote working as…
Dishonesty of any kind is a non-starter in a job search. Recently, I was speaking with legal industry consultants and employers about what red flags they see during the lateral hiring process, and how they weigh various risk factors in their decisions. There was an interesting discussion around various warning signs candidates exhibit during the…
Law firms pay associate bonuses not only to incentivize excellent performance and high productivity, but also to entice lawyers to join them and stay. Firms may pay discretionary bonuses predicated on excellent associate work and strong financial performance of the firm, hours bonuses requiring a minimum number of annual billable hours for any bonus eligibility…
When you return to work after leaving law practice for any length of time, you need to prepare for a successful transition. You can jump right back in, like cannon-balling into a swimming pool full of icy water. But you might be wiser to dip your toe in first—and ease into it—getting used to the…
Preparation is key to effectively negotiating your compensation when either starting a new job or asking for a raise. Before negotiating, do your research to establish a reasonable salary range, know your bottom line and non-negotiables, consider alternative concessions, understand the employer’s constraints, recognize their “pain points” and your value in alleviating them. Don’t forget…
Searching for a new job sometimes means taking your “show” in the road for an out of town interview. Given the national and global reach of many law firms and corporations, even if you’re seeking a position locally, you may need to meet key players in the organization’s far flung offices. The interview itself is…
