Career advice solicitor

[namechange221122]

Looking for some career advice.

I’m a family law solicitor at a small firm. I’m 15 years PQE. My salary is £50k going up to £55k from May. I have set the department up last year and it’s doing really well. It’s making good money. My job title is senior associate. I had assumed given the value I had added to the firm at least 14% of their revenue, I would be considered for salaried partnership. Conversations that have been had and a few things have made it clear this is some way off, if it happens at all. There was a heated exchange with my boss and I was effectively told it’s not my department and I haven’t been promised partnership but there is a career guide to look at and they can bring people in and no guarantee despite me setting up the department putting the policies, procedures etc in place, that it’s my department to run.

I then started looking around and very quickly found another local firm offering me a salaried partner, head of department role for £62,500 and it’s for me to build the department up as I did where I am.

I should be over the moon but I don’t want to leave where I am. I like the bosses, the company, the brand and their direction. They are young and modern. The firm that made an offer needs more modernising. I also don’t want to leave my clients and feel quite proud of my achievement.

I am going to speak my current bosses tomorrow to see if they can match the offer but part of me thinks I will still stay even if they don’t.

Am I mad to consider that? My gut is just telling me to stay.

Tricky. But I think you need to lock your qualms about moving in a little box for 24 hours and go into the discussion with your existing employers on the assumption that you absolutely will move if necessary.

That’s good advice. Thank you. I need to not worry about it just yet.

As I see it they are not modern but traditional in how they treat you, underpaying and undervaluing you and cutting you off when you dare to expect and ask for reward to reflect your achievement. I don't know why you like them, especially having been treated like that by your boss: heated rows and it isn't your department; get back in your box. What can I say? It's up to you, even if it seems to me mad to turn down a better offer with scope to develop and modernise.

It doesn’t hurt to ask. You make it clear what you want and explain why you have done enough work to deserve it and give them a chance to consider. It does often work. But you have to be certain that you will leave and you will take the new role if your current company won’t meet your expectations. Good luck!

If you can build it up once you can do it again.

I bet if you were a man you wouldn't be having this battle. I have seen so many brilliant female lawyers held back this way. You have clearly earnt the right to partnership or at least a very clearly articulated route to it.

Sounds like you have been at your current place too long and they undervalue you. Tell them about your other offer, if they won’t match then leave.

Have you thought the new firm might want you to help them modernise. As a salaried partner with experience of setting up a department in a more modern firm you will have influence and the skills to do this.

Yes that’s exactly what they want me to do. So it will become a modern firm but just needs a lot of work!

You need to "keep your powder dry" and present the new opportunity as the reason for your intended resignation... then wait and see how they respond.

I'm a solicitor and someone in my department (I'm their line manager but have no control over pay) resigned last month. Like you they liked the firm/role but the extra money was so significant a jump it was a no brainer to turn down. He is a good lawyer, meets all targets and makes a lot of money for the department. The equity partners said they'd rather he didn't leave. He asked them to match the salary package. They said no way not possible. He said thanks anyway, my resignation stands . 2 days later they offered to split the difference in salary. He said no sorry, I like working here but the money is the reason I'm moving. My resignation stands. A WEEK later they said OK we'll match the offer... he's staying.

Know your worth.

I'm now thinking I should try and pull off the same coup! I've been there 14 years and suspect it would cost a hell of a lot more for them to replace me than to give me a £20k pay rise.

That is a fantastic opportunity, I know it will be hard work but they want to change so will be receptive.

i know it can be scary moving forms but it can also re energise you.

@honeylulu has set out how to approach telling your firm.

Good luck

You should leave and work somewhere where they value you, your experience and want to invest in your future.
The other (current) firm do not.
£50k and no status after 15 years as a family solicitor is rubbish. You should know that you are worth more than that financially and otherwise, so why do you stand for it?

Life isn't all about money. Don't worry about your clients or your colleagues you must base your decision on what is best for you. If you want a challenge and a fresh start then move on if not then stay where you are. But remember know your worth

Thanks that’s useful advice. It is an employee’s market out there at the moment. We are struggling to recruit permanent family lawyers. Even finding a locum to cover my holiday has been near impossible. The cost to replace me will be significant. I suspect they will match the salary but may not be ‘strong armed’ into promoting me which is actually very important to me as it reflects the effort and value I add.

Sounds like your heart is set on promotion regardless of money. If the other firm is more likely to offer you that then you should move on as is your life and your goals

Know your worth is coming out of this a lot. You’re right I should do. I was earning £36k as an NQ at another firm 15 years ago! Not much of a difference in salary really! I should add I have only been here just over a year.

Partners exploit associates as much as humanly possible while thinking only of their own profit share: sounds petty traditional to me. If you tell them you’ve been offered more money and partnership elsewhere but then stay for anything less than that they will never promote you because they know you will put up with whatever you are given. Sorry but all law firms are ruthless places when it comes down to profit share.

Thanks for all the advice. I will be doing it this morning. New firm have given me until the end of the week for a response so I hope that’s enough time to negotiate. I feel so nervous and that I will come across as too big for my boots. I doubt male solicitors feel the same.

Namechange I really think once the dust has settled in a week or two you’ll be angry at how your firm has treated you - you should be! You saying you might stay at your current shop strikes me as fear, imposter syndrome and inertia talking. The new opportunity is not only a pay rise but a huge endorsement of your abilities. Do not stick around as an underpaid senior associate - now you’ve had the conversation if you stay they will lose all respect for you (harsh but true).

love from a fellow SA!

Make solicitors generally would not feel the same!

Keep us updated Op

I’ve just left the law profession, so likely not the best to advise. I left because despite the firm I worked for claiming to be forward thinking, modern and fair, I one day realised that they were actually prehistoric and patriarchal and me being a woman, I was never in a position to be taken seriously despite everything I did and achieved. I was definitely treated differently to male colleagues. That wasn’t the entire reason, but it significantly impacted my decision to leave (and become a dear little housewife - for now)!

Please, please value your worth. I know it’s great to be loyal, but they’d replace you in a heartbeat so do what is right for you. Your salary should be a lot closer to the £65k than £55k.

Good luck - like everyone else, I would leave. Not just for the money but for the title/status, and the opportunity to work somewhere else, fresh start etc.

Thanks all. So, they have said I could name my price salary wise but partnership is not something they could offer at this stage but will help me on the route. They said they are gutted and to give them a few more days to consider things. Part of me thinks I should go for more money and stay and work towards being a partner as I have only been there 12 months. I will see what they come back with.

I am struggling with this - you're 15 years PQE, set a department up, increased revenues, what else do they want from you to be considered for partnership?

It would be different if they said we can't offer you partnership at this point of the year but next X you will be made up.

What did they say when you joined 12 months ago? I would still jump ship tbh.

you're 15 years PQE, set a department up, increased revenues, what else do they want from you to be considered for partnership?

Exactly. I would want them to put, in writing, what else they would want to see before I would be considered for partnership.

I left private practice and went in house but have seen far too many brilliant female solicitors taken advantage of by mediocre male partnerships