It Must Be Time to Quit My Job When…..

Quitting a job is tough. Sometimes, it's harder to quit a job than it is to seek a new one. You hesitate to make the move because you are asking yourself: How will the firm get along with out me? Will I have enough time to train my replacement? They just gave me a raise. Someone is going to get mad at me. I know what I have and don't know what I'll get into." And other career blocking...

“Girls” Just Wanna Have Funds……

"What’s your salary?” becomes a no-no in job interviews. By Chere B. Estrin   There’s a hot trend sweeping equal-pay legislation right now and some legal field industry leaders are not too happy about it.  New York, Massachusetts and Philadelphia have passed the country’s first law that prohibits employers from asking candidates for their current salaries or salary...

Where the Big Bucks are for Paralegals – and it can make you leave the field.

Show me an employee who says the money doesn't matter and I'll show you someone whose nose is growing.  Paralegals are now facing a tremendous game changer - the advent of technology plays a significant factor in whether or not you make good money. Statistics show that paralegals without technology know-how earn fewer dollars than those that have the skills. That doesn't mean...

Tough Negotiating for Tough Times

If you’ve ever read the lists for Top Ten Stressors, losing your job or looking for a new one is right up there with life altering events. After finding that dream job, you hold your breath hoping the right amount of money is offered. That little stressor is guaranteed to give you hives, insomnia or worse, little crow’s feet right around your perfectly smooth eye-area. Relax. Chances are if...

Participating in Salary Surveys Can Lead to Big Surprises

Here's what's lacking in this market: Reliable salary surveys that the average law firm employee can get their hands on. Sure, there are lots of surveys out there but they are either a) an informal survey that isn't entirely accurate; b) available only for top executives; c) done by an association without the psychometrics, analytics and other precision tools that make a survey...

About 1/3 of Law Firms Plan to Hire in 2012

Well, here's a breath of fresh air.  According to the Denver Business Journal, a Robert Half Survey found that 1/3 of law firms surveyed are planning on increasing their attorney and non-attorney staff in 2012.  Of course, the Negative Nellies can interpret that to say that two-thirds of law firms surveyed do not plan on increasing staff in 2012.  Is the glass...

New LitSupport Survey Shows Managers Get Big Bucks

The Organization of Legal Professionals (OLP) has been surveying Litigation Support Professionals to uncover interesting insights and valuable facts to help LSPs make the most of their careers.  The survey, sponsored by ZyLab and Career Numbers, is unlike traditional salary and utilization surveys. The survey is left open to regularly update the information and release new and interesting...

Show me the money! Paralegal salaries on the rise

NEW YORK - June 6, 2011 - After a year of generally flat compensation, paralegals' pay is rising, according to the Annual Compensation Survey for Paralegals/Legal Assistants and Managers, 2011 Edition, released today.The survey by ALM Legal Intelligence, a source of business intelligence for the legal profession, in partnership with the International Paralegal Management Association (IPMA),...

New Survey Shows Paralegal Salaries Going Down

  Not so good news out here in the paralegal world. The new 2010 Salary Guide from Robert Half Legal just published, shows that paralegal salaries are dipping. The salary guide is a review of actual starting salaries in 2009 and an extrapolation of these trends into 2010.  Salaries have dropped from between .02% and 3.7% nationwide.  Senior Paralegals (7+ years) are...