Asking for a pay raise: Top tips

Asking for a pay raise: Top tips

With many lawyers spending their days negotiating contracts on behalf of clients, it's sometimes assumed that they would be able to do the same when getting a job offer or requesting a pay increase at a review meeting. In reality, compensation negotiations may be intimidating for even the most experienced solicitors.

But where do you even begin? According to a recent YouGov study[1], 31% of those who demanded a pay increase were successful.

Here are some recommendations to improve your chances of success:

-Carry out your research

Researching is a good place to start. By checking out online compensation surveys and consulting colleagues in the same industry, you should determine what the average salary is for your area of practice. There will always be a difference between a large city top 500 firm and a regional firm, so take into account the style of firm you are working for.

-Make your points using evidence

Do your homework and provide references to support your proposal. If you don't evaluate your performance by billable hours, consider how you may estimate the accomplishment of the projects you've worked on during the year and the influence you've had on the company. List all of your successes and extra tasks in a report or timesheet, or whichever else works best for you to correctly and fairly demonstrate the job you have been accomplishing.

Speaking with HR and requesting any frameworks your company may have in place, your job description, and evidence that you are consistently exceeding expectations will help you demonstrate why your raise is justified.

-Use the appropriate tone at the appropriate time

Set a time for the meeting considering the calendars as well. Don't ask right away; first, thank the person of interest for their help and support. Review the year's development with them. Ideally, the person will bring up compensation, but if they don't, you may bring it up without being confrontational or taking it personally by saying that a wage review is necessary based on your accomplishments.

Make sure you approach the subject of salary increase in a formal, organised, and planned manner. Schedule a meeting with someone who can influence pay awards and decisions with a detailed agenda stating the topics you want to cover.

-Set reasonable expectations

Make sure to consider when budgets are being planned. A company's pay budget is unlikely to accommodate an unexpected raise. Assess the market rate for the role and don’t be greedy. Make sure you’re not asking for more than your organisation can bare.  It will be difficult to reject your request if you present explanations backed by evidence and a justifiable increase request.

-Put in the necessary effort

Just practise if you start to feel anxious or concerned about how you'll end up coming across in your meeting. Before the interview, prepare your speech in advance and rehearse it with a close friend acting as the other person. Although it seems straightforward, imagining the situation and fully preparing for it beforehand can make you seem a lot more composed. Additionally, don't hesitate to take notes so that you may be sure to remember everything and be prepared to present your work.

Take note of how you keep up with developments in your industry and those of your clients. Note any additional projects you'd want to take and how doing so would boost the success of the company. This demonstrates your initiative, motivation, and concentration on the company's long-term development.

-What you could say

Start by remaining positive. Discuss your reasons for enjoying your career and working at the company. Continue by outlining your support for the company's identity and vision. Take note of any firm or team accomplishments you were a part of as well as any encouraging statements.

Next, discuss the merits. What you have achieved thus far and what do you want to develop on and the reason you think you will succeed at that particular company.

Present the decision-maker with your billing numbers, emphasising any growth, and explain how you can make these numbers grow by supporting the law firm. Bring out your one-page memo at this point and discuss what you could do better to increase your productivity.

-Be ready for follow-up conversations

You'll need to support your requested compensation with the results of your salary analysis, and you might need to go into further detail with examples of your accomplishments and talents.

Naturally, not every pay increase request will be granted due to a variety of reasonable business considerations. Be sure to continue the conversation even if you receive a refusal because human resources policy may limit managers' ability to provide salary increases outside of specific time frames or the company may have a defined percentage raise restriction.

Be open to compromise; you might be ready to accept a smaller raise now if there are plans to raise it again the following year. Request what is required of you for them to match the salary raise you are seeking, and recommend a date for another pay and performance review after a year.

Meetings might be a little awkward and unsettling when money is involved. Because you negotiate for a living and the result will directly impact you, be wise and make sure to adequately prepare before even setting up the appointment.

-What will happen following the meeting?

Spend some time thinking critically about the choice that was made. If you don't get the wage raise you desired, your emotions might be intense. It's preferable to wait until everything has settled before taking into account the given reasons, though.

Send a follow-up email stating what was discussed and what was decided upon as the requirements you must meet in order to receive the pay increase at the review.

Make sure you set up a way to keep track of your accomplishments and the benefits you are delivering to the company. Get a strategy in place to accomplish this if it was determined that you require training or development in a certain area.

For support or career advice, check out our resources:

• view the latest vacancies at Gazette Jobs, where you can sign up for job alerts and upload your CV
• read our comprehensive career development advice
• visit our careers YouTube channel to find videos which cover common career queries.