Hi everyone! I posted about this previously, but need guidance on how to handle. I work at a small firm who hired an office manager about eight months ago (manages two staff members). She does not have a college degree, obviously did not attend law school. When they hired her, one of the partners told me they paid her a salary which was only 10k less than mine, an associate attorney practicing for 4 years. They treat her like gold and act as if she can do no wrong. Cont…

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I would find a new firm

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Time to move on.

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I would advise you NOT to bring up the pay or befits of a non-attorney. It’s not relevant to whether you are being paid appropriately as an associate and will sound petty. Focus on what you have done and how profitable you are - you can allude to the fact that you are being underpaid without complaining the office manager is overpaid. Mention your hours, revenue, new clients you’ve brought in or made happy, coming into office during COVID19, mentoring others, being loyal in a hot market - there are lots of ways to explain why you deserve a big raise but questioning the value of support staff is never a good look, even if they aren’t especially good

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This. This should not be a "me vs. office manager" comparison. Compare your value billed/realized, what associates at similarly-sized firms are making, etc. Do not even mention the office manager.

Read "how to ask for a raise" articles on Ask A Manager.

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This is (one of) the issue(s) with such a small firm. As others have said above, you need to lateral to a bigger firm that can afford to pay you more. What they pay her is none of your business, but what they pay you is certainly your concern and it sounds like you’re not getting a very good deal.

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Leave ASAP. I can’t imagine a scenario where this gets better.

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Move on

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I agree you need to find a new firm, it sounds like something fishy is going on. But I would caution that there will be times when non-lawyers are paid more than lawyers and it is justified — the profitability of her position and yours is not a valid comparison point (the compensation though definitely is).

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That’s ridiculous. You have gone through significant effort and expense and deserve to be compensated fairly. I would definitely bring it up - you are obviously more profitable than an office manager so it is a completely fair and practical business argument to make. Go prepared with knowledge of salary info from similar firms/years of call in your area and practising your type of law.

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They gave her 20 days PTO, five days more than what they gave their longest staff member. They also let her take two hours EVERY Friday to volunteer. That only scratches the surface. My year end review is coming up. I didn’t receive a raise last year due to COVID and I can already feel them posturing that they don’t have the budget for a large increase for me. I want to bring up the fact that I know I’m paid only 10k less than her, a non attorney staff member among all the other benefits she receives. Is there a tactful way to do this?

Also, if it matters, I’m the only associate at a firm of four partners. They started me at the same salary they’re giving her now, I’m four years in, and making only 10k more than her

Why do they need a full-time office manager to manage two people? Is she handling billing, office maintenance, IT, etc.?

Does some bookkeeping but not much. Most of her job entails handling our social media and paying bills.

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