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I wouldn’t take the counteroffer. The firm will make itself whole by withholding future raises and it’s really hard to enforce soft promises like better hours.
Look business is business. If you wouldn’t have strayed from your initial firm given that you had been paid better/better hours/etc.- then stay now that you have those things.
The firm who you accepted an offer from would happily rescind if they got a better candidate than you who would take less money.
Your happiness comes first. The end.
Do not take the counteroffer. There is a ton of data that things largely fall apart within a year of the counter offer. Either you, or the employer, is unhappy or resentful. Also, if it took a threat to get you more money and better treatment, this is a fight you will have to have constantly each year.
Why were you looking to leave in the first place? Does your firm’s new offer solve the problems that made you want to leave?
Yeah, don’t do it. You’re a flight risk now. They won’t see you any differently
Thanks all for the advice. I actually wasn’t looking to leave. The new firm contacted me and made me an offer when one of their attorneys was leaving. They are a bigger firm with a better national reputation vs my current firm. So there is that too. But it’s very much the devil you know vs the devil you don’t at this point.
I think this changes things. If you were looking to leave for reasons other than money, those reasons would still exist. That said, I know people who got recruited by third party firms and their firm fought to keep them. It's not a terrible position to be in.
My bigger concern would be retracting your acceptance.
There is a reason you were prepared to leave. Once you make that decision, stick with it.
Would you feel comfortable staying at your current firm when they know you’d leave if given a better offer? Would they want to keep you on long-term knowing you’d leave?
Maybe use this offer-counter offer situation to get to equity now with one of them? I just have a bitter taste in my mouth from the non-equity experience, but I also don’t think my experience is the norm across the board.
There is information missing. Are you moving for money alone? If so, consider the benefits of staying at a place you know but getting paid what you’re worth.
If there are other reasons why you are looking and the other firm is the better option, that needs to be weighed and likely tips the analysis in that direction.
Dont ever accept a counteroffer. I’ve heard of firms doing things like firing the attorney after they wrap up a few important projects
Go with your gut. It’s rarely wrong. If you don’t want to trust your gut instinct, write down the pros and cons of each option. Somehow putting these things in writing rather than playing mental gymnastics always helps provide clarity.
Depends on why you’re looking to leave. If the salary/hours/title were the issue and you’re otherwise happy, it might be worth it to stay. But you’ll then have the relationship to the firm of having sort of strong-armed it into giving that stuff to you. You may or may not burn a bridge with the other firm.
I’m in a similar situation except I’m a junior so it’s a little easier to lateral. My current firm can’t match pay but is willing to let me have more autonomy over which cases I work on and avoid certain partners I dislike (lol). I’m still leaving. I feel really bad for my current supervising partner but I Know that I went through the trouble of several interviews because I needed a change. Plus, in my firm at least, there have been cases where people left and came back. Had you complained before and nothing was done? I think you’d make more at the new place for sure, since they didn’t need a threat to offer you that much to begin with. Good luck!
Never stay. You will be resented at your current firm. If they get rid of you next year, do you think the firm you rescinded the offer with will talk to you?
Why make the counter offer then? That’s the part I don’t get. It seems like if they are resentful they wouldn’t make the offer?