I got hired with very little experience. I have done well and excelled in my position at the firm in a short time. I've been working there about 6 months. I know my starting salary was low due to my lack of experience but feel like I deserve a raise and not sure if it's too early to ask for one. Prior paralegals with a small amount of experience were recently let go - they made a lot of mistakes- and I found out they made a lot more than me.
Any thoughts on whether I should go for it?

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You were hired to do a job with little experience. I find it hard to believe that you have a rounded skill set after 6 months (no offense - it took 3+ years for me to finally feel like I knew what I was doing and there are days I’m still learning new things almost 12 years in).

That being said, have you had any feedback from attorneys? What about an annual review? Is the work you’re expected to do substantially more analytical or senior than the work you were hired to do? What would justify your raise? I excel in all that I do but don’t expect my employer to increase my salary after 6 months.

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I agree. 6 months is NOTHING unless your tasks are limited. Takes more than 6 months in litigation if you don’t have solid experience etc. Not sure what kind of law or what you are responsible for. Many throw around the term “Paralegal” but few truly are real Paralegals.

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I’d ask for feedback from everyone with the excuse of the 6 month milestone (makes you look proactive) if the feedback is as good as you expect, use that to leverage a raise. If it’s not as good as you thought. Put it in action and go better prepared to your 1 year review.

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I’m usually really pro “know your worth” / “they need to pay you better” and I’m sure you deserve a higher salary. But 6 months is too soon to start having these conversations. After a year of great performance and a great review is the right time to have this conversation.

This is especially true if they’ve been firing people, even if those people were rightfully fired. That doesn’t necessarily mean they have money lying around to pay you more. The firm might be doing poorly and need to lower headcount, in which case signaling that you want a raise won’t help you.

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And maybe the partners want that cash flow for themselves and don’t care about retaining legal support talent. Not saying it’s true, just saying that sticking your neck out is a risk I wouldn’t take.

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Never hurts to ask! Have reasons for why you believe you should be given a raise at this point. If they feel a raise isn’t warranted now, but they are happy with your performance, it could result in another incentive such as a bonus. I was in your position a few years and am glad I asked myself. Good luck!

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Doesn’t hurt to ask. I was hired at 52k with no experience, then around 6 months was given a 10k raise. Depends on if your firm values you or not. I would suggest looking at market rate in your area and going from there. Good luck 😊

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Great idea, thank you!

Shoot your shot. All they can do is say no. Quantify your accomplishments, projects, money saved and other positives worthy of a pay increase and set up an appointment with the decision makers. Good luck!

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I have been a lead paralegal for several years. Most raises are given annually based on performance. Newer employees (those hired within that year) usually do not advance significantly in salary after just 1 year. It is in no way appropriate to ask for a raise after 6 months. You may get a small raise after one year (most people do), but unless you are the Rockstar of the firm (meaning billing as a paralegal at least 3 times your salary which is average) I wouldn't expect much. It will take a few years to prove your worth and loyalty to the firm.

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Too early to ask for a raise, Actually gaining more experience at your current firm is best. Once you have solid experience (1-2 years) then I would look for a better paying position elsewhere and your firm may then offer to pay you more to keep you. Best not to push the salary issue and irritate your current firm instead of getting to gain a couple of experience so people would then hire you and pay you more. Experience is golden!

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This generation 😂

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And you know exactly how old I am how....?

Have you had your annual review yet?

I would wait until your yearly review. As a paralegal myself 6 months is not enough time even if you think your kicking butt. Especially if you went in with no experience. Give it time. Yes you could ask and then can just tell you no we give reviews at 1 year. I know my firm says one year review and I have 10+ years of experience.

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I would wait at LEAST a year. Firms typically (not always) have a yearly performance review and that would be the time to discuss it. You can certainly ask, but it might put them off.

I once worked for a sole practitioner for FIVE YEARS with no raise and no benefits! He had said he was "working toward that" when I was hired. Three years in I was able to negotiate a raise that amounted to a net $400 each month, which *almost* covered my $435/month healthcare. Law firms are notoriously cheap, the sole practitioners tend to be even worse.

You got hired with legal experience your competing with paralegals with law degrees who have 10 plus years you should be grateful you even got a job your under qualified

Someone seems a little bitter. People should be encouraged to advocate for themselves and not ket companies abuse hard working employees while they reek all the benefit of our hard work.

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