Comp check: 3–5 YOE considering first in-house move at growth-stage tech company. Offer is $175k base, no bonus, 4% 401k match, solid healthcare/perks, small equity grant vesting over 4 years, fully remote, and appears to be a lean legal team with broad responsibility.
Currently at a stable Fortune 500 company , 4 years of in-house experience. Comp is $200K base, 20% bonus, and $25K in stock annually, all in a MCOL city. The quality of life is great, but my wife 2 kids and I have no real support system nearby. I now have an opportunity to move home to a HCOL city for a role at less stable company offering $180K base, 15% bonus, and $10K in annual stock. The draw is being close to family, especially our aging parents, who are all between 72–80. Thoughts?
Fellow in-house warriors, please help me with a situation. I'm a solo GC, tech start-up, series C-ish. My CEO has become increasingly unhinged, obsessed with closing deals super quick such that he says he will measure how long legal takes. Wants to accept all terms, regardless of risk and even if something is objectively just wrong. Provides super unclear risk posture input or definitive instructions except to say "we can't spend time on legal". Contd. in comments..
A bit low but for fully remote it’s not awful. The market for full remote is bad right now.
wait wait wait, so they are looking for a Junior Attorney serve as General Counsel?? they are being cheap and this type of company is a lay off risk, pass
Pass. Seems like a lot of work for not comparable comp. But youre junior so you wont get THAT much more. Maybe up to 20% bonus.
That’s low. If you’re in LCOL and the hours are good it may be worth it, but definitely on the lower end.
Looooooow
Hahaha damn, I didn’t realize the consensus would be this rough 😭 For those who’ve made similar moves, what would you actually try to negotiate here? More base, bonus, equity etc.?
If you don’t have any other option + must make the move now + wlb is ok and the company is otherwise OK, you can take it and make another move in a year or so. Have to make sure you will be in a position where you will be growing your skills. Otherwise find a job at a law firm, even a mid size one, you entry $$$ will be much higher without you having to fight for an increase.
What’s a lean legal team? Also, what’s the outside counsel spend attitude like? It’s not terrible for fully remote and you’re pretty junior. I’ve seen 175-180k for fully remote and I have 8YOE. With a 4y vest I wouldn’t even consider the equity into the comp discussion TBH
Pretty low but also a lean legal team at growth stage tech company, presumably startup, sounds like not great wlb
What city? Very low in NY, could work in lower cost locations.
Fully remote but I’m in a MCOL city.
Somewhat low, but honestly I think 3 vs 5 YOE makes a difference here. 3 years means you’re still having to have your work monitored and you’re probably still bei ng trained as a lawyer, but year 5 you’re a bit more trusted to operate by yourself. I’d you had said 175k for 3 YOE, I would think it’s more reasonable (but the no bonus would suck). 175k with no bonus for 5 YOE is def low though
depends, if those YOE was in house or at a firm. there is alot more hand holding at a big firm compared to working in a in house legal dept of a major company. if you have zero legal experience in house, then you have less leverage