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Thank You to our Sponsors – A Look Inside the Black Box – the Compensation Conversation

New Jersey Women Lawyers Association

On January 9, 2018 the In-House Committee presented an intensive look at attorney compensation-“A Look Inside the Black Box – the Compensation Conversation.” The discussion was led by Mary Clare Garber,

Vice President, and Melissa Peters, Managing Director, of Princeton Legal Search. The program began with an in-depth examination of the “layers” of compensation for in-house attorneys; surveyed the practice areas in greatest demand; and shared compensation data specific to a variety of positions and industries in New Jersey. The speakers then provided insights on the compensation negotiation covering both situations of seeking a new position as well as with your current employer. Some of the liveliest conversations surrounded the strategy for the compensation negotiation whether with a prospective employer or your current company. Among the many behind-the-scenes kernels:

Corporate M&A, securities, regulatory and industry-specific commercial experience are among the most highly valued skills in the current market;

Companies are seeking attorneys with pairings of skills, such as securities plus regulatory, commercial plus deal and litigation plus regulatory;

In NJ, the strongest industries for hiring lawyers are life sciences, followed by financial services and consumer products;

Before having a compensation discussion with a prospective employer, it’s important to understand not only the compensation package presented in an offer but also the elements of your current compensation, including base, bonus, long-term, as well as items that are often overlooked, such as telecommuting, relocation, eligibility for severance programs and title; the same holds true in discussing your pay with your existing employer;