Though there are some things in life you can’t negotiate — like your tax bracket or the inflation rate — your salary isn’t one of them. Negotiation is a standard part of the hiring process when you’re starting a new role. However, a 2020 Glassdoor study found that 59% of American employees did not negotiate their salary. And gender plays a role: of the one in 10 U.S. employees who negotiate and successfully get a raise, men are three times more successful than women.

Asking for a raise or negotiating your salary at a new job can seem daunting, but some tricks and tactics can help you go into it more confidently.

US Salary Negotiations Facts:

If you’re feeling apprehensive about asking for a raise, you’re not alone. It turns out there are several factors that influence how likely you are to ask for a raise. There’s hope you’ll succeed as more businesses are doling out raises in 2022.

• In 2022, 62% of U.S. workers plan to ask for a raise; if workers don’t receive a raise, just 31% plan to ask to revisit their salary conversation in a few months.
• In 2022, 92% of businesses surveyed are giving base pay raises. And 44% of those organizations are giving out more than a 3% raise.
• More workers would rather speak in public than ask for a raise. About 66% of those surveyed were more comfortable with public speaking than the 56% who were more comfortable with asking for a raise.

Select the MoneyGeek hyperlink above to read the full article.

The top 10 most prestigious firms based on Vault's Law Firm Associate Survey for 2022 are: 

#1 Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

#2 Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

#3 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates

#4 Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

#5 Latham & Watkins LLP

#6 Kirkland & Ellis

#7 Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

#8 Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

#9 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

#10 Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP

 This is the fourth straight year that these 10 firms have been at the top of the Vault Law 100.

Cravath sits comfortably on its Top 100 throne with a prestige score 8.976, 0.365 points higher than Wachtell's (still impressive) score of 8.611. Survey respondents describe Cravath as “extremely prestigious,” “top notch,” and “elite” and also note that the firm is an “industry trend-setter” and “compensation leader.”

“Cravath and prestige go hand in hand, with the firm securely atop the Vault Law 100 year after year and also within the top 10 of multiple practice area rankings—including the top position in General Corporate Practice,” said Mary Kate Sheridan, Senior Law Editor at Vault. “When Cravath speaks, other firms follow. The firm has established industry standards on hiring and compensation for years, and even when it isn't the first to move, Cravath's decision to join influences the market—as with this year's compensation and special bonus announcements.”

Four Firms Catapult Upward in the Top 100

This year's Top 100 saw four firms make impressive gains in the rankings: Perkins Coie LLP, which increased 10 spots to No. 33; Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, which climbed eight spots to No. 36; Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, which rose six spots to No. 55; and DC litigation boutique Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, P.L.L.C., which jumped seven spots to No. 90.

Perkins Coie had the biggest leap of the group—one that has been building since it broke into the top half of the Vault Law 100 in the 2019 rankings. Long the No. 1 firm in the Pacific Northwest, Perkins Coie also propelled seven spots up in this year's Northern California ranking and moved up eight spots in the ranking for Washington, DC.

“Perkins Coie is definitely a firm to watch,” said Sheridan. “It has been steadily rising in prestige, and with the 2022 results, it looks like it could be a contender for the top 25 in years to come.”

New York Isn't Going Anywhere

While New York is home to some of the most elite law firms, recent years have seen the spotlight shift to other markets. But it's shining on the Big Apple once again—this year's Top 100 rankings marked a rise in firms with New York roots. In fact, around a quarter of firms that rose two or more spots in the Vault Law 100 are based in New York City, including Milbank LLP (No. 23), Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (No. 36), Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP (No. 46), Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP (No. 79), and Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP (No. 92). Not to mention, the majority of the top 10 in the Vault Law 100 hail from New York.

“Corporate practice has been particularly busy this past year—especially with the rise of SPACs—so it isn't surprising to see the New York market getting noticed,” said Sheridan. “We've also seen some New York firms—like Milbank and Willkie—becoming market leaders in compensation and expanding their reach outside of New York, which is likely drawing attention.”

New Chicago Ranking for Midsize Law Firms

Vault has long ranked the top law firms in Chicago but this year is introducing a new ranking featuring the most prestigious midsize law firms in the Windy City. The ranking is based on votes from associates who work in the Chicago region. Claiming the No. 1 spot in the Midsize Chicago ranking is Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP, followed by Bartlit Beck LLP (No. 2), Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP (No. 3), Goldberg Kohn (No. 4), and Eimer Stahl LLP (No. 5).

“While many elite BigLaw firms have active practices in Chicago, the city is also home to numerous midsize powerhouses,” said Sheridan. “For law students and lawyers who are hoping to practice in the Midwest, these midsize firms offer complex legal work in a more intimate setting—plus many pack in that enviable Midwestern charm.”

Shakeups in Northern California and the South Atlantic

The new midsize ranking isn't the only change in Vault's regional rankings this year. The Northern California ranking saw a new No. 1, with Cooley LLP taking the top spot for the first time ever. The firm has been a regular in the Northern California top 10 for more than a decade and has slowly been making its way toward the top over the years. Notably, the firm also broke into the top 25 in the New York ranking, after a steady climb from No. 40 in 2020 and No. 33 in 2021.

In the South Atlantic ranking, Alston & Bird LLP reclaimed its No. 1 spot, after falling to No. 3 in last year's ranking.

Vault's No. 1 firms in each region are:

Atlanta: King & Spalding LLP

Boston: Ropes & Gray LLP

Chicago: Kirkland & Ellis

Chicago Midsize: Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP

Florida: Holland & Knight LLP

Mid-Atlantic: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates

Midwest: Jones Day

Mountain States: Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

New York: Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

New York – Midsize: Pryor Cashman LLP

Northern California: Cooley LLP

Pacific Northwest: Perkins Coie LLP

South Atlantic: Alston & Bird LLP

Southern California: Latham & Watkins LLP

Texas: Vinson & Elkins LLP

Texas Midsize: Susman Godfrey LLP

Washington, DC: Covington & Burling LLP

The full rankings for each of these regions can be found here.

Cooley and Kirkland Claim Gold in Practice Area Rankings

Along with its rise to the top in Northern California, Cooley made its mark in this year's practice area rankings. For the first time ever, the firm moved to the top of Vault Law's Privacy & Data Security ranking, jumping one spot from its No. 2 rank in 2021. The firm also maintained its No. 1 spot in Emerging Companies & Venture Capital and moved up in the rankings for Intellectual Property (No. 5), Mergers & Acquisitions (No. 12), and Private Equity (No. 15).

This year's rankings also saw Kirkland reclaim its No. 1 spot in Bankruptcy/Restructuring. Kirkland had held the No. 1 position from 2016 through 2019, moving to No. 2 in 2020 and 2021.

There were no changes at the top in Vault's remaining 25 practice area rankings. View all of Vault's 2022 Practice Area rankings here.

Behind the Vault Law Rankings

The Vault Law 100 ranking is based on scores from more than 20,000 law firm associates surveyed earlier this year, who were asked to rate law firms on a scale of 1 to 10 based on prestige. Survey respondents were not allowed to rate their own firms and were asked only to rate firms with which they were familiar. In addition to the industry-wide ranking of overall prestige, Vault Law also asked associates to rate the local prestige of law firms in their region and to select the strongest firms in their specific areas of practice. From this data, Vault Law produced 17 regional prestige rankings, including rankings for Boston; Chicago (for both large and midsize firms); New York (both for large firms and midsize firms); Northern and Southern California; Texas (both for large and midsize firms); Washington, DC; and more. Vault also produced 27 practice area prestige rankings, including rankings for Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Commercial Litigation, General Corporate, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, M&A, and Privacy & Data Security, among others.

About Vault Law

Vault Law, an Infobase company, is the most comprehensive and trusted resource for law students and laterals to research law firms. Vault Law's law firm rankings and profiles deliver the insider perspective and essential information candidates need to make successful career decisions. Each year, Vault Law surveys thousands of associates to understand what life is like for attorneys at the nation's top law firms. Vault Law ranks law firms by prestige, region, and practice area as well as top firms for quality of life using its annual survey results. Additionally, Vault Law publishes other valued resources including the Vault Guide to Summer Associate Programs and Interviewing, Practice Perspectives: Vault's Guide to Legal Practice Areas, and Law Firm Diversity Profiles. Through Vault's law school platform, thousands of students from nearly 100 partnering law schools across the country have unlimited access to this critical information.

Questions? Contact Vault’s Senior Law Editor, Mary Kate Sheridan: msheridan@vault.com

Whether you’re considering a career in Federal Government, Non-profits or NGO’s, the legal field, etc., utilizing network connections will be a huge benefit to you. The value of networking and informational interviews is not just to get your name out there, but also to gather information that will be valuable to you as you continue to job search. As Heather Kerrigan from govloop.com states, you’re not asking network connections for a job, but rather more about their work and their field. The point being that if you’re able to have an engaging conversation with an industry professional or alum in your field of interest, they’re likely going to remember you when opportunities arise.

Though none of this is easy, there are tools to make this experience a bit more palatable. Don’t miss the opportunity to leverage LinkedIn as a way to make connections. The DU Alumni page on LinkedIn offers a data set of over 88,000 DU alums. This is not only a great tool to research the career paths of alumni, but also to build connections with those working in careers that also interest you! Join one of the many DU groups on LinkedIn to further leverage your connection. The University of Denver Alumni group has almost 13,000 members.

Ultimately, the benefit of building connections is that it will give you an advantage in pursuing positions where you already know someone connected in some way to that job or that organization. Though your resume/CV/cover letter, virtual brand, and interview skills also have to be strong, building connections can be the most effective tool of getting you in the door.

For more questions about building connections in Government, Policy, or Law, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with your Career Advisor to discuss further.

Whether you’re just starting college or about to graduate, you might be wondering whether you should go to grad school. This could be especially true if you’re considering a career in law or medicine, fields that require significant postgraduate education.

Before you decide, here are some of the key things you need to know about grad school.

What is grad school?

Grad school (or graduate school) is any form of postgraduate education that focuses on one particular area of study. Depending on the subject you choose, this can be anything from business to law or even the humanities. Designed to deepen your understanding of your chosen subject and turn you into a specialist in your field, grad school can vary in length from two years for a master’s degree to seven years for a Ph.D. and usually includes a combination of coursework and independent study.

How is grad school different from college?

While college gives you a broad overview of several subjects and helps you identify which subject you’re truly passionate about, grad school allows you to become an expert in that subject and to explore it in detail. Depending on the program you choose, grad school also has a different structure than college, generally consisting of classes, independent study and a final project such as a thesis or dissertation.

What types of grad school programs are there?

Grad school programs vary depending on the academic subject and the type of degree. Popular programs include Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) programs for medical students, Juris Doctor (J.D.) programs for law students, Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) programs for business students and a broad range of master’s and Ph.D. programs in subjects including psychology, biochemistry and history.

What should I consider when deciding whether to go to grad school?

Deciding whether to go to grad school comes down to two things: 1) Your desire to continue your course of study and 2) Your career goals. For example, if you’re passionate about law, going to law school to pursue a Juris Doctor degree is a must if you want to become a lawyer. The same goes for those wishing to me doctors who must attend medical school and get a Doctor of Medicine degree in order to practice. For others, such as creative writers or computer programmers, a graduate degree is not required in order to advance in the field though some may choose to do it in order to develop their skills and knowledge.

Pro Tip: Beyond your career goals, two other important factors to consider are time and cost. Since grad school typically requires a minimum two-year commitment in addition to tuition costs, it’s important to have a clear understanding of how this degree can help you before entering into a graduate program.

A great way to boost your knowledge and expand your career options, grad school can be a powerful way to develop new skills. By knowing what to expect and what factors to consider, you’ll be able to decide if grad school is right for you.

The post What Is Grad School? appeared first on Career Advice & Interview Tips | WayUp Guide.

A popular career path for those interested in law, being a paralegal offers recent grads the opportunity to learn about all aspects of the legal profession including legal precedents and case management. If you’re considering becoming a paralegal, you might be wondering what this career path entails and whether it could be the right choice for you.

Here are some of the key things you need to know about being a paralegal.

What is a paralegal?

A paralegal is a professional employed by a law firm, corporation or government agency to work with lawyers on various legal issues. Trained to understand legal principles and to take on some of the same tasks as lawyers, paralegals are an integral part of most legal teams and are often directly responsible for helping attorneys research and manage cases.

What does a paralegal do?

Paralegals are able to coordinate most aspects of a legal department’s operations including drafting correspondence, performing legal research, analyzing documents, fact checking case information and keeping track of the firm’s legal calendar. They also provide general support for attorneys and help out with administrative tasks.

What are the challenges of being a paralegal?

Since paralegals are responsible for much of the work that goes on behind the scenes, one of the main challenges of their job is to be able to multitask effectively and to prioritize which tasks need to be done first. Another challenge of this role is that in big firms, paralegals often report to several attorneys at once so being able to keep track of their workflow (and the workflow of their managers) is extremely important.

What are the benefits of being a paralegal?

While being a paralegal certainly has some challenges, it also has a lot of benefits. These include learning about various types of case law, participating in potentially exciting cases and getting to meet interesting people within the legal field and beyond. Another great perk is that paralegals are often eligible for law school scholarships so if they decide to become lawyers themselves, they can receive some help in getting there.

What is a typical salary for a paralegal?

Although paralegal salaries can vary based on location and experience, a typical entry-level paralegal salary is around $42,500 with more established paralegals earning upwards of $68,000.

A stable career path with a lot of opportunity for growth and learning, being a paralegal is a great option for those who are passionate about the legal field. The best way to find out if being a paralegal is right for you is by doing an internship and getting a hands-on feel for the role.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as The Importance of Location in Your Entry-Level Job Search and find answers to common interview questions such as What’s Your Dream Job?

The post What is a Paralegal? appeared first on Career Advice & Interview Tips | WayUp Guide.