Every now and again you find a unicorn employer that can offer an above market remuneration package, no overtime and lots of flexibility, but that would be a rare find.

Often there is a trade off.

Many lawyers I speak to would be willing to compromise on salary if they could achieve greater flexibility and/or have better working hours. On the flipside, there are lawyers happy to work for an employer where the demands on their time and client expectations are higher, provided that its reflected in their remuneration package.

Lawyers don't look at salary in isolation. They're weighing it up against what that might mean in terms of flexibility, family time, billable expectations and firm demands.

Those that want to prioritise their life outside of work and need flex, are usually still willing to work hard but they want to work differently - focused when they need to be and have boundaries in place as to when employers and clients would expect them to be responsive.

What this means for employers is firstly understanding where you're positioned in the legal market. If you're unable to match salaries at the top of the market, thinking about what your other unique attraction points are and clearly communicating them through a process will help attract talent. For retention, paying your high performing and hard working staff well (particularly where work/life balance or flex is limited), will lessen the risk of losing your top performers.

If you're a candidate going through a job search process, reflecting on your priorities at the outset will help you navigate decision making if you're in a multi-offer situation or weighing up whether to move on from your current role. There may be differences in salaries offered, at times significant differences, and understanding what the trade offs are will help you make a well-informed decision.

Get in touch if you'd like to get a steer on current market salaries for your background and what compromises may or may not be needed if you have certain flex or other requirements. I'm also happy to chat with employers that want to get an objective view on how they're perceived in the market and positioned against competitors.