Don't let your year-end bonus stall your career growth
Get your bonus paid early.
Firms are still hiring as the new year approaches and many offer sign-on bonuses equivalent to your year-end bonus. Get your bonus sooner! Speak with us to discreetly explore lateral opportunities!
Advising
Yes, I’m interested in hearing about opportunities.
Leave your details so our team can contact you confidentially.
The cost of waiting
A bonus is one year. Your career is the next twenty.
Many lawyers put a move on hold every winter so they don't walk away from a payout. It's a reasonable instinct, but the right seat at the right firm doesn't always wait for your bonus cycle.
When a firm wants to make a hire, it may be willing to address a forfeited bonus with a sign-on bonus. Whether that's offered, how much, when it's paid, and what strings come with it is set out in the written offer. It is never guaranteed.
A confidential conversation simply tells you what's possible, so you can decide with real information.
Three things to weigh before you decide
- 01
Timing
Bonus payout dates and your notice period both affect your timing. Understanding them early lets you plan a start date rather than react to one.
- 02
Total compensation
Look beyond a single number. Base, bonus structure, origination credit, and long-term trajectory together determine whether a move is worth it.
- 03
Repayment terms
Sign-on bonuses often carry clawback provisions if you leave within a set period. Read the conditions in the written offer before relying on any figure.
Explore quietly. Decide on your terms.
No commitment, no pressure. We never share your name or information without your express permission.
Sign-on bonuses are at the sole discretion of the hiring firm. Availability, amount, timing, and repayment obligations depend on the terms of a written offer and are not guaranteed. This page is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice.