Attorney Moms-I need your help to see if I'm underpaid-from another JD Mom

[Anonymous]

For perspective: I'm a 5th yr atty at Legal Aid, make $65K/yr for a 40-hr. week (we are actually not allowed to work more than 40hrs) and nearly 4 weeks vacation per year (not incl sick leave).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is eye-opening. I had no idea that at so many other agencies, it was frowned upon for GS-15s to telework. I am a GS-15, and telework one day a week and my boss (SES) wouldn't care if I did so more often. Same goes for the other GS-15 attorneys who work in my office.

Plus, I've got a friend at another agency (she and I were colleagues at BigLaw before we defected to the feds) and she is a GS-15, too, and also teleworks at least one day a week. I also have another GS-15 friend at another agency who moved away to a different town, but her agency decided to let her work from home almost full-time.

Had no idea it was so tough to telework for so many GS-15 attorneys! Good to know. I'll thank my boss again next time I see him.

I also fall into this category. As do many other attorneys at my agency. The trick is finding an agency that doesn't believe that GS-15 positions should be reserved for supervisors - which are agencies that have a lot of attorneys. I actually make the same amount as my boss.

That's not really an agency call, it's OPM classification guideline that (should) control... Some agencies have more work with level of complexity and nature of contacts ( higher level v staff to staff) and those agencies have an easier time getting staff 15s.

An agency where attorneys do more routine work with few high level contacts has a harder time justifying staff GS15s.

[Anonymous]

My boss won't let attorneys telework (financial agency non-GS) while my friends at a sister agency can up to 1 day a week. Still, I'm better paid overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For perspective: I'm a 5th yr atty at Legal Aid, make $65K/yr for a 40-hr. week (we are actually not allowed to work more than 40hrs) and nearly 4 weeks vacation per year (not incl sick leave).

That sounds pretty good. Is this dc? Are you guys hiring?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is eye-opening. I had no idea that at so many other agencies, it was frowned upon for GS-15s to telework. I am a GS-15, and telework one day a week and my boss (SES) wouldn't care if I did so more often. Same goes for the other GS-15 attorneys who work in my office.

Plus, I've got a friend at another agency (she and I were colleagues at BigLaw before we defected to the feds) and she is a GS-15, too, and also teleworks at least one day a week. I also have another GS-15 friend at another agency who moved away to a different town, but her agency decided to let her work from home almost full-time.

Had no idea it was so tough to telework for so many GS-15 attorneys! Good to know. I'll thank my boss again next time I see him.

At most agencies, GS-15 is very senior. At at least one of my client agencies, they refer to their managers as "15s" or "SES," with the assumption that all 15s are managerial. I think its those agencies where GS15 telecommuting is less likely.

[Anonymous]

A non-supervisory 15 attorney postion is pretty difficult to come by. We have 4 in my 15 person group and we are a rarity in the agency. They are all permitted to telework up to the limits of the telework agreements (here, 40 hours per pay period) after completion of 1 successful year in their positions.

I'm a GS 14 with no LLM, almost 8 years out of law school. I've been in my current job for just shy of 7 years, and only as a 14 in the last year. I'd say you have it pretty good OP and you aren't likely to make that much more unless you go private which would come with its own trade offs in terms of flexibility and hours.

[Anonymous]

Another attorney mom here. I make twice as much as you, but have 13 years of experience and work in a highly technical area. And I only work at home as needed (maybe 6 days/year for illnesses or school closures). I work for a boutique firm - if I moved a government agency that does the work I do, I could get a 15/10 non-managerial spot because of the technical nature of what I do (which would be $155K), but would probably only be allowed to work at home 1 day/week rather that as needed as I do now. I don't think attorneys moving in to the agency with only 5 years of experience would be given a 15/10 - possibly a 15/1, but more likely a 14/whatever would be a bump from where you're at now.

[Anonymous]

It would be helpful to know what the agencies are that are allowing the telework. Can you all disclose?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Supervisors are not allowed to telework at our agency. As for non-supervisory 14s and 15s, telework is entirely up to the manager. Some (mine included) allow telework 3 days a week. Others don't allow it at all.

Same with my agency, although our SES Director does it occasionally.

[Anonymous]

Is $106,000 for full time?

[Anonymous]

I work full time in an office, but make double your salary. If you could make a lot more just by commuting, do it!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work full time in an office, but make double your salary. If you could make a lot more just by commuting, do it!!

Why? At a firm, as well as more money, there is more stress, more hours, office politics, possibility of getting fired/let go, etc. Gov't atty is an awesome job if you can get it or already have it (I'm not one but DH is).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work full time in an office, but make double your salary. If you could make a lot more just by commuting, do it!!

Ugh, the commute is the worst part about living in this area. In addition to the time and stress (which are significant), also consider the cost in transportation (Metro or gas and maintenance), in office clothes and dry cleaning, in packing lunches or eating out, in needing to take leave in order to be home for a repairman or similar issue, in needing to take more leave for appointments than you would if leaving from home rather than from work, in taking longer to pick up a sick kid from school or other emergency .... OP is getting a huge lifestyle benefit and tangible financial benefit from not commuting.

[Anonymous]

OP, frankly you sounds a little entitled for being only 5 years out, want to stay in govt and have a cush telework set up with govt hours, and making $106K. Of course, your classmates working in corporate firms make 3x as much. They also work 6-7 days a week and ungodly hours (particular fifth year associates).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, frankly you sounds a little entitled for being only 5 years out, want to stay in govt and have a cush telework set up with govt hours, and making $106K. Of course, your classmates working in corporate firms make 3x as much. They also work 6-7 days a week and ungodly hours (particular fifth year associates).

Understatement.