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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

NP. I don't agree with what you're saying here, but I am happy to give up some conveniences to make $100k more. However, I do agree with the general gist of all the pp's - OP has it pretty good. It's hard to find a job that pays more that wouldn't be a lot more work and less flexible. They exist, but are sort of like seeing a unicorn.

[Anonymous]

I am always amazed at how much attorneys feel they should be paid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP keep dreaming. You have it good, much better than most govt attorneys.

I agree. I am in your shoes OP. Probably same agency with weekly quotas. Not terribly happy, but not miserable, so I am staying put. There's nothing out there that looks any better that I am aware of.

[Anonymous]

Remember - you also have really good benefits in the government. You've got really good health insurance. And great vacation and sick leave benefits. Don't discount all of that. It's worth alot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

NP. I don't agree with what you're saying here, but I am happy to give up some conveniences to make $100k more. However, I do agree with the general gist of all the pp's - OP has it pretty good. It's hard to find a job that pays more that wouldn't be a lot more work and less flexible. They exist, but are sort of like seeing a unicorn.

That should be "disagree" - I don't disagree with what you're saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remember - you also have really good benefits in the government. You've got really good health insurance. And great vacation and sick leave benefits. Don't discount all of that. It's worth alot.

I hear this all the time and think standard is more accurate. I've been in both the private sector (multiple jobs) and now the government and the health insurance is essentially the same. Vacation is also just OK. Just over 2 weeks to start is nothing earth shattering. The sick leave policy is pretty darn good although I have been at companies that had arguably better policies (no limit, take time off when you are sick).

[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).

Govt attorney here (DOJ GS-15). The OP has it pretty good-- the attorneys who are making 3 times your salary are working awful hours and billing their time in 6-minute increments. You give up some money when you choose the government over a private firm--the tradeoff is usually more interesting work, more responsibility early in your career, and a more family-friendly schedule. You have that, plus you work from home? I really don't see what you're complaining about. If you want to make more money, you're going to have to give up some flexibility and free time. There's no dream job that will pay you a biglaw salary to work at home for eight hours a day.

[Anonymous]

OP-- I just noticed that you are not even in an attorney position but you have a JD. Then you really have a sweet deal. After 5 years post JD without practicing law, I doubt you could land in a firm unless the work you have been doing is highly specialized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP-- I just noticed that you are not even in an attorney position but you have a JD. Then you really have a sweet deal. After 5 years post JD without practicing law, I doubt you could land in a firm unless the work you have been doing is highly specialized.

I saw that earlier too and was wondering why no one mentioned it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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).

I'm not at a firm, I'm in house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I live close to work. Not all of us spend 2 hours each work day commuting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am always amazed at how much attorneys feel they should be paid.

AMEN!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP-- I just noticed that you are not even in an attorney position but you have a JD. Then you really have a sweet deal. After 5 years post JD without practicing law, I doubt you could land in a firm unless the work you have been doing is highly specialized.

I saw that earlier too and was wondering why no one mentioned it.

And, that you are GS-14 is pretty sweet. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am always amazed at how much attorneys feel they should be paid.

AMEN!

Well, the OP is not working as an attorney. She has a JD.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes I work full time. Work about 60 hours a week from home and about 12 from the office. I work so much more at home than at the office that in a way I want to go back to an office setting but my commute is long and would have added expenses. The government is taking advantage of technology and trying to avoid high cost leases. Also, people are more likely to stay at these jobs and low turnover means a lot of savings in training. Now that they have a hiring freeze they need to keep the good people happy. However, working from home means always being available in order to avoid anyone questioning your work hours. To me this means working very long hours.... yet I have never missed a deadline.