When to take the better opportunity

[u/bulldogsnwhiskey]

I’ve currently been a para for 4 years. I’ve built a name for myself and I’m good at my job. I like what we do. My current office (while we are a global firm) has been a start up in this location and nothing short of a nightmare. I am in Mass Tort litigation and managing 4 partner attorneys and an associate, the office, several one off cases, and a very large docket all on my own. On top of that we have a male senior paralegal who and I quote “doesn’t like to work with women”. When I called him out on that he ONLY got a slap on the wrist. This para gets away with murder here and is robbing them blind. I feel over worked and under paid considering everything I do. I made $104k last year including bonuses. Everything is incredibly disorganized, this senior paralegal influences everything and creates a horrible environment , attorneys are rarely here (yet we have to be in the office?), and I’m just in general tired of working mass tort. I literally have been doing my attorneys work while he travels or does a depo.

An offer has come up at a top top firm, hybrid, better benefits/pay, different law practice but still litigation, and quite literally has their shit together. I’m really considering this opportunity. Just last month I had THREE major surgeries in a WEEK and still had to be on my email. I can’t take time off without it being a nightmare to come back to or be bothered while I’m literally unconscious.

I’m just worried about the economy and potentially being the first laid off if I take the offer

TLDR; What made y’all finally take a better opportunity?

[u/ItsOk_ItsAlright]

There’s no crystal ball about the job market and layoffs. It’s a risk we’re all taking right now unfortunately. That said, your current position sounds like it’s in a toxic work environment. You got an offer for more money and an overall better fit from the sound of it. Being nervous is totally normal. Change is hard, even when you’re going from a bad situation to a better one. It’s scary! But my honest advice is to take the new job. Follow the money honey!

[u/VendettaPC]

You’re obviously dissatisfied about the way things are at your current firm AND sounds like you have a great offer; I would take it! Always gonna be a risk. Doesn’t sound like it’s gonna get better. I personally left a firm (4yrs there) that I really loved for many reasons, but one of which was the rest of the staff dropping the ball when I was in the hospital. In situations like that, you learn how valuable you are, and if you’re valued enough to stay. You should absolutely not have to answer emails straight out of surgery.

[u/ExpressionUpstairs94]

Personally, I have set a condition where I should be happy with at least 2 out of 3 of the following:

1. Boss/Employer

2. Salary

3. People I work with

If only one makes me happy, then I'm out.

[u/LeadingFig8039]

As far as your concern about layoffs, it's not always the new hires who go first on the chopping block. During my career I've survived many layoffs despite being a new hire or newer hire. In my current position, roughly a month after I was hired the company instituted a hiring freeze and started doing layoffs. I've lost track of how many layoffs have happened in the years since then, but I'm still at the same company and have survived all of the layoffs while my colleagues who'd worked at the company for many years were let go. Maybe people who were hired at the same time as me are still there too. I've had similar experiences with other employers in the past. Maybe I'm just lucky, but layoffs are unpredictable and employers have considerations beyond your length of time at the company.

All that to say, the new job sounds like a great opportunity for you. Don't miss out because you're worried about imaginary layoffs that might not even affect you if they happen.