Offers, choosing between them, and rejection
Deadlines, what you can negotiate, a simple scoring method for choosing, and what to do after a no.
Key takeaways
- At entry level, pay is usually fixed by level and office, so focus on timing, office, and support, and choose between offers with clear criteria rather than prestige alone.
- Common mistakes: Trying to negotiate base pay hard at entry level.
- Reply politely and ask for feedback: "Thank you for letting me know. If possible, I would value any feedback on what I could improve."
- Write down what happened in each interview while you remember it.
- Many firms let candidates apply again after a waiting period, commonly 12 to 24 months depending on the firm and the stage you reached.
Key idea
At entry level, pay is usually fixed by level and office, so focus on timing, office, and support, and choose between offers with clear criteria rather than prestige alone.
| Usually fixed | Sometimes open to discussion |
|---|---|
| Base salary for the level and office | Start date |
| Title and level | Office or practice area preference |
| Standard bonus structure | Relocation support, visa help, and in some cases a signing bonus |
| More time to decide on the offer |
So-what
Experienced hires have more room to discuss level and pay, because their background varies.
"Thank you very much for the offer. I am very excited about it. I am finishing another process that ends on the 20th, and I want to make a careful decision. Would it be possible to reply by the 22nd?" Polite, specific, and honest.
Worked case
Choosing between two offers with a weighted score
The prompt
You have two offers. Your criteria and weights: people and culture 30 percent, learning 25 percent, office location 20 percent, pay 15 percent, future options 10 percent. You score each firm from 1 to 5. Firm A: 4, 5, 3, 4, 4. Firm B: 5, 3, 5, 3, 4. Which scores higher?
The structure
- Weighted score = sum of weight x score
- Firm A weighted score
- Firm B weighted score
- Compare, then sense-check
Working it through
1. Firm A
0.30 x 4 + 0.25 x 5 + 0.20 x 3 + 0.15 x 4 + 0.10 x 4.
Firm A score:0.3 × 4 + 0.25 × 5 + 0.2 × 3 + 0.15 × 4 + 0.1 × 4 = 4.052. Firm B
0.30 x 5 + 0.25 x 3 + 0.20 x 5 + 0.15 x 3 + 0.10 x 4.
Firm B score:0.3 × 5 + 0.25 × 3 + 0.2 × 5 + 0.15 × 3 + 0.1 × 4 = 4.13. Sense-check
The scores are almost equal. So the decision comes down to what matters most to you: Firm A teaches more; Firm B has the people and the location you prefer.
The recommendation
The method does not decide for you, but it shows where the real trade-off is. Here it is learning (Firm A) against people and location (Firm B). Talk to people at both firms about exactly that.
After a rejection
- Reply politely and ask for feedback: "Thank you for letting me know. If possible, I would value any feedback on what I could improve."
- Write down what happened in each interview while you remember it.
- Many firms let candidates apply again after a waiting period, commonly 12 to 24 months depending on the firm and the stage you reached. The wait usually applies to all of the firm's offices. Check each firm's policy.
- Other firms may still be open to you now. One rejection is not a verdict on your ability.
Two criteria only: learning (weight 60 percent) and pay (weight 40 percent). A firm scores 4 on learning and 3 on pay. What is its weighted score?
Trying to negotiate base pay hard at entry level. Accepting an offer and then backing out later, which damages your reputation. Choosing only by prestige. Not asking for feedback after a rejection.
At entry level, what is usually easiest to discuss?
An offer expires in one week, but you are waiting for another firm. What do you do?
After a rejection, when can you usually apply again to the same firm?
Sources for this lesson (1)
- Recognized public explanations of case-interview concepts and frameworks
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