Worth having lawyer review HF Associate Offer Letter?

Is it worth having an employment lawyer review my HF Associate offer letter? This is for a role 2-3 years after my IB analyst stint. I fully understand the value of a lawyer, however, the lawyer is charging ~$600 an hour, and even if they look at the contract, I'm unsure anything is going to be changed given the Associate offer letter (junior role) is likely pretty standard. Let me know what you think.

 

IANAL, but I'd keep copies of all documentation for now and not worry about dropping that much on a lawyer just yet. Be staunch enough to ask for it all in writing, even if they think a handshake deal is enough. The offer, employee code of conduct, no trade list, etc. Basically, anything you sign off on needs a duplicate that you keep in a safe place. That way if something does change you have record of what you literally signed up for just in case. It's good you're thinking ahead though.

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Is it worth having an employment lawyer review my HF Associate offer letter? This is for a role 2-3 years after my IB analyst stint. I fully understand the value of a lawyer, however, the lawyer is charging ~$600 an hour, and even if they look at the contract, I'm unsure anything is going to be changed given the Associate offer letter (junior role) is likely pretty standard. Let me know what you think.

Former lawyer here. I wouldn’t pay for it. You’re junior enough that it is unlikely there are negotiable points or anything out of the ordinary. An attorney would likely take 1200 dollars with no value added. 

 
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my brother is a lawyer....his advice is "just take an hour and read it yourself"...you typically don't need a lawyer for this.

things to look for

1 - non compete clause...the period should be reasonable..6 months to 1 year max unless they are paying you serious cash to not be working for an extended period (remember, its much easier to get a job when you have a job...after 1-2 years of not working, you may find it hard to get a new job).

2 - outside business activities (can you invest in your buddies startup if you want?  trade crypto on the side?)

3 - clawbacks if/when you leave?

 

I suggest paying to have the document reviewed, especially since you haven't seen many employment agreements before. A reputable attorney probably won't bill you for more than an hour. Be wary of shops that require a deposit for multiple hours.

You won't be in a position to negotiate and you don't want to come across as litigious but there might be some details that wouldn't be obvious to you. For example, there might be portions of the agreement that aren't legally enforceable in your state but the employer includes it in the agreement anyway. Knowing those details might be useful when you try to leave.

 

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