As attorneys navigating a competitive job market, having the latest regulatory and legal framework knowledge can be invaluable in helping you find opportunities that match your goals. The new California Pay Transparency Law is one such development, offering attorneys — at all levels of their career — new guidance that provides greater insight into potential salary arrangements for positions based in California. In this blog post, we’ll look at the new California Pay Transparency Law and provide key tips on how it can help you leverage it for new and existing opportunities.
So, what is the New California Pay Transparency Law?
The New California Pay Transparency Law (CPTL), which takes effect on January 1, 2023, prohibits employers from discriminating against workers who discuss their pay or the pay of their coworkers. The law also requires employers to post wage information, provide written notice of wages and hours, and respond to inquiries about pay differences.
As an attorney looking to make a lateral move, the new CPTL can benefit your job search by:
Negotiating Power – With the new law in place, employers must now be more transparent about salaries and wages. This gives you negotiating power to talk openly about wages with potential employers. It also can make it easier for you to compare offers side by side and make an informed decision on which role is the most lucrative for your experience level and career goals.
Ability to Address Potential Pay Inequalities – The new law also provides a way to address potential pay disparities. You can use the law to raise questions or challenge an employer if you believe they are paying someone unequally on the basis of their race, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation or nationality. Diversity and inclusion are important values in the legal profession, and the new California law helps ensure that all workers have a transparent system to challenge pay inequities.
Clarity and Fairness in Employment Contracts – Because the new law requires employers to provide written notice of wages and hours, you can better understand what is expected of you in your job. Firms will differ in their time and attendance policies, so the law gives you more information to evaluate potential contracts before signing them.
Along with those benefits, The California Pay Transparency Law is also helpful to attorneys that want to stay with their current firms because it provides them the opportunity to analyze where their salary stands in comparison to others within the same company and tactfully address any discrepancies with management for a potential adjustment.
Knowing this law — and how it works — can make your search or current opportunity that much better.
Here are three practical tips on leveraging the law to your advantage:
1. Do your research – Be sure to do your due diligence and ask for salary information when you are interviewing for positions.
2. Keep track of job postings – If a position is advertised with salary information, make sure to take note of it as this may help inform your negotiations.
3. Ask questions – Use the law as a tool to ask questions and understand potential discrepancies. If you believe there is an inequity, bring it up with your employer in a respectful manner and use the law to support your case.
We hope that this blog post has been helpful to you in understanding the new California Pay Transparency Law and how it can help your job search or current opportunity.
If you are interested in new opportunities, our legal search team can help you find the perfect fit. Contact us today to learn more at [email protected].
