Q. I just received an offer for an in-house position from a large corporation. Everything about the position is great, except for one thing -- the salary. It was quite a bit lower than I had anticipated. Should I try to negotiate a higher salary before I accept? I would probably take the offer even at the salary I was offered, because I already left my last position, and I have been looking for several months.

A. First of all, congratulations! You are wise to consider carefully whether to negotiate before you accept the offer. This is the optimal window of opportunity for negotiations -- after you receive an offer and before you accept. There is some risk, however, that a request for additional compensation could be taken as a rejection of the original offer. This is rare, but it does happen. Before you decide whether to ask for more money, let’s look at your situation more closely. Presumably you have looked at your finances and concluded that the salary offered would meet your basic needs. Surprisingly, many people do not take the time to figure out how much money they need to live comfortably until after they have received an offer. The next question to ask yourself is why you anticipated a higher salary? Do you know what other attorneys at your level in the company are making? The compensation formulas for attor-neys vary greatly from one company to another even within the same industry. Is it lower than the salary you received from your previous employer? What you made at your last job is not always a good indicator of what you will be compensated by a new employer. One of the most important considerations in deciding whether to ask for more money is how it might affect your new employer’s perception of you. If you have any reason to think that an attempt to negotiate might not be well received, don’t do it. In some industries (e.g., real estate development) not negotiating for a higher salary may be a negative. Use your best judgment in assessing the situation. If you are still unsure, one approach may be to express your enthusiasm for the new position and mention -- gently -- that you had thought the salary would be higher. That way you haven’t actually rejected the offer, but you give them the opportunity to discuss the issue. As in all salary negotiations, you want to look at the entire compensation package and not just the salary. How generous are the benefits? Benefits vary greatly from company to company. Often the reason the base salary sounds low is that the benefits package is generous. Recently a client received an offer that included an annual bonus that equaled 25% of her salary. Other clients have told me that they had initially been disappointed with an offer until they realized that all of their family’s medical insurance was paid for by the employer. Other benefits have included additional vacation time and reduced and flexible work hours. Even more importantly, what are the opportunities for advancement? Your initial salary and benefits must be viewed in light of your future potential with the company. If you haven’t already asked about the company’s expectations for you, this may be a good time to initiate the discussion. When asking these questions, make sure to couch them in terms of how much you will be able to contribute -- not just how much you will receive. Also be sure to find out more about the review process -- both in terms of timing and standards. You want to know what their expectations are for you before you start. In lieu of an increased salary or additional benefits at this time, you may want to ask instead for an expedited salary review. If reviews are typically done on an annual basis, you may want to request a review in six months. I wouldn’t recommend an earlier time frame, because you will need time to settle in and learn about the company before you can make a contribution worthy of increased compensation. Good luck!

Q. I am a third-year associate, and I just went through my annual review and was told: “Things aren’t working out.” Apparently, I do not need to leave the firm immediately. There was some mention of a severance agreement and “benefits” if I voluntarily resign. What does this mean? What benefits could I expect?

A. Yes, it may seem odd to think of “severance benefits,” but often a firm or company will offer a severance package to an employee who voluntarily resigns instead of forcing a termination. The most frequent benefits include severance pay (either monthly or in a lump sum), vacation pay (for accrued vacation), outplacement services (assistance with your career search) and good references. If you have been offered severance, be sure to ask for the agreement in writing. Although you may not feel that you are in a position of strength, you should not be afraid to negotiate the terms of the agreement, if you believe that circumstances warrant additional or different terms. It is probably in the firm’s best interest to ensure that you are able to make a smooth transition. n