$$$

on a routine drink night with some friends from school this evening, i discovered that i was the lowest paid paralegal in our group of 10 (or so). statistically, that means that only two other people in my class are making the same or less than me (perhaps this is not mathematically sound but as we know, math is not my strong point). i don't feel particularly bad about this - after all, i never work overtime and i never have to work weekends and my job is pretty low-stress. but at the same time, i know i need to be making more money just to keep myself out of unnecessary debt. and of course, i hate knowing that i don't make as much as everyone else does! not that $2500 more a year makes a huge difference from paycheque to paycheque but still, it's the principle of it all.

herein lies my problem (which has always been my problem): i love where i work. i really like the lawyers i work with and most of the people i work with are great. it's a very low stress environment and, while i don't feel as challenged as i could be, most days i like the pace i go at. so, do i apply for other jobs and risk leaving somewhere i really don't have major issues working at? there was a suggestion this evening that i should look around, get some offers on paper and then use those to up my salary at my current job. i could do that. i would do that. but i would hate to use one firm against the other - really, that's just shooting yourself in the foot if you ever want to leave. the legal community is very small and a sneaky move like that could cost you a position at another firm. i guess i really do have to start thinking about what is best for me now. for whatever reason, i find that very difficult to do sometimes.