You have decided to move on, found a new opportunity and handed in your notice. Then your current employer asks you to stay.
Perhaps they offer a salary increase, more flexibility or the progression you have been hoping for. Suddenly, a decision that felt clear becomes much harder.
After more than 20 years in legal recruitment, I understand why a counter-offer can make someone pause. Leaving a familiar team is a big step, particularly when you have built strong relationships with colleagues and clients.
There is no single answer that suits everyone. Before you decide, take a step back and consider what the offer would mean for you beyond the immediate pay rise.
Why did you start looking?
Think back to how you felt before the new opportunity came along.
Were you unhappy with your salary? Did you want more responsibility, better support or a clearer route to progression? Was the workload becoming difficult to manage, or did the working arrangements no longer suit your life?
If salary was your main concern and you otherwise enjoyed your role, a counter-offer may deserve serious consideration.
If your reasons were broader, ask whether anything has changed enough to address them. A higher salary may be welcome, but you could still face the same frustrations each morning.
What is actually being offered?
Be clear about the detail.
If you have been promised a promotion, what responsibilities will come with it? If flexibility has been offered, what will the arrangement look like? If additional support is planned, when will it be in place?
There is a difference between an agreed change and a reassuring conversation about what might happen in the future.
Ask for any changes to your salary, hours, title or working arrangements to be confirmed in writing, with a clear start date.
Why is the offer being made now?
A resignation can prompt an employer to recognise someone’s contribution or realise that a concern needs attention.
It is still reasonable to ask why the conversation is happening at this stage, especially if you have raised the same issues before.
Have they listened and proposed a workable solution? Do you feel confident that the changes will last once the immediate pressure of your resignation has passed?
How your employer handles this discussion can tell you as much as the offer itself.
Compare the whole opportunity
Try to look beyond the two salary figures.
Consider the work you will be doing, the support available, the team, the hours, the commute and the opportunities to develop.
A new role may give you experience or responsibility that your current firm cannot offer. Equally, staying may be the right decision if you enjoy the work and your employer has made meaningful changes.
Ask yourself: which role is more likely to suit me a year from now?
Separate loyalty from pressure
It is natural to worry about leaving colleagues behind, particularly in a small legal practice where your departure will be felt.
You can care about your team and still make a decision that supports your own career.
Try to distinguish between wanting to stay and feeling guilty about leaving. Familiarity can be comforting, but it should not be the only reason you withdraw from an opportunity you were previously excited about.
Give yourself time, and communicate clearly
Ask for a reasonable amount of time to consider the counter-offer. Talk through any unanswered questions and be honest with your recruiter and the prospective employer about your position.
If you decide to stay, let the other firm know promptly and respectfully. If you decide to leave, thank your current employer for the offer and keep your explanation clear and professional.
You do not need to justify every detail of your decision, but people should know where they stand.
Make the decision for the right reasons
A counter-offer can be worth accepting when it addresses your concerns and gives you confidence in your future with the firm.
Before saying yes, ask yourself one final question:
If I had not handed in my notice, would I still want to leave?
Your answer may help you understand whether the counter-offer has changed your plans—or simply made leaving feel harder.
At Pathway Careers, I help legal professionals weigh up their options through honest, confidential conversations. If you are considering a move or deciding how to respond to a counter-offer, you are welcome to get in touch.