w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m J U L Y 2 0 1 5 37 w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m J U L Y 2 0 1 5
T
he bells may have finally
started tolling for the bill-
able hour, according to
the results of Canadian
Lawyer's 2015 Compensa-
tion Survey.
Already threatened by
the spectre of alternative
business structures and a
wave of upstart law firms with innovative business
models, the billable hour has also come under fire
from access to justice advocates and even judges in
recent times. Now our survey suggests law firms are
looking elsewhere when it comes to measuring the
work product of their lawyers.
Just 34 per cent of respondents reported billable-
hour targets for associates at their law firms, down
from 60 per cent in 2014. For those with targets,
only 27 per cent offer bonuses to those that hit the
magic number, also significantly down on last year's
The 2015
Canadian Lawyer
Compensation
Survey shows
few firms making
billable hour
targets the sole
standard for
compensation.
Year of call Median Lowest Highest
2014 $65,000 $45,000 $85,000
2013 84,500 55,000 100,000
2012 90,000 52,000 125,000
2011 97,500 63,000 125,000
2010 115,000 95,000 150,000
2009 120,000 102,500 150,000
2008 120,000 110,000 200,000
2007 and earlier 130,000 50,000 250,000
Associate
compensation
(National)
Sample Size: 23 fi rms
starting to toll
on billable hour
By Michael McKiernan
Yes
Yes
No
No
27.5%
34.3%
72.5%
65.7%
Does your fi rm have
annual billable-hour
targets for:
Partners
Associates
Sample Size: 40 fi rms
Sample Size: 35 fi rms
