The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/71860
This year's survey shows salaries are a bit lower, but there's light at the end of the tunnel for job seekers. Compensation Survey Canadian Lawyer By Heather Gardiner the survey shows only 45 per cent of law firm respondents plan to increase their associates' salaries in 2013, whereas 77 per cent of cor- porate legal departments say they will bump up their lawyers' earnings. Making decisions on how to compensate various members of the 2 201 T the Indicative, too, of the somewhat mercurial state of the profession, he difficult economic environment of the last few years is being reflected in the salaries of Canadian lawyers, both in-house and in private practice. According to the results of Canadian Lawyer's 2012 Compensation Survey, the median salaries of newly called lawyers are lower than last year. For example, the median salary of a first-year associate is $72,500, down by approximately $3,500 from last year. It's the same case for newly called in-house counsel, who are showing a median salary of $77,500, a steep decline of $7,500 from last year. team is no easy feat in the current environment either. In setting com- pensation rates for lawyers, respondents reported that determining the market value, trying to compete with other firms' rates, crediting non-billable work, and meeting lawyers' expectations were the areas of greatest dispute. The response to the Compensation Survey from law firms this year was substantially up from the last few with 161 managing partners and sole practitioners from across Canada sharing their compensation information with Canadian Lawyer. As well, 74 chief legal officers and corporate legal department heads offered insight on the in-house side. The survey, which looked at earnings, salaries, bonuses, perks, and www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com JULY 2012 35 shUtterstock