Canadian Lawyer

July 2017

The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers

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20 J U L Y 2 0 1 7 w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m rospects appear to be some- what brighter for lawyers as law firms and legal depart- ments settle into 2017, with many looking to add to their complement of lawyers while also indi- cating slight increases in compensation. But the environment in which today's new lawyer works is more demanding than ever. There's no question firms are seeing a more competitive environment with demanding clients and ever-increasing costs as reliance on technology increases, leaving partners and associates to prove their worth, say observers. Yet, they add, firms need to remain competitive as they recruit legal talent and must be seen to be desirable with attractive compensation to match for both new lawyers and more experienced ones looking to move on. At the same time, there is a trend for many corporate legal departments to send less work out the door, building, instead, upon their in-house staff. And most of those participating in Canadian Lawyer's annual Compensation Survey, 62 per cent, indicated salaries in legal departments are likely to increase in 2017. By far the most, 79 per cent, indicated they would rise two to four per cent, while 11 per cent said they would go up by only one per cent or less. Another 11 per cent said they would go up eight to 10 per cent. Law firms also showed some optimism through the survey, with 59 per cent of respondents indicating earnings for part- ners increased in 2016 over the previous year. Salaries for associates are directionally more likely to increase compared to 2016 with 65 per cent of respondents indicat- ing the likelihood that compensation will go up this year. Meanwhile, 48 per cent of firms indicated they will hire more lawyers in the coming year, while 47 per cent are expecting to keep the same number and six per cent will reduce the number of lawyers. Sara Lutecki, division director for Rob- ert Half Legal in Toronto, has seen that upward movement in salaries. But, she says, there is another trend associated with increase and that is responsibility. With more money comes a higher expectation. New lawyers are increasingly expected to do more and they're now expected to bring something else to the table. They'll take on a larger workload and be handed more tasks and that might be without the support of an assistant. "The reason it might be going a little bit higher is that they do need fewer of them. They will have more responsibilities, which is what goes along with that," she says. "A little bit more of an increase in compensa- tion, but also more duties upon them. "We just find they're looking for a more well-rounded candidate, so somebody who has the strong technology skills, somebody who may have more than one language." Those salary increases are generally quite modest, she adds, although "hot can- didates" working in commercial litigation, L AW O F F I C E M A N A G E M E N T BLAIR KELLY Compensation growth Lawyer salaries have seen an increase overall, but so have the expectations of those doing the hiring By Marg. Bruineman P

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