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Lawyers’ salary increases at 4-year low
A new report shows a look into remuneration in the legal profession, revealing a four-year low in salary increases.
Emma Musgrave
New research by the Australasian Legal Practice Management Association (ALPMA) surveyed 288 Aussie law firms to find out the current statistics on salaries and remuneration in the profession.
“Most Australian law firms are predicting modest wage increases at CPI, with 28 per cent expected to negotiate with employees above CPI and a further 17 per cent expect to increase salaries for all employees between 3 to 5 per cent,” said Dion Cusack, ALPMA president and corporate services manager at K&L Gates.
“While only 3 per cent of firms will freeze wages for all staff, 14 per cent expect to implement a limited freeze for some positions only.”
Despite the flat-line, the survey revealed that the legal employment market is growing.
Forty-two per cent of firms indicated that staff levels at their firm grew over the previous 12 months, and 53 per cent expect further employment growth at their firm over the next 12 months.
Seventy-six per cent of firms said they are likely to recruit lawyers in various positions in the coming 12 months, while nearly half of firms surveyed also expect to hire paralegals/law clerks and 42 per cent expect to hire support staff.
“These figures reflect national forecasts of growth in legal and professional services jobs over the next five years in Australia, with Victoria leading the way with 62 per cent of firms planning to increase staffing levels,” said Mr Cusack.
“Positively, recruitment intentions reflect expectations of firm growth (64 per cent), while 39 per cent is expected to replace departures.”
Emma Musgrave
Emma Musgrave (née Ryan) is the managing editor, professional services at Momentum Media.
Emma has worked for Momentum Media since 2015, including five years spent as the editor of the company's legal brand - Lawyers Weekly. Throughout her time at Momentum, she has been responsible for breaking some of the biggest stories in corporate Australia. In addition, she has produced exclusive multimedia and event content related to the company's respective brands and audiences.
Prior to joining Momentum Media, Emma worked in breakfast radio, delivering news to the Central West region of NSW, before taking on a radio journalist role at Southern Cross Austereo, based in Townsville, North Queensland.
She holds a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) degree from Charles Sturt University.
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