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1 in 4 lawyers will leave if not given better pay, survey reveals
One in four lawyers plan to leave their current workplace in the next couple of years, but better pay and flexible working arrangements might convince them to stay, a new survey discovered.
Naomi Neilson
Of the 25 per cent of lawyers who told the College of Law they plan to leave their workplace in the next two years, 60 per cent indicated they would remain where they are if offered a better salary.
Neville Carter, CEO of the College of Law, said the survey revealed recurring themes, “including the integral role supportive workplace cultures play in employee satisfaction, a strong desire for flexible working arrangements, and unsurprisingly, the importance of fair remuneration.
“A quarter of lawyers surveyed are planning a job change within the next two years, but would consider staying if attributes like pay, flexible working arrangements and mentoring were better supported,” he said.
Of the 1,000-plus lawyers surveyed, 40 per cent were under the age of 29, and another 22 per cent were under the age of 39, with the majority holding either the role of lawyer or junior lawyer.
Most respondents worked at boutique firms, but 15 per cent came from government organisations, and 13 per cent were at big law firms.
For those who were intent on leaving, 77 per cent said salary was the most important factor, followed by 49 per cent who wanted career progression.
Those at large law firms reported the highest levels of good company culture, great reputation, good career progression opportunities, readily available professional development options, pro bono opportunities and competitive salaries, according to the survey results.
In government organisations, employees said their workplace led the way in terms of hours worked – which enabled personal and professional balance – inclusive policies, mental health days and resilience training.
While just over 80 per cent of lawyers were satisfied with their working arrangements, 46 per cent of those who were unhappy reported that they work from their company’s office full-time.
Dissatisfaction was focused on the lack of flexibility, but issues around isolation and exclusion pointed to the hybrid model being preferred.
In addition to surveying these lawyers on their current job satisfaction levels, Law Forward also found that two in five would recommend their workplace to others, and just over 20 per cent would not.
For those who would promote their workplace, 60 per cent highlighted the supportive culture, 36 per cent said the quality of work, 26 per cent enjoyed the flexible working, and 23 per cent were happy with the opportunities for advancement and development.
For the detractors, their main concerns were the toxic workplace culture, poor management, and unsatisfactory remuneration.
“Some findings are challenging to confront,” Carter said in the Law Forward executive summary.
“Nevertheless, we believe they can guide improvements in individual career outcomes, organisational resilience, and the broader legal profession.”
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
