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While corporate law offers high earning potential, salaries for junior lawyers are higher in other practice areas, according to new research from legal recruitment firm Gorilla Jobs.
Gorilla Jobs’ 2025 Australian Lawyer Salary Guide has revealed the current salary benchmarks across various legal roles, as well as shown insights into the cost of living in major Australian cities.
According to the report, lawyers who have been partners with more than five years could be earning up to $800,000 in a top-tier or international firm, compared to a top of $550,000 in a mid-tier firm. For equity partners, these earnings may extend even further.
The guide provides a detailed overview of potential salary ranges for various legal roles by experience level, according to head of legal recruitment at Gorilla Jobs, Daniel Cappellacci.
“Our new salary guide is a vital resource at every stage of your career.
“It not only highlights competitive earnings from paralegal roles to partnership levels, but also emphasises how regional cost-of-living differences can impact overall financial wellbeing.”
Paralegal positions have earnings ranging from $50,000 to $95,000, while associate roles start from around $80,000 and can exceed $165,000. Senior positions, including senior associates, special counsels and partners, display an even broader range, which Cappellacci said is reflective of market demand and firm prestige.
“The diversity in salary ranges underscores the dynamic nature of the legal profession,” he added.
“Legal professionals should consider not just the headline figures but also the context of their role and the associated living costs when making career decisions.”
Between mid-tier and top-tier firms, fourth year senior associates experience the highest salary jump – with those at mid-tier firms earning between $175,000 and $215,000, and those at top-tier or international firms earning anywhere from $195,000 to $230,000.
Special counsels have also experienced a jump in salaries between mid-tier and top-tier firms, with first year special counsels earning up to $215,000 in mid-tier firms and up to $260,000 in top-tier firms. For experienced special counsels, salaries jump up to $250,000 in mid-tier firms and $300,000 in top-tier firms.
In terms of practice areas with the highest salaries, corporate law offer some of the highest earning potential, with experienced practitioners’ earning potential being more than $200,000 – and general counsels in global companies seeing salaries ranging from $285,000 to $440,000.
Salaries in personal injury, technology law, data and privacy law and class actions are also on the higher end for experienced lawyers, with earning potential up to $190,000, $250,000 and $260,000, respectively.
For junior lawyers, salaries in class actions, data and privacy law and technology are the highest, according to the guide, with salaries getting up to $110,000 and $115,000.
Criminal law and family law salaries are revealed to be in the lower range, with family lawyers earning from around $120,000 to $160,000, depending on experience and location, and criminal lawyers starting at around $95,000 for junior lawyers, with experienced lawyers potentially earning over $150,000.
However, salaries in different cities may last in different ways, according to the report, which noted that the cost of living in Sydney is significantly higher than Adelaide or Canberra.
More firms are also boosting their overall compensation packages with additional benefits, such as flexible working arrangements, enhanced parental leave policies, and comprehensive health and wellness programs.
“Understanding where your salary will actually take you is helpful," Cappellacci added.
“A higher nominal salary in a major city might not always translate into a better standard of living when you factor in the cost of living.”
Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.
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Lauren Croft
