LSB September 2019_Web

YOUNG LAWYERS
facebook.com/YLCSA
Young Lawyers Survey sheds light
on wellbeing & salary trends
YOUNG LAWYERS COMMITTEE
In March 2018 the Young Lawyers’
Committee invited members of the
legal profession under the age of 35, or
within the first five years of practice, or a
student of a South Australian University
Law School, to participate in the inaugural
Wellbeing and Salary Survey. The survey
was designed to provide young lawyers
with a greater understanding of their
position in the profession, and to highlight
issues associated with health and wellbeing.
In particular, the survey was conducted to
gain a greater insight into:
• Remuneration and salary;
• Workplace arrangements;
• Job seeking behaviours;
• Rates of workplace bullying;
• Stress levels.
COMPOSITION OF RESPONSES
The survey attracted valid responses
from 402 members. Of the responses,
64% came from female practitioners
and 34% were from male practitioners.
Approximately 37% of responders had
been admitted between 1 and 3 years, and
approximately 37% of responders had
been admitted between 4 and 10 years.
A majority, 85%, were admitted
practitioners, while the remainder were
either not admitted, students or employed
as law clerks. Twenty-nine per cent of
responders were employed at law firms
with 20-plus practitioners, and 26% of
responders were employed at law firms
with 2-5 practitioners. Approximately 15%
were government employed, while the
remainder were either in house counsel
or sole practitioners. Seventy-four per
cent of responders were based in the
Adelaide CBD, while 17% were based in
metropolitan Adelaide and 8% were based
in regional SA.
REMUNERATION
A key aim of the survey was to provide
young lawyers, and the profession, with
an insight into average salaries based
on practice areas, gender, and years of
experience. The survey broke salaries
down into bands of pay (in $10,000
increments).
While salaries were generally between
$50,000 and $80,000 per year, some
practitioners reported working full time
and receiving salaries between $30,000
and $40,000. Some of these practitioners
reported having not received a salary
increase since commencing practice, and in
some cases had been in practice for more
than three years.
Fortunately, these results comprised
a minority of responses. Most employees
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
LARGE FIRM
MEDIUM FIRM
BOUTIQUE
GRADUATE SALARIES
MEN
SUBURBAN
received salaries in line with the average
across the sector.
Some differences were seen in
remuneration between types of firms and
areas of practice.
The greatest gender equality in pay was
seen in the public sector.
While starting salaries at Criminal
and Family law firms were comparable to
commercial firms, as practitioners increased
in experience in criminal and family law
their salaries became less competitive
with those received by practitioners with
comparable experience in areas including
commercial, in-house, and public sector.
The following tables indicate the peak
pay bracket that average salaries fell within
(and so the average salary may be up to
$10,000 beneath that shown). Where no
result is shown insufficient responses were
received to provide useful data.
Salary satisfaction was mixed amongst
Young Lawyers, as shown below.
REGIONAL
IN-HOUSE
WOMEN
PUBLIC SECTOR
CRIMINAL
FAMILY
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THE BULLETIN September 2019