Was your new year’s resolution to make plans to advance your legal career? Whether you’re interested in climbing the ladder at your current firm or looking for challenges elsewhere, the first step is to understand legal hiring trends and how they might affect you. The Robert Half Legal 2015 Salary Guide gives you a peek at the most in-demand legal jobs for the coming year.
Note that the projected salary ranges listed below and in the guide reflect starting pay only. Bonuses, incentives and other forms of compensation are not taken into account. The ranges represent national averages and can be adjusted for your market by using the local variance numbers beginning in our Salary Center.
Litigation experts
When Robert Half Legal asked 200 lawyers which practice area would offer the most growth opportunities at their firm or company in the next two years, the top response (38 percent) was litigation. Skilled litigation professionals are in high demand, not only trial lawyers but also document reviewers and nurse paralegals. According to our research, the hottest sub-specialties are:
- Insurance defense
- Medical malpractice
- Commercial litigation
- Employment law
Litigation support managers with seven to nine years of experience will see a 4.9 percent salary increase with a range of $81,250 to $108,000 in 2015, and litigation support specialists/analysts with one-two years of experience will earn a projected $53,250 to $64,000 per year, a 4 percent increase over 2014 levels.
Back to business
A recovering economy means growing businesses, which in turn requires legal professionals with experience in handling commercial transactions such as contracts and procurement. Those candidates who have special skills and experience with compliance and financial reporting will also be in demand as businesses adjust to changing regulations on both federal and state levels.
Those working in contract administration will also see a healthy increase in salary. Contract managers will earn a range of $75,000 to $116,250 in 2015, up 5.1 percent from 2014, and contract administrators with more than four years of experience will see a 4.7 percent boost with a salary range of $68,750 to $109,000. Corporate counsel with 10-plus years of experience at a midsize company ($25-$250 million in revenue) will see average starting salaries in the range of $143,500 to $225,000, a 3.7 percent increase from 2014.
The position that will see the steepest salary increase is in compliance. Director-level compliance experts’ wages are projected to jump 5.2 percent in 2015, to a range of $107,000-$135,750.
Use our Salary Calculator to customize these wages for your city.
Healthcare is hot
The Affordable Care Act continues to create positions in many industries, including legal jobs. Lawyers and paralegals who are knowledgeable about the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries are needed to help firms and organizations navigate the constantly evolving regulations stemming from the ACA.
Smart jobs in IP
The need to protect intellectual property is a shared goal for organizations in all industries, but particularly in biotech and high-tech companies. These firms want to hire lawyers and paralegals with deep knowledge of IP laws to deal with patent filings and trademark infringements. For these positions, a joint degree is a definite plus.
Get real (estate)
As businesses rebound from the recession and create new positions, they need more space — thus the increased hiring for legal professionals with expertise in commercial development, property management and leasing. Lease administrators will see one of the biggest increases in compensation in 2015, with a salary range of $55,000 to $77,500, up 5.0 percent from 2014.
To make the best decisions for your legal career, you need to know about the latest hiring and compensation trends. Visit our Salary Center for data on more than 100 legal jobs, the hottest legal positions in each region and much more.
Charles A. Volkert is executive director of Robert Half Legal, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of attorneys, paralegals, legal administrators and other legal professionals with law firms and corporate legal departments. Based in Menlo Park, Calif., Robert Half Legal has offices in major cities throughout the United States and Canada.