Demand for specialized expertise is driving much of the hiring activity in the legal field. In particular, corporate legal departments and small-to-midsize law firms seek skilled legal candidates with 3-7 years of experience to join their teams. Legal professionals are trying to attain better work-life balance through remote and hybrid work arrangements, although many employers want them fully in-office. Robert Half recruiters report that this can contribute to positions being left unstaffed. Employee attrition and competition for expertise have law firms and corporate legal departments increasing their reliance on skilled contract professionals.
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25th Percentile 50th Percentile 75th Percentile
New to the role, with little or no experience; requires more than casual instruction or supervision to perform day-to-day duties
Has the experience to consistently perform core responsibilities without direct supervision; very comfortable with processes and subject matter associated with the role
Value to the organization goes far beyond the ability to perform normal job duties; has rare qualifications that enable consistent contribution in unique ways; ready for next career level when available
Law firms of all sizes need attorneys, paralegals and legal assistants to support an increase in litigation and a backlog of court cases. Legal professionals with experience in civil, class action and commercial litigation; insurance defense; and personal injury are expected to remain in high demand in 2024 and beyond. Other hot practice areas include family law and estate planning.
Leadership and
management
experience Research and
information
analysis Advanced
technical skills Client
management AI and
machine learning Leadership and
management
experience Research and
information
analysis Advanced
technical skills Client
management AI and
machine learning
Corporate legal teams continue to handle more work in-house while facing pressure to control outside counsel costs. They seek compliance analysts, contract administrators, data privacy experts and other legal specialists to support business needs and complex regulatory requirements. Corporate paralegals are also in demand.
Lawyer Legal specialist Legal support General
administrative Legal research
and analysis Lawyer Legal specialist General
administrative Legal research
and analysis
Litigation support
and eDiscovery In-house counsel Legal support Legal operations Lease
administration Litigation support
and eDiscovery In-house counsel Legal support Legal operations Lease
administration
How do we determine our salary figures? See our methodology. The salaries listed in the salary tables represent starting compensation only, meaning pay for someone new to a company in the position listed. Our estimates do not include bonuses, benefits or perks. We report salaries in percentiles and ranges, recognizing that professionals join companies at varied experience levels. Other data referenced in this Salary Guide is based on online surveys developed by Robert Half and conducted by independent research firms. Respondents included hiring managers and employees from small (less than $50 million in revenues), midsize ($50 million to $1 billion) and large ($1 billion or greater) private, publicly listed and public sector organizations across the United States.
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