Latest news Different motivators for male and female lawyers worklife desires fulfilled budgetbusters get bonuses

‘Altruistic’ reasons driving women into law

A major new Australian survey of the legal sector suggests that women and men have significantly different motivators for pursuing a career in law. The Career Intentions Survey, commissioned by the Women Lawyers’ Association of NSW, suggests that female law students are more likely to study law due to ‘altruistic reasons’ and ‘personal interest’ in the topic, whereas male students place more importance on the chance to get a good income and ‘optimising future employment opportunities’.

The study indicates that one in four law students are not sure about their future intentions in terms of a legal career, while the most popular areas of specialised fields of law include criminal law, commercial law, corporate law, family law and advocacy. Criminal law tops the list, with 29 per cent of students nominating this area as their preferred practice area.

The Women Lawyers’ Association of NSW says the Career Intentions Survey is the first study in Australia with the capacity to measure and address the effectiveness of initiatives targeting diversity, retention of talent and leadership in the legal profession. More than 1400 law graduates from all university law schools and the College of Law in NSW participated in the survey, with 61 per cent saying they plan to practise as a lawyer, 28 per cent being unsure about practising and 11 per cent not intending to pursue a career as a lawyer.

The survey indicates that females are significantly more likely than males to study law because of an interest in social justice (49 per cent of females versus 35 per cent of males). Males, on the other hand, are more likely to study law because of the good income prospects that it offers (36 per cent of males versus 31 per cent of females). The prestige and status of a career in law is also a big factor for many men.

Junior lawyers achieving work-life balance

Australian firms may be able to pick up some clues from a British survey about how to meet the needs of junior lawyers. The key findings of the 2015 Legal Week Intelligence employee satisfaction survey, which questioned more than 2076 fee earners in 16 British, City and international firms, suggests that most junior lawyers are fulfilled in their professional lives and enjoy a reasonable work-life balance. However, the respondents did express concerns over the quality of management in their firms, bonus schemes and their career prospects.

The survey, in its 12th year, shows that 63 per cent of the respondents are satisfied with their work-life balance, while 94 per cent of employees praised their firms for the quality of work they are assigned. On a negative note, just 70 per cent are satisfied with how they are valued at work, despite almost all respondents identifying it as one of the most important aspects of workplace culture. The biggest management problem identified in the survey is the perception that promotion and progression opportunities are not equally available for all, with two out of 10 respondents listing this as a key area of dissatisfaction.

The survey notes that while most firms have made big strides in diversity in recent years, just over 10 per cent of respondents believe that more still needs to be done in this area.

Bonuses going to budget busters: Mahlab

Bonuses are being reserved for high performers in law firms who exceed their budgets, according to a new Mahlab survey. The Mahlab Report 2015 indicates that legal salaries in the private sector increased by an average of just 3.4 per cent in 2014-15, slightly down on last year’s rise of 3.8 per cent. Performance-based rewards are in vogue, rather than automatic salary rises.

“The falling Australian dollar and the slowdown in China (have) placed particular pressure on partners who need to satisfy overseas masters,” Mahlab reports. “Some global players have had to make significant adjustments to deal with declining revenues, including the closure of offices.” Incomes are also falling for equity partners, even at major firms. While a partner at a major firm three years ago may have earned $1.2 million and upwards, the average at some firms had fallen to $750,000. The survey shows that good performers are in line to get a bonus of 5 per cent to 10 per cent, while exceptional performers get up to 20 per cent.

Mahlab comments: “Lawyers continue to work long hours and experience high levels of stress as the practice of law becomes increasingly more commercialised and competitive. More lawyers are seeking alternatives to law firm practice, many embracing a move into an in-house team and others seeking options in commercial roles. Sadly, the demands placed on the legal profession means it is losing some of its most talented lawyers who do not see the value in a traditional legal career.”

In the corporate sector, in-house lawyers received modest salary increases, with the national average being 3 per cent. Bonuses were paid to 55 per cent of corporate lawyers, with some lawyers receiving no bonus for the second or third year in a row.