Lewis & Clark Law School Career & Professional Development Center Alumni Salary Survey 0
0 Alumni Salary Survey Produced by: Career & Professional Development Center Lewis & Clark Law School 005 SW Terwilliger Blvd. Portland, OR 979 (50) 768-6608 lscs@lclark.edu
Introduction Lewis & Clark Law School s Alumni Salary Survey provides information about the earnings and fields of work or our graduates in the first seven years after graduation. This survey is not based on a scientific sampling of graduates and the results do not show the exact distribution of our graduates. The results, however, can give insight into the general trends in employment and earnings when viewed with the appropriate skepticism that any unscientific survey should receive. The Survey In June and July 0, alumni from the classes of 005-0 were invited to participate in an online survey. Invitations were sent to graduates across the nation and internationally. The survey requested background information about the respondent including class year and location along with information about kind of employer, kind of work, and compensation. For the first time this year, we collected information about graduates who are not currently working. Invitations were delivered by email to alumni with known addresses and the survey was conducted through Survey Monkey. The survey resulted in 496 usable responses this is approximately one-third of the number of graduates from the past seven years. Some responses did not include answers to all questions leading to different total numbers of responses by question. Overview At the time of our last Alumni Salary Survey in 00, we were just under two years after the financial collapse of the fall of 008. Now two years later, we present the results of our new survey. The differences and similarities may offer insight into the state of legal employment. Background The geographic distribution of responses remains strongest in the Pacific Northwest 76% which is only slightly lower than the 79% in 00. Other geographic areas remain largely constant with the slight loss in the Pacific Northwest being picked up in the Washington, DC area (reported in the South category). Although this is not a large reduction in Pacific Northwest, it represents about.5 times as many graduates reporting living in the DC area. Employer Types The distribution of graduates between employer types remained largely unchanged from 00. The only differences were a slight reduction (%) in graduates reporting in house Legal work. This drop was offset with very slight increases in non-legal business work and government positions. For the first time, not currently employed graduates were tracked through the survey and represent 6% of respondents. Between 00 and 0, the median reported salary for Academic, legal Business & Industry positions, and non-legal Business & Industry positions remained constant. Government and Public Interest showed a 5% and % increase in median reported salary respectively, and Law Firms saw a 6% decline in median salary. 0 Alumni Salary Survey
Salary by Class Year The overall median for all reported salaries is virtually unchanged from 00 to 0, and comparing the same distance from graduation, median salaries have remained the same in all but one year with fluctuations up and down by a few thousand dollars. The only significant salary change occurred with graduates who have been out for seven years comparing class of 00 graduates from the 00 survey to class of 005 graduates from the 0 survey. Graduates seven years after graduation in 0 reported a median salary $,500 lower than their counterparts did in 00. This is a 5% reduction in salary. Billable Hour Expectations and Achievements Both the 00 survey and the new 0 survey show a difference between the number of graduates expected to report between,600 and,800 billable hours a year and the number who achieve that number. In 00 8 percentage points separated the expected and reported amounts; in the 0 results this under-representation fell to 8 percentage points. Other Data Data on solo practitioner and contract attorney incomes, Portland firm salaries by years of practice and geographic salary distributions are also supplied. Law firm and government salaries are further broken down by geographic area and years of practice. Extreme caution should be used with the geographic salary distributions as many categories outside the Portland metropolitan area are represented by one or two salary reports. 0 Alumni Salary Survey
Background Portland Area Oregon Other Seattle Area Pacific Other Mountain Midwest Northeast South International Geography 0% % % % 7% 5% % 6% 9% Geography Location Portland Area Oregon Other Seattle Area Pacific Other Mountain Midwest Northeast South International 0 Alumni Salary Survey % 5% 9% 6% % 7% % % 0% % # 54 4 8 55 4 50 8
Gender Male 47% Female 5% Gender Female Male % 5% 47% # 6 8 Employer Types Academia (Non Legal) Government Law Firm Public Interest Sole Not Currently Employed Employer Types % 6% 4% % 9% 4% % 5% 5% 0 Alumni Salary Survey 4
Salary by Employer Type $0,000 $8,500 $55,000 $7,500 Sole Public Interest Law Firm Government (Non Legal) Academia $0 Percentage and Salary by Type of Practice Type Academia (Non Legal) Government Law Firm Public Interest % Average Median Min Max % 50,885.7 54,000.00 4,000.00 75,000.00 # 4% 07,895.00 00,50.00 59,500.00 80,000.00 0 9% 77,57.69 7,000.00 4,000.00 80,000.00 4 7 5% 69,4. 68,000.00,000.00 6,000.00 5% 88,089.65 75,000.00 4,400.00 0,000.00 70 % 5,009.05 50,000.00 0,000.00,000.00 59 Sole 4% 8,907. 6,850.00 750.00 00,000.00 %,996.67 9,000.00,000.00 5,000.00 5 Not Currently Employed 6% 0 Alumni Salary Survey 7 5
Overall Salaries Nationwide Salary by Class Year $90,000 $67,500 $45,000 $,500 $0 0 00 009 008 007 006 005 Salary by Class Year and Type of Practice Year/Practice All 005 Academia (Non legal) Government Law Firm Public Interest Sole Unspecified Not Currently Employed 006 Academia (Non legal) Government 0 Alumni Salary Survey % Average Median Low High # 7,9.4 67,40.00 750.00 0,000.00 485 88,947.4 76,64.00 0,000.00 0,000.00 65 % 58,000.00 58,000.00 58,000.00 58,000.00 5%,66.67 94,000.00 59,500.00 80,000.00 9% 86,900.00 8,700.00 70,000.00 0,000.00 6 5% 6,587.90 67,750.00 7,000.00 79,000.00 8% 0,800.00 0,000.00 0,000.00 0,000.00 5% 59,00.0 6,000.00 5,000.00 04,000.00 0 5 0 % 00,000.00 00,000.00 00,000.00 00,000.00 5% 54,666.67 60,000.00 9,000.00 65,000.00 % 76,500.00 76,500.00 55,000.00 98,000.00 6% 4 88,9.6 75,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 % 75,000.00 75,000.00 75,000.00 75,000.00 7 5% 5,450.00 8,000.00 95,000.00 0,800.00 4 8% 80,69.7 7,500.00 56,05.00 0,000.00 6 6% 80,09.8 7,000.00 5,000.00 6,000.00 6 6
Law Firm % 0,99.67 80,000.00 46,800.00 5,000.00 4 Public Interest 0% 67,50.4 5,000.00 6,79.00,000.00 7 Sole % 66,000.00 66,000.00 57,000.00 75,000.00 % 60,000.00 60,000.00 60,000.00 60,000.00 Unspecified 0% 0 Not Currently Employed % 007 77,407.90 69,450.00,000.00 0,000.00 54 Academia 4% 47,000.00 47,000.00 4,000.00 70,000.00 7% 6,075.00,500.00 05,00.00 54,000.00 4 (Non legal) 9% 64,60.00 68,500.00 50,000.00 75,000.00 5 Government 8% 76,07.40 70,000.00,000.00 0,000.00 5 Law Firm 0% 94,500.00 75,000.00 40,000.00 0,000.00 6 Public Interest % 45,48.57 45,000.00 7,000.00 50,000.00 7 Sole 4%,750.00,750.00 5,000.00,500.00 0% 0 Unspecified % 85,000.00 85,000.00 85,000.00 85,000.00 Not Currently Employed 4% 008 75,5.96 70,000.00 6,750.00 0,000.00 7 Academia % 7,600.00 7,600.00 5,00.00 50,000.00 7% 99,00.00 87,000.00 70,000.00 80,000.00 5 0% (Non legal) 84,000.00 65,000.00 44,000.00 55,000.00 7 Government 6% 78,64. 74,900.00 47,500.00 9,500.00 9 Law Firm 9% 8,90.48 70,000.00 0,000.00 0,000.00 Public Interest 0% 57,94.4 55,000.00 44,000.00 80,000.00 7 Sole 4% 8,866.67 5,000.00,600.00 50,000.00 % 65,875.00 65,875.00 6,750.00 5,000.00 Unspecified % 8,000.00 8,000.00 8,000.00 8,000.00 Not Currently Employed 7% 5 009 76,94.8 68,000.00 6,000.00 85,000.00 69 Academia 0% 0 % 90,000.00 90,000.00 90,000.00 90,000.00 0 Alumni Salary Survey 7
0% (Non legal) 89,84.9 7,000.00 4,000.00 80,000.00 7 Government 6% 68,845.06 7,500.00 4,644.00,000.00 8 Law Firm 8% 97,000.00 8,500.00 6,000.00 85,000.00 6 Public Interest 6% 49,8.8 44,00.00 5,000.00 77,000.00 Sole 4% 7,666.67,000.00 6,000.00 45,000.00 % 8,00.00 8,00.00 5,000.00 6,00.00 Unspecified 0% 0 Not Currently Employed % 00 59,90.94 60,000.00 750.00 75,000.00 67 Academia % 54,000.00 54,000.00 54,000.00 54,000.00 % 9,500.00 9,500.00 9,500.00 9,500.00 (Non legal) 7% 8,68.60 86,000.00 57,408.00 00,000.00 5 Government 8% 59,790.58 60,760.00,000.00 84,000.00 Law Firm 4% 7,47.86 70,000.00 4,000.00 75,000.00 8 Public Interest 7% 46,600.00 50,000.00 6,000.00 5,000.00 5 Sole 9% 9,59.00 9,760.00 750.00 7,500.00 6 6%,50.00,000.00,000.00 0,000.00 4 Unspecified % 0,000.00 0,000.00 0,000.00 0,000.00 Not Currently Employed 6% 4 0 55,45.8 55,500.00,000.00 5,000.00 85 Academia 0% 0 % 89,900.00 89,900.00 64,800.00 5,000.00 (Non legal) 7% 46,966.67 4,000.00 6,000.00 00,000.00 6 Government 7% 5,60.9 5,000.00 0,000.00 94,000.00 Law Firm 5% 64,98.00 6,750.00 4,400.00 5,000.00 0 Public Interest 4% 47,08. 45,000.00 0,000.00 65,000.00 Sole % 750.00 0.00 0.00,000.00 %,000.00,000.00 0.00,000.00 Unspecified 0% 0 Not Currently Employed 9 0 Alumni Salary Survey 8
Solo s 0 Solo Practice Net Earnings by Class Year $00,000 $50,000 $00,000 $50,000 $0 0 00 009 008 007 006 005 0 Net Earnings for Solo s Year 005 006 007 008 009 00 0 Average 00,000.00 66,000.00,750.00 8,866.67 7,666.67 9,59.00,000.00 Median 00,000.00 66,000.00,750.00 5,000.00,000.00 9,760.00,000.00 Low 00,000.00 57,000.00 5,000.00,600.00 6,000.00 750.00,000.00 High 00,000.00 75,000.00,500.00 50,000.00 45,000.00 7,500.00,000.00 # 6 0 Expected Net Earnings for Solo s Year 005 006 007 008 009 00 0 0 Alumni Salary Survey Average 60,000.00 80,500.00 8,500.00 6,. 44,666.67 7,666.67 9,500.00 Median 60,000.00 80,500.00 8,500.00 5,000.00 45,000.00 5,000.00 0,000.00 Low 60,000.00 75,000.00,000.00 8,000.00 4,000.00 5,000.00 8,000.00 High 60,000.00 86,000.00 45,000.00 6,000.00 55,000.00 84,000.00 0,000.00 # 6 4 9
s 0 Contract Net Earnings by Class Year $90,000 $67,500 $45,000 $,500 $0 0 00 009 008 007 006 005 0 Net Earnings for Contract Lawyers Year Average Median 005 54,666.67 60,000.00 006 60,000.00 60,000.00 007 008 65,875.00 65,875.00 009 8,00.00 8,00.00 00,50.00,000.00 0,500.00,500.00 Low High 9,000.00 65,000.00 60,000.00 60,000.00 # 0 4 6,750.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 6,00.00,000.00 0,000.00,000.00,000.00 0 Expected Net Earnings for Contract Lawyers Year Average Median 005 60,000.00 60,000.00 006 60,000.00 60,000.00 007 008 8,500.00 8,500.00 009,50.00,50.00 00 7,500.00 4,500.00 0 0,000.00 4,000.00 0 Alumni Salary Survey Low High 45,000.00 75,000.00 60,000.00 60,000.00 0,000.00 45,000.00 7,500.00 5,000.00,000.00 60,000.00,000.00 4,000.00 # 0 4 0
Portland Area Salaries by Years of Experience Average Portland Firm Salary by Years of Practice $0,000 $90,000 $60,000 $0,000 6 to 7 5 to 6 4 to 5 to 4 to to < $0 Portland Metro Salaries by Years in Practice and Firm Size Years in Practice/ Firm Size All < year to 0 to 5 6 to 50 5 to 00 0 to 50 5 to 500 50+ to years to 0 to 5 6 to 50 5 to 00 0 to 50 5 to 500 50+ to years to 0 to 5 6 to 50 0 Alumni Salary Survey Average $84,48.86 $7,96.50 $5,566.67 $65,500.00 $7,. $88,500.00 $67,000.00 Median $75,000.00 $68,500.00 $57,000.00 $65,500.00 $55,000.00 $88,500.00 $67,000.00 Low High $4,400.00 $0,000.00 $4,400.00 $0,000.00 $4,400.00 $8,000.00 $6,000.00 $70,000.00 $50,000.00 $5,000.00 $7,000.00 $05,000.00 $67,000.00 $67,000.00 $7,500.00 $57,0.67 $5,85.45 $58,000.00 $70,750.00 $75,000.00 $7,500.00 $60,000.00 $56,000.00 $58,000.00 $70,750.00 $75,000.00 $5,000.00 $0,000.00 $4,000.00 $9,000.00 $4,000.00 $9,000.00 $58,000.00 $58,000.00 $70,000.00 $7,500.00 $75,000.00 $75,000.00 $80,500.00 $80,500.00 $6,750.00 $8,400.00 $7,000.00 $66,000.00 $6,750.00 $75,000.00 $48,000.00 $75,000.00 $48,000.00 $75,000.00 $60,000.00 $67,500.00 $70,000.00 $5,000.00 # 97 6 6 0 5 0 0 0 5 6 5
5 to 00 $75,000.00 $75,000.00 $75,000.00 $75,000.00 0 to 50 $05,000.00 $05,000.00 $05,000.00 $05,000.00 5 to 500 0 50+ 0 to 4 years $79,4.76 $68,000.00 $0,000.00 $75,000.00 7 to 0 $46,600.00 $50,000.00 $0,000.00 $65,000.00 5 to 5 $70,46.67 $64,000.00 $5,000.00 $00,000.00 6 6 to 50 $0,000.00 $85,000.00 $78,000.00 $64,000.00 4 5 to 00 $75,000.00 $75,000.00 $75,000.00 $75,000.00 0 to 50 $07,500.00 $07,500.00 $07,500.00 $07,500.00 5 to 500 0 50+ 0 4 to 5 years $95,687.50 $97,500.00 $57,000.00 $7,000.00 8 to 0 $79,000.00 $80,000.00 $57,000.00 $00,000.00 to 5 $70,000.00 $70,000.00 $70,000.00 $70,000.00 6 to 50 $0,000.00 $0,000.00 $95,000.00 $09,000.00 5 to 00 0 0 to 50 $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $7,500.00 5 to 500 0 50+ $7,000.00 $7,000.00 $7,000.00 $7,000.00 5 to 6 years $9,96.6 $0,000.00 $46,800.00 $40,000.00 to 0 $80,500.00 $66,000.00 $50,000.00 $40,000.00 4 to 5 $80,000.00 $80,000.00 $80,000.00 $80,000.00 6 to 50 $46,800.00 $46,800.00 $46,800.00 $46,800.00 5 to 00 0 0 to 50 $09,750.00 $09,750.00 $0,000.00 $7,500.00 5 to 500 $,500.00 $,500.00 $5,000.00 $0,000.00 50+ $0,000.00 $0,000.00 $0,000.00 $0,000.00 6 to 7 years $8,708. $0,000.00 $5,000.00 $5,000.00 to 0 $,666.67 $0,000.00 $85,000.00 $0,000.00 to 5 $8,500.00 $8,500.00 $5,000.00 $5,000.00 6 to 50 $88,750.00 $88,750.00 $75,000.00 $0,500.00 5 to 00 $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $0,000.00 $5,000.00 0 to 50 $6,666.67 $0,000.00 $0,000.00 $0,000.00 5 to 500 0 50+ 0 0 Alumni Salary Survey
Billable Hours Expected and Reported Comparison of Expected and Reported Billable Hours 40% 0% 0% 0% Reported % 0+ 00 to 00 80 to 000 60 to 800 40 to 600 0 to 400 00 to 00 <000 0% Expected % Firm Salary by Billable Hours Expected $60,000 $0,000 $80,000 $40,000 0 Alumni Salary Survey 0 to 400 00 to 00 80 to 000 60 to 800 40 to 600 0 to 400 00 to 00 < 000 $0
Billable Hours Reported - All Law Firms Billable Hrs - Reported # Avg Salary < 000 67,8.8 00 to 00 6 8,500.00 0 to 400 8 09,50.00 40 to 600 8 90,07. 60 to 800 8 08,777.78 80 to 000 4,95.8 00 to 00 4 6,750.00 0 to 400 7,. 40 to 600 0 60 to 800 0 800 + 75,000.00 Billable Hours Expected - Law Firms All Billable Hrs - Expected # Avg Salary < 000 7 6,65.4 00 to 00 6 6,00.00 0 to 400 9 7,444.44 40 to 600 7 94,4.76 60 to 800 44 04,6.6 80 to 000 0 7,56.67 00 to 00 56,000.00 0 to 400 95,000.00 40 to 600 0 60 to 800 0 800 + 0 0 Alumni Salary Survey 4
Geography PDX: Portland OR-O: Oregon Outside Portland SEA: Seattle Area PNW-O: Pacific NW outside Oregon and Outside Seattle: AK, CA, HI, WA MTN: Mountain: AZ, CO, ID, NM, MT, UT, NV, WY MW: Midwest: IA, IN, IL, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI NE: Northeast: CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT S: South: AL, AR, DE, DC, FL, KY, GA, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV INT: International Average Salary By Employer Type and Region (Part ) Type/Region All PDX OR-O SEA PNW-O All 77,06 75,49 6,998 89,094 77,0 Academia 50,886 64,000 9,600 07,895 9,9 55,400 80,000 (Non Legal) 77,58 7,06 6,000 87,000 8, Government 69,4 64,455 59,40 6,5 7,050 Law Firm 88,6 84,48 75,000 87,600 90,8 Public Interest 5,009 50,0 55,789 5,57 Sole,75 5,94 4,8 4,595 9,500 5,000 Average Salary By Employer Type and Region (Part ) Type MTN MW NE S INT All 7,950 60,5 99,7 90,890 8,4 Academia 49,500 50,000 0,000 87,000 4,500 (Non Legal) 94,50 80,000 84,50 Government 67,99 64,5 58,000 84,98 88,5 Law Firm 8,458 58,50 6,500,8 90,000 Public Interest 4,99 4,000 5,67 69,778 50,000 Sole 00,000 750 60,000 0 Alumni Salary Survey 5
Average Firm Salaries by Region and Years of Experience Location /Years All < to to to 4 4 to 5 5 to 6 6 to 7 All 88,6 69,06 6,0 9,944 8,955 94,46 9,79 6,54 PDX 84,48 7,96 57,0 80,500 79,4 95,688 9,96 8,708 OR-O 75,000 6,000 4,000 60,000 70,000 0,000 SEA 87,600 65,750 69,000 47,500 70,000 96,000 80,000 56,500 PNW-O 90,8 7, 84,000 0, 9,500 8,50 MTN 8,458 6,500 5,000 80, 75,000,67 MW 58,50 5,667 78,000 NE 6,500 78,000 97,500 78,000 S,8 80,000 0,000 56,500 5,000 4, INT 90,000 0,000 70,000 Average Government Salaries by Region and Years of Experience Location /Years All < to to to 4 4 to 5 5 to 6 6 to 7 All 69,4 58,6 67,9 75,889 75,98 76,48 88,70 85,479 PDX 64,455 59,59 6,000 7,667 7,00 80,5 85, 5,000 OR-O 59,40 50,59 80,000 60,000 64,500 74,048 75,000 SEA 6,5 5,00 7,45 PNW-O 7,050 58,947 70,500 77,000 78,55 74,08 9,000 76,000 MTN 67,99 56,500 7,000 68,000 8,000 MW 64,5 64,5 NE 58,000 6,000 54,000 S 84,98 67,59 6,467 86,000 95,78 0,000 09,750 94,656 INT 88,5 7,000 70,000 47,500 6,000 0 Alumni Salary Survey 6
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