Curious to know what kind of compensation legal professionals can command in 2016? This Robert Half Legal slideshow provides an overview of the salary and hiring trends for legal professionals. Visit roberthalflegal.com/salary-center for more information.

1. 2016
HIRING AND
COMPENSATION
TRENDS
© 2015 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.
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2. © 2015 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.
The Legal Staffing Challenge
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The skilled talent shortage is
becoming increasingly apparent.
Nearly two-thirds (64%) of lawyers
polled by Robert Half Legal said it
is challenging for their law firms or
companies to find skilled legal
professionals today.
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Source: Robert Half Legal survey of 200 lawyers with the largest law firms
and companies in the United States

3. © 2015 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.
Practice Areas in Demand
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33% 26% 7% 6% 6%
Practice areas that are expected to generate the greatest
number of legal jobs in the next two years:*
*Top responses shown
Source: Robert Half Legal survey of 200 lawyers with the largest law
firms and companies in the United States
Litigation General
business/
commercial
law
Healthcare Real estate Intellectual
property

4. © 2015 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.
2016 Outlook
§ Average increase for starting salaries across the
legal field in the U.S. will be 3.1%
§ Compensation for some positions is expected to
slightly exceed the national average:
Paralegal/
Legal Assistant
(7+ years’ experience)
small/midsize law firm
+4.0%+4.7%
Licensed Lawyer
(10+ years’ experience)
midsize law firm
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5. © 2015 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.
Fastest Growing Industries
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AK
WA
OR
CA
MT
ID
WY
ND
MN
WI
IL IN
OH
KY
TN
MS AL GA
SC
FL
NC
VAWV
PA
NY
ME
MI
IA
MO
AR
LA
SD
NE
KS
OK
TX
NV
UT
CO
AZ
NM
HIHI
NJ
DE
MD
DC
VT NH
MA
RI
CT
1. Healthcare
2. Technology
3. Construction
4. Real Estate/Property
Management
5. Financial Services
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1. Financial Services
2. Manufacturing
3. Healthcare
4. Professional Services
5. Service
4
1. Manufacturing
2. Healthcare
3. Financial Services
4. Service
5. Professional Services
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1. Healthcare
2. Construction
3. Manufacturing
4. Real Estate/Property
Management
5. Technology
2
1. Healthcare
2. Manufacturing
3. Financial Services
4. Service
5. Transportation
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1. Healthcare
2. Technology
3. Manufacturing
4. Financial Services
5. Service
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1. Financial Services
2. Healthcare
3. Manufacturing
4. Pharmaceutical
5. Nonprofit
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1. Healthcare
2. Manufacturing
3. Financial Services
4. Oil & Gas/Energy
5. Technology
3
1. Healthcare
2. Real Estate/Property
Management
3. Financial Services
4. Construction
5. Service
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6. © 2015 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.
Positions in Demand
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1. Contract
Administrator
2. Corporate Paralegal
3. Legal Secretary
4. Litigation Secretary
5. Associate
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1. Patent Lawyer
2. Legal Assistant
3. Real Estate Paralegal
4. Contract Lawyer
5. Patent Prosecution
Paralegal
2
1. Litigation Paralegal
2. Compliance Analyst
3. Corporate Paralegal
4. Litigation Legal
Secretary
5. Corporate Lawyer
4
1. Litigation Legal
Secretary
2. Paralegal
3. Compliance Director
4. Legal Secretary
5. Litigation Associate
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1. Litigation Paralegal
2. Litigation Legal
Secretary
3. Real Estate Lawyer
4. Corporate Lawyer
5. Corporate Paralegal
1. Commercial Real
Estate Lawyer
2. Corporate Paralegal
3. Real Estate
Paralegal
4. Compliance
Administrator
5. Litigation Associate
1. Contract Administrator
2. Corporate Paralegal
3. Real Estate Paralegal
4. Patent Lawyer
5. Compliance Analyst
1. Legal Secretary
2. Paralegal
3. Lawyer
4. Contract Administrator
5. Executive Legal
Assistant
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AK
WA
OR
CA
MT
ID
WY
ND
MN
WI
IL IN
OH
KY
TN
MS AL GA
SC
FL
NC
VAWV
PA
NY
ME
MI
IA
MO
AR
LA
SD
NE
KS
OK
TX
NV
UT
CO
AZ
NM
HIHI
NJ
DE
MD
DC
VT NH
MA
RI
CT
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7. © 2015 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.
Benefits of a Flexible Staffing Structure
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Lawyers were asked, “For which of the following circumstances might
your law firm or company use lawyers on a project, contract or
temporary basis?”
56%
44%
27%
21%
To work on large projects that require more
resources than currently exist
To work on cases or matters requiring
a specific type of expertise
To evaluate a candidate for
a possible full-time position
To fill in for full-time lawyers
who are on extended leave
*Top responses shown.
Source: Robert Half Legal survey of 350 lawyers with the largest law firms
and companies in the United States and Canada

8. © 2015 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.
More Tools for Your Business
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roberthalflegal.com/salary-center
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