National Jurist - November 2008 - (Page 12) THEFIRMREPORT New report sheds light on public sector salaries A recent report by the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) shows salary figures for both entry-level and experienced attorneys at public sector and public interest organizations. The latest biennial report serves as a companion piece to NALP’s annual Associate Salary Survey. Together these two reports also provide a basis for comparing private law firm and public sector/public interest salaries. For example, the median salary for a fifth-year associate ranges from $93,000 to over $200,000 depending on firm size, according to the 2008 Associate Salary Survey. These figures are at least double, and often more than double, what an attorney with similar experience makes at a public interest or public sector organization according to the 2008 Public Sector and Public Interest Attorney Salary Report. The $160,000 starting salary found by the Associate Salary Survey to be typical at big firms in big cities is beyond what even the most experienced attorneys can reasonably expect at a public sector organization, according to NALP researchers. It is also evident, based on a comparison to findings in previous reports in 2004 and 2006 that salaries at public sector and public interest organizations have increased only modestly since 2004. That figure is typically less than $10,000, regardless of organization type or experience. The survey also gathered information about benefits and workplace policies: • Public interest and legal services organizations are most likely to pay the full premium for health insurance for their employees — 74 percent and 69 percent of respondents, respectively, reported doing so. Among prosecuting attorneys and public defender offices, fewer than half pay the full premium. • Legal services organizations typically provide more vacation days, with a median of 15 days for new employees and 24 days after 10 years. At public defender and local prosecuting attorney offices, employees typically start at 10 to 12 days and can work up to about 20 days after 10 years. The report was based on a nationwide survey conducted by NALP among civil legal services organizations; offices of public defenders, state attorneys general and local prosecuting attorneys and public interest organizations. A total of 658 organizations completed the survey. Median salaries for attorneys $80,000 $70,000 $60,000 $50,000 $40,000 $30,000 $20,000 $10,000 Source: The 2008 Public Sector and Public Interest Attorney Salary Report was based on a nationwide survey conducted by NALP. Civil legal services Public defenders 12 ■ Entry-level ■ 5 years ■ 11-15 years Local prosecutors THE NATIONAL JURIST State prosecutors Public interest organizations November 2008
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.