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© 2016 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
2017 HIRING AND COMPENSATION
TRENDS IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION

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© 2016 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
36%
25%
8%
4%
3%
Practice Areas in Demand
Practice areas that are expected to generate the
greatest number of legal jobs in the next two years:*
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2
*Top responses shown
Source: Robert Half Legal survey of 200 lawyers with the largest law firms and companies in the United States
Real estate
Intellectual property
Personal/family law
Litigation
General business/
commercial law

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© 2016 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
2017 Outlook
 Average increase for starting salaries across the
legal field in the U.S. will be 3.6%
 Compensation for some positions is expected to
exceed the national average:
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Paralegal/
Legal Assistant
(7+ years’ experience)
small/midsize law firm
+4.1%+5.8%
Licensed Lawyer
(10+ years’ experience)
midsize law firm
3

4.
© 2016 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
Fastest-Growing Industries
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1. Healthcare
2. Manufacturing
3. Real Estate
4. Technology
5. Construction
1. Healthcare
2. Financial Services
3. Manufacturing
4. Construction
5. Real Estate
1. Manufacturing
2. Healthcare
3. Financial Services
4. Professional Services
5. Construction
1. Healthcare
2. Construction
3. Manufacturing
4. Technology
5. Real Estate
1. Healthcare
2. Manufacturing
3. Professional Services
4. Financial Services
5. Technology
1. Healthcare
2. Manufacturing
3. Technology
4. Financial Services
5. Real Estate
1. Financial Services
2. Healthcare
3. Professional Services
4. Real Estate
5. Manufacturing
1. Healthcare
2. Manufacturing
3. Technology
4. Real Estate
5. Financial Services
1. Healthcare
2. Manufacturing
3. Construction
4. Real Estate
5. Technology
HI

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© 2016 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
Positions in Demand
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1. Corporate Paralegal
2. Law Firm Attorney
3. Contract Administrator
4. Legal Secretary
5. Litigation Secretary
1. Patent Legal Assistant
2. Contract Administrator
3. Litigation Associate
4. Estate Planning
Paralegal
5. Legal Assistant
1. Contract Manager
2. Legal Assistant
3. Corporate Attorney
4. Intellectual Property
Paralegal
5. Contract Administrator
1. Contract Administrator
2. Commercial Litigation
Paralegal
3. Litigation Paralegal
4. Intellectual Property
Attorney
5. Real Estate Paralegal
1. Real Estate Attorney
2. Compliance Manager
3. Corporate Paralegal
4. Legal Assistant
5. In-House Counsel
1. Corporate Paralegal
2. Litigation Legal Secretary
3. Contract Manager
4. Law Firm Attorney
5. Intellectual Property
Attorney
1. Litigation Paralegal
2. Litigation Legal Secretary
3. Contract Manager
4. Corporate Paralegal
5. Legal Secretary
1. Paralegal
2. Lease Administrator
3. Compliance Manager
4. Legal Secretary
5. Law Firm Attorney
1. Paralegal
2. Real Estate Paralegal
3. Litigation Legal Secretary
4. Commercial Real Estate
Attorney
5. Insurance Defense
Attorney
HI

6.
© 2016 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
Robert Half Legal:
Your Key to Finding Legal Talent
The right talent, right on time
Recruitment – from beginning to end
A personal touch
Options to fit your needs
Experience and reputation
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