Seventy seven per cent of Australian law firms are planning to recruit in the next 12 months - but  the majority will merely replace departing staff  whilst 39 per cent expect to recruit to increase their teams. Salaries paid in law firms have risen 'a modest 4.6 per cent' over the last year, according to the Legal Industry Salary & HR Issues Survey, produced by the Australasian Legal Practice Management Association (ALPMA) and Rusher Rogers HR Solutions. Looking ahead, 76 per cent of the 254 surveyed firms expect to give rises equal to or above the Consumer Price Index over the next year. Of these, half expect to pay inflation increases only while just under half expect to negotiate higher increases. Nearly a fifth of firms (18 per cent) are planning partial pay freezes.

Best payers

Suzie Rogers, principal at Rusher Rogers commented: 'Senior Associates, special counsel and partners are paid best at large firms with 150+ employees, while more junior lawyers are better paid at mid-tier firms.'  Source:  Salary & HR Issues Survey