Legal Salary Survey
Orange County, California 

Recession Salaries 2011

(Salaries based on all job orders listed and offers extended within last six months. 

Market is allowing limited flexibility in position requirements and negotiation of salaries.)

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Attorneys

Market is open for experienced litigation candidates.  Few opportunities for transactional candidates. In-house counsel positions require extensive compliance knowledge.

 

Firm Size	Salary Range	Average Offer
Small Law Firm	$60,000 - $80,000	$65,000
Mid-size Law Firm	$70,000 - $120,000	$80,000
Large Law Firm	$125,000 - $160,000	$140,000
In House	$75,000 - $240,000	$120,000

 

Paralegals

Market is open for litigation candidates with "on-point experience" and high production abilities.  No training available.  Limited transactional and entry-level positions.

 

Title	Salary Range	Average Offer
Small Law Firm	$40,000 - $50,000	$48,000
Mid-size Law Firm	$50,000 - $65,000	$55,000
Large Law Firm	$55,000 - $67,000	$60,000
In House	$50,000 - $65,000	$60,000

 

Legal Secretaries

Market is open for experienced litigation candidates skilled in state and federal e-filing, document management programs, use of MS Word Styles and Compulaw.

 

Title	Salary Range	Average Offer
Small Law Firm	$48,000 - $52,000	$50,000
Mid-size Law Firm	$52,000 - $57,000	$55,000
Large Law Firm	$60,000 - $67,000	$63,000
In House	$50,000 - $65,000	$60,000

 

Administration

 Market is opening for law firm administrators.  Layoffs and downsizing

continue in the HR departments of corporate clients.

 

Title	Salary Range	Average Offer
Small Law Firm	$60,000 - $70,000	$65,000
Mid-size Law Firm	$65,000 - $80,000	$70,000
Large Law Firm	$60,000 - $120,000	$80,000
In House	$60,000 - $70,000	$60,000