Legal Salary Survey
Orange County, California 

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

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Law Firm Attorneys

Large firms look at schools and grades, mid-size firms look at experience and movement, specialized firms want on-point experience and the small firm in interested in matching personalities and style.

 

Firm Size	Billable Hours	Yearly Range
Small Law Firm	$0 - 1800	$60,000 - $80,000
Mid-size Law Firm	1850 - 1950	$68,000 - $135,000
Large Law Firm	1850 - 2000	$125,000 - $160,000
Boutique Law Firm	1750 - 2000	$75,000 - $110,000

 

 

Paralegals and Docket Clerks

It is important for paralegals to understand "career positioning".  The highest paid paralegals are experts in their area of law, have superior writing skills and can tell you the amount of revenue they generate.  Docket Clerks (Litigation or IP) are organized, detail oriented and focused. 

 

Title	Monthly Range	Yearly Range
Junior Paralegal	$2500 - $3100	$30,000 - $37,200
Mid-level Paralegal	$3200 - $4100	$38,400 - $49,200
Senior-level Paralegal	$4200 - $6250	$50,400 - $75,000
Docket Clerk	$3750 - $4583	$45,000 - $55,000

 

Legal Secretaries and Legal Word Processors

Descriptions of Legal Secretary Titles

 

The highest salaries are reserved for legal professionals with superior skills, a stable work history, and a  professional demeanor.  Advanced technical and MS Word skills, and E-filing experience is required.

 

Title	Monthly Range	Yearly Range
Junior Secretary	$3100 - $3750	$37,200 - $45,000
Mid-level Secretary	$3750 - $5000	$45,000 - $60,000
Partner-level Secretary	$4583 - $5833	$55,000 - $70,000
Word Processor	$4583 - $4833	$55,000 - $58,000

 

Support Staff

 Dependability, flexibility, organization and speed are required qualifications in the fast-paced law firm environment.  Support Staff can be a springboard position for the person with a good work ethic.

 

Title	Monthly Range	Yearly Range
Administrative Assistant	$2500 - $4000	$30,000 - $48,000
Receptionist	$2500 - $3333	$30,000 - $40,000
Accounting/Payroll Clerk	$2500 - $3500	$30,000 - $42,000
File/Record Clerk	$2000 - $2925	$24,000 - $35,100
Mail/Copy Clerk	$1800 - $2000	$21,600 - $24,000

 

Administration

Staying current on laws, skills and trends and understanding how business functions is what is needed to succeed in these positions.  Longevity is no longer the most valued qualification for managers. 

 

Title	Monthly Range	Yearly Range
Administrator	$4600 - $10416	$55,200 - $125,000
Accounting Supervisor	$3500 - $5000	$45,600 - $60,000
Information Technology	$4000 - $6666	$48,000 - $80,000
Law Firm Recruiter	$3500 - $5000	$42,000 - $60,000
Marketing Coordinator	$3500 - $5000	$45,600 - $60,000
Marketing Director	$5000 - $8333	$60,000 - $100,000
Records Coordinator	$3000 - $3750	$36,000 - $45,000