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Lawyer Salaries Canada


Bay Street Earnings (Toronto) | Atlantic Canada Salaries | British Columbia Salaries | Alberta Salaries

Canadian Lawyer Potential Earnings | Salaries Offered by Law Firms across Canada

 

Bay Street Earnings

source: Zsa Legal Recruitment - May 18, 2011


Average salaries (private practice) for lawyers working in Toronto.


Experience Large Medium Small
1st year
$90,000-$105,000
$75,000-$90,000
$65,000-$78,000
2nd year
$100,000-$115,000
$80,000-$95,000
$75,000-$85,000
3rd year
$130,000-$150,000
$90,000-$100,000
$75,000-$90,000
4th year
$150,000-$170,000
$100,000-$115,000
$90,000-$110,000
5th year
$150,000-$170,000
$115,000-$130,000
$100,000+
6th year
$175,000-$190,000
$135,000+
$110,000+
7th year
$215,000+
$135,000+
$110,000+
Annual Bonus
0-30 %
(1)
(2)

(1) Based on targets billed in excess of 1650-1750 hours, bonus is approximately $5-7.5 K per every 100 hours over target
(2) Based on targets billed in excess of 1500-1600 hours, bonus is approximately $3-4 K per every 100 hours over target

Note: This survey is based on the salaries of lawyers in private practice working in the downtown core of each respective city. For purposes of this survey:
Small = law firms of less than 50 lawyers not including boutique law firms.
Medium = law firms of 50 - 125 lawyers including boutique law firms.
Large = firms with more than 125 lawyers.


Average salaries (private practice) for lawyers working in Toronto.


Experience Salary
1-2 years
$85,000-$110,000
3-4 years
$95,000-$130,000
5-6 years
$105,000-$160,000
7-10 years
$140,000-$170,000
10+ years
$170,000-$300,000

In-House: Bonus payments or stock options are not included in these figures. Most in-house positions will include benefits and options that on average will increase the “all-in” package by 20% to 50%.

 

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Atlantic Canada Salaries

source: Zsa Legal Recruitment - July 12, 2011


Average salaries (private practice) for lawyers working in Atlantic Canada.


Experience Large Small
1st year
$50,000-$55,000
$30,000-$45,000
2nd year
$55,000-$68,000
$40,000-$55,000
3rd year
$60,000-$75,000
$50,000-$75,000
4th year
$60,000-$80,000
$60,000-$75,000
5th year
$70,000-$90,000
$60,000-$80,000
6th year
$80,000-$100,000
$65,000-$85,000
7th year
$90,000-$110,000
$75,000+

Note: This survey is based on the salaries of lawyers in private practice working in the downtown core of each respective city. For purposes of this surveys: Small = law firms of less than 50 lawyers. Large = firms with more than 125 lawyers.

 

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British Columbia Salaries

source: Zsa Legal Recruitment - July 27, 2010


Average salaries (private practice) for lawyers working in Vancouver.


Experience Large Medium Small
1st year
$85,000-$93,000
$80,000-$85,000
$75,000-$80,000
2nd year
$92,000-$101,000
$88,000-$92,000
$83,000-$88,000
3rd year
$102,000-$112,000
$96,000-$100,000
$90,000-$100,000
4th year
$112,000-$123,000
$104,000-$112,000
$98,000-$108,000
5th year
$122,000-$134,000
$112,000-$120,000
$106,000-$116,000
6th year
$132,000-$145,000
$120,000-$128,000
$114,000-$124,000
Annual Bonus
Varies from firm to firm
-
-


Average salaries in Vancouver (In-House)

Experience Salary
1-2 years
$70,000-$80,000
3-5 years
$80,000-$110,000
5-9 years
$110,000-$140,000
10+ years
$140,000-$205,000+

In-House: These salaries cannot be categorized as easily due to a variety of factors. These salaries do not include any bonus payments or stock options. Most in-house positions will include benefits and options that on average will increase the “all-in” package by 30% to 50%.

Note: These surveys are based on the salaries of lawyers in private practice working in the downtown core of each respective city.

 

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Alberta Salaries

source: Zsa Legal Recruitment - May 18, 2010


Average salaries (private practice) for lawyers working in Calgary.


Experience Large Medium Small
1st year
$85,000-$92,000
$70,000-$85,000
$60,000-$75,000
2nd year
$90,000-$95,000
$85,000-$90,000
$75,000-$85,000
3rd year
$105,000-$115,000
$90,000-$110,000
$85,000-$100,000
4th year
$120,000-$130,000
$115,000-$125,000
$105,000-$115,000
5th year
$135,000-$145,000
$125,000-$135,000
$120,000-$130,000
6th year
$150,000-$160,000
$130,000-$150,000
$130,000-$140,000
Annual Bonus
0-30 %
0-20 %
0-15 %


Average salaries (private practice) for lawyers working in Edmonton.


Experience Large Medium Small
1st year
$40,000-$70,000
$36,000-$60,000
$30,000-$50,000
2nd year
$56,000-$85,000
$50,000-$75,000
$42,000-$63,000
3rd year
$65,000-$95,000
$58,000-$85,000
$48,000-$85,000
4th year
$70,000-$100,000
$62,000-$90,000
$52,000-$115,000
5th year
$77,000-$120,000
$68,000-$105,000
$76,000-$94,000
6th year
$90,000-$135,000
$80,000-$120,000
$68,000-$100,000
Annual Bonus
0-30 %
0-25 %
0-25 %

 

Average salaries (In-House).


Experience Salary
1-2 years
$50,000-$72,000
3-5 years
$70,000-$110,000
5-9 years
$85,000-$130,000
10+ years
$100,000-$191,000

In-House: These salaries cannot be categorized as easily due to a variety of factors. These salaries do not include any bonus payments or stock options. Most in-house positions will include benefits and options that on average will increase the “all-in” package by 30% to 50%.

Note: These surveys are based on the salaries of lawyers in private practice working in the downtown core of each respective city. For purposes of these surveys:
Small = law firms of less then 50 lawyers not including boutique law firms.
Medium = law firms of 50 - 125 lawyers including boutique law firms.
Large = firms with more than 125 lawyers.

 

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Canadian Lawyer Potential Earnings:

source: canadianlawyermag.com

 

More than 600 lawyers in Canada responded to a 2010 Canadian Lawyer's legal fees survey.

  • $337/hour. Average hourly rate for lawyers with 10 years of experience in Western Canada.

  2009 2005 2000
National $185 $250 $317
Atlantic-Quebec Region $170 $224 $271
Ontario $203 $258 $333
Western Region $178 $263 $327
1-4 lawyers in firm $201 $239 $294
5-25 lawyers in firm $173 $250 $328
26+ lawyers in firm $186 $263 $359


More than 400 law firms/departments in Canada responded to a 2010 Canadian Lawyer's compensation survey.

  • Increase in earnings for partners from 2008 to 2009, averaging about 7%.


    Law Firm Partner Income (NATIONAL) - sample size: 193
    UP TO $50,000 +9.7%
    $51,000 TO $100,000 +22%
    $101,000 TO $150,000 +22%
    $151,000 TO $200,000 +12%
    $201,000 TO $250,000 +9.4%
    $251,000 TO $300,000 +8.1%
    $301,000 TO $350,000 +5.53%
    $351,000 TO $400,000 +1.67%
    $401,000 TO $450,000 +2.6%
    OVER $450,000 +7%


    • Associate Compensation (NATIONAL) - sample size: 165

    Year of call Median Lowest Highest
    2009 $62,000 $24,000 $125,000
    2008 $69,600 $26,000 $110,000
    2007 $80,000 $27,000 $125,000
    2006 $85,000 $40,000 $250,000
    2005 $90,000 $53,000 $150,000
    2004 $92,500 $50,000 $185,000
    2003 $100,000 $70,000 $205,000
    2002 and before $100,000 $45,000 $350,000


  • Median income of $195,000 for executive level general counsel with lowest reported salary of $60,000 and the highest standing at $900,000


    In-house Senior Counsel Compensation (NATIONAL) - sample size: 121
      Median Lowest Highest
    General counsel at director level $135,000 $60,000 $300,000
    General counsel at executive level $195,000 $60,000 $900,000



    In-house Counsel Average Compensation (NATIONAL) - sample size: 121

    Year of call Median Lowest Highest
    2009 $85,000 $40,000 $110,000
    2008 $80,000 $46,000 $145,000
    2007 $85,000 $58,000 $108,000
    2006 $90,000 $60,000 $143,000
    2005 $95,000 $60,400 $155,000
    2004 $110,000 $60,700 $151,500
    2003 $100,000 $61,200 $250,000
    2002 $110,000 $62,000 $225,000
    2001 $120,000 $62,000 $200,000
    2000 and before $140,000 $80,000 $275,000

 

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Salaries Offered by Law Firms across Canada

source: infirmation.com

 

Some prominent law firms in Toronto and their salaries.

Law Firm 1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year 4th Year 5th Year 6th Year 7th Year
Baker & McKenzie*
$98,000
$100,000
$110,000
-
-
-
-
Blake, Cassels & Graydon*
$100,000
$105,000
$122,500
$145,000
$170,000
$190,000
$210,000
Davis LLP*
$90,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fogler, Rubinoff LLP*
$92,500
$105,000
-
-
-
-
-
Gardiner Roberts LLP*
$80,000
$85,000
-
-
-
-
-
Goodman and Carr
$80,000
$90,000
-
-
-
-
-
Heenan Blaikie
$95,000
$100,000
$110,000
$120,000
$135,000
$145,000
$170,000
Lang Michener*
$90,000
$100,000
$110,000
$120,000
-
-
-
Miller Thomson LLP
$95,000
$98,000
$113,000
$118,000
-
$140,000
$145,000
Stockwoods LLP*
-
$130,000
-
-
-
-
-
Thomson, Rogers*
$80,000
-
-
-
-
-
-


* Firms that provide bonuses on top of salary.

Complete Lists including Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver,

 

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