Survey: Nearly One-Quarter of Canadian Lawyers Plan to Hire Law Clerks in the Next 12 Months

TORONTO, March 15, 2017 /CNW/ - Skilled law clerks may find more job opportunities available to them this year. Nearly a quarter of lawyers (23 per cent) interviewed by Robert Half Legal said their law firm or company plans to increase hiring of law clerks over the next 12 months. Only four per cent anticipate reducing the number of law clerks on their team.

When it comes to landing these jobs, a two-year law clerk diploma and a combined four-year university degree with a law clerk diploma were the most common requirements, cited by 41 per cent and 37 per cent of lawyers surveyed.

The survey was developed by Robert Half Legal, a legal staffing and consulting solutions firm specializing in lawyers, law clerks and other highly skilled legal professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on 150 telephone interviews with lawyers among the largest law firms and companies in Canada.

Lawyers were asked, "What are the certification and/or educational requirements for a law clerk at your law firm or company?" Their responses:*

High school diploma	6%
Two-year diploma	41%
Four-year university degree	12%
Combination of a bachelor's degree, along with a law clerk diploma	37%
Post-baccalaureate certificate in law clerk studies	17%
Something else	8%
Don't know	4%

*Multiple responses were permitted.

"Law firms and corporate legal departments are increasingly hiring law clerks to enhance legal services while controlling costs," said Charles Volkert, senior district president of Robert Half Legal. "Law clerks with advanced education and experience in high-demand specialties will see the greatest employment opportunities and earning potential."

Research conducted by Robert Half Legal for its annual Salary Guide revealed that salaries are expected to rise 3 per cent for law firm law clerks in 2017. Law Clerks with four to six years' experience at small-to-midsize firms should see the greatest gains, with average starting salaries rising by 3.7 per cent, to the range of $53,500 to $64,750 annually. The 2017 Salary Guide is available for download at roberthalf.ca/legal/lawyer-salary-centre and includes projected starting salary ranges for more than 100 positions in the legal field.

About Robert Half Legal
Robert Half Legal is the premier provider of legal staffing and consulting solutions for law firms and corporate legal departments. With North American and global locations, Robert Half Legal provides a customized approach, including managed review, legal project management and eDiscovery services, to help organizations handle constantly changing workloads. The company offers in-demand expertise across practice areas as well as highly skilled legal professionals on a temporary, project and full-time basis. More information about our full suite of legal staffing and consulting solutions can be found roberthalf.ca/legal, and for career and management advice, follow our Legal Blog at blog.roberthalflegal.com. Follow @RobertHalf_CAN and visit blog.roberthalf.ca for workplace news, trends and advice.

SOURCE Robert Half Legal

Naz Araghian, 416.865.2140, [email protected]