2021 Compensation Survey

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM

2021 Compensation Survey

......................... Introduction

On behalf of the Professional Development Consortium and Calibrate Legal, we are pleased to offer the results of our 2021 PDC Compensation Survey, a customized benchmarking tool for professional development positions in the legal industry. Purpose: The goal of the survey is to provide the most accurate and up to date salary and bonus information for professional development teams to support decisions regarding budgets and compensation structures to help fortify their firms in today’s aggressive hiring market. As we unveil the results of the 2021 Compensation Survey, we hope this data furthers your understanding of the professional development employment market, supports your personal professional development, and advances the important dialog between law firm leaders. How: The survey was conducted and prepared independently by Calibrate Legal, Inc., a leader in North American executive search and consulting, whose focus is to help its law firm clients understand the importance of their human capital investments. Survey Methodology: The report contains data provided by 335 participants across the US and Canada. The online survey was launched via email on April 12, 2021 and closed on May 15, 2021. Please note that all compensation is reported in US dollars. To the extent participation levels were sufficient to report findings, the summary report contains detailed breakdowns by position, location and firm size. Participation in the survey was voluntary and no responses are attributable to or identifiable by any single person or firm. Our thanks to the hundreds of legal PD professionals and our colleagues at Calibrate Legal, whose participation made this 2021 PDC Compensation Survey comprehensive and relevant.

Milana Hogan, 2021 Board Chair Professional Development Consortium

Jennifer Johnson CEO, Calibrate Legal

2021 PDC Compensation Survey | 2

.................................. Table of Contents

Firm Profile..................................................... 4

Respondent Profile. ....................................... 5

Department Profile. ........................................ 7

Benchmark Compensation Analysis. ............. 9

• Race and Gender Breakdown ............... 13

Year-Over-Year Trends ............................... 14


........................ Firm Profile


Total Number of Survey Respondents

335 Of the 737 PDC members who received this survey, 335 respondents participated, or roughly 45%.

REGIONS

West 17%

Midwest 17%

South/Central 29%

35%

Canada

Midwest

Northeast

South/Central

West

# OF ATTORNEYS

TOTAL # OF RESPONSES

% OF TOTAL RESPONSES

1,000 + 114 34%

700 - 999 58 17%

400 - 699 55 16%

200 - 399 65 19%

100 - 199 33 10%

< 100 10 3%

# of OFFICES # of ATTORNEYS

Canada 2%

Midwest 16% West 14%

South/Central 28% Northeast 40%

....................................

Respondent Profile

TITLE

EDUCATION

YEARS OF PRACTICE FOR THOSE WITH JD

EMPLOYMENT STATUS

9% of respondents are eligible for overtime

1.5%

5.7%

7.0%

28.4%

14.0%

2.0%

32.2%

9.3%

ASSISTANT

COORDINATOR

SPECIALIST

MANAGER

SENIOR MANAGER

ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR

CHIEF

1%

5%94%

PART TIME (Less than 80%)

PART TIME (80% or more)

FULL TIME


....................................

Respondent Profile (cont.)

YEARS WITH CURRENT FIRM

TOTAL YEARS OF WORK EXPERIENCE

WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITY?

Local

24%

Global

45%

Regional

23%

National

50%

YEARS OF LEGAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE


.................................... 2021 PDC Compensation Survey | 7

Respondent Profile (cont.)

DIVERSITY METRICS

GENDER

Female Male I Prefer Not to answer

88% 11% 1%

RACE/ETHNICITY

White Person of Color I Prefer not to Answer

86% 9.8% 4.2%

IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ+

Yes No I Prefer not to Answer

7.5% 90.4% 2.1%

IDENTIFY AS HAVING DISABILITY


3.3% 91.3% 5.4%

VETERAN


0% 99% 1%

MILITARY SPOUSE Yes No I Prefer not to Answer

2% 97% 1%


Department Profile

ALLOCATION OF PD FUNCTION TO FIRM DEPARTMENTS

PD DEPARTMENT SCOPE BY FIRM SIZE

*

* n = 114 (as 221 respondents provided no information on PD Headcount and were thus discounted from analysis)

Compared to 2018, average FTE headcount dedicated to PD has risen at all firm sizes, indicating increased firm attention to and investment in PD.

# OF ATTORNEYS Percentage of Responding Firms

Average PD Headcount as

FTE*

Percentage of Responsibilities Devoted to PD

<50% 50%-74% 75%-99% 100%

<100 3% 1.3 3 3 2 2

100-199 10% 1.9 5 16 8 4

200-399 19% 3.9 6 23 15 21

400-699 16% 4.4 4 14 16 21

700-999 17% 8.3 7 15 14 22

1000+ 34% 9.8 17 19 16 62

TOTAL / AVERAGE 100% 4.9 13% 27% 21% 39%


Department Profile (cont.)

DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

ASSOCIATE ORIENTATION AND INTEGRATION


Department Profile (cont.)

TOP THREE AREAS OF FOCUS

AREAS OF FOCUS CITED IN “OTHER” CATEGORY

Bar admissions Marketing Technology Business Development Office Administration/Firmwide HR Business Plan development and implementation Onboarding Compensation (partner) On-Campus Recruitment & Summer Associate Program Employee Relations/HR Investigations Organizational Development Flexible Work Arrangements Partner compensation HR for attorneys Performance management for non-lawyers Leadership development Pro bono Licensure compliance Recruiting Marketing and business development Women's initiatives

Since 2016, the only area of responsibility where focus has steadily decreased is “Training for Non-Lawyers”

...................................... 2021 PDC Compensation Survey | 11

US & CANADA: AVERAGE BASE COMPENSATION BY POSITION AND REGION (IN US$)

Benchmark Analysis

US & CANADA: TOTAL COMPENSATION BY POSITION (IN US$)

LEVEL

BASE COMP MIN AVG MAX

BONUS MIN AVG MAX

AVG SALARY INCREASE

CHIEF $101,000 $265,484 $300,000 $5,000 $36,774 $50,000 5.42%

DIRECTOR $87,000 $213,074 $300,000 $1,000 $24,028 $50,000 4.68%

ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR $150,000 $211,857 $300,000 $17,000 $25,714 $50,000 4.71%

SENIOR MANAGER $98,000 $158,936 $227,000 $2,000 $15,447 $40,000 5.51%

MANAGER $75,000 $137,840 $212,000 $1,000 $9,138 $30,000 3.34%

SPECIALIST $59,000 $84,217 $110,000 $1,000 $4,609 $13,000 3.44%

COORDINATOR $52,000 $73,684 $137,000 $1,000 $2,947 $12,000 3.26%

ASSISTANT $38,000 $72,000 $125,000 $1,000 $3,800 $12,000 3.00%

LEVEL CANADA MIDWEST NORTHEAST SOUTH/

CENTRAL WEST

CHIEF $300,000 $241,250 $257,273 $275,571 $275,750

DIRECTOR $152,200 $179,813 $243,868 $200,829 $219,857

ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR N/A $195,000 $227,600 $150,000 N/A

SENIOR MANAGER $122,000 $132,333 $172,042 $142,200 $176,200

MANAGER $180,000 $123,875 $146,050 $128,393 $135,800

SPECIALIST N/A $82,333 $95,143 $78,571 $79,000

COORDINATOR N/A $83,400 $69,625 $65,500 $82,000

ASSISTANT N/A $38,000 $67,000 $52,000 $101,500

AVERAGE BASE COMPENSATION BY POSITION AND CITY (IN US$)

LEVEL ATLANTA BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS DC HOUSTON LA NYC

CHIEF $190,000 $283,750 $295,000 $275,000 $288,000 $300,000 $300,000 $250,250

DIRECTOR $227,800 $246,857 $203,625 $210,000 $216,750 $224,000 $232,556 $254,115

ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR N/A N/A $195,000 N/A $150,000 N/A N/A $227,600

SENIOR MANAGER $125,000 $148,286 $134,800 N/A $157,800 $140,000 $173,000 $185,857

MANAGER $120,333 $142,917 $130,154 $169,000 $130,267 $148,250 $141,000 $164,765

SPECIALIST $70,000 $90,500 $82,333 $66,000 $95,000 $94,000 $77,000 $101,750

COORDINATOR N/A N/A $70,000 N/A $52,000 N/A $78,000 $75,000

ASSISTANT N/A N/A $38,000 N/A N/A $52,000 $125,000 N/A


US & CANADA: AVERAGE BASE COMPENSATION BY POSITION AND YEARS OF PD EXPERIENCE (IN US$)

Benchmark Analysis (cont.)

US & CANADA: AVERAGE BASE COMPENSATION BY POSITION AND FIRM SIZE (# OF ATTORNEYS) (IN US$)

LEVEL <100 100-199 200-399 400-699 700-999 1000+

CHIEF N/A $270,143 $248,000 $273,714 $250,000 $297,250

DIRECTOR $167,000 $230,297 $160,000 $190,176 $222,056 $250,313

ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR N/A $172,500 N/A $200,000 $300,000 $212,667

SENIOR MANAGER $140,000 $173,706 $133,600 $136,000 $151,286 $169,800

MANAGER N/A $145,268 $114,800 $126,579 $136,188 $131,643

SPECIALIST N/A $88,600 $88,000 $81,200 $79,667 $87,000

COORDINATOR $63,000 $72,600 $78,000 $71,429 $103,500 $63,000

ASSISTANT N/A N/A $125,000 $58,000 N/A $59,500

LEVEL <1 1-5 6 -10 11-15 16-20 >20

CHIEF N/A $260,000 $270,500 $252,250 $280,167 $262,000

DIRECTOR $140,000 $180,667 $216,636 $239,737 $230,313 $196,852

ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR N/A $242,667 $180,000 $150,000 N/A $212,500

SENIOR MANAGER N/A $167,500 $148,429 $163,500 $160,091 $164,500

MANAGER $160,000 $132,613 $133,412 $132,818 $173,333 $138,656

SPECIALIST N/A $85,250 $64,500 $89,333 N/A $85,800

COORDINATOR $56,000 $75,583 N/A N/A $78,000 $71,800

ASSISTANT N/A $70,500 N/A N/A $78,000 N/A

US & CANADA: AVERAGE BASE COMPENSATION BY POSITION AND LEVEL OF EDUCATION (IN US$)

LEVEL

JD

DOCTORATE

MASTERS

BACHELORS SOME

COLLEGE HIGH

SCHOOL

OTHER

CHIEF $265,909 $300,000 $280,800 $225,333 N/A N/A N/A

DIRECTOR $217,108 $107,000 $217,308 $200,211 $210,000 N/A N/A

ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR $217,167 N/A N/A $180,000 N/A N/A N/A

SENIOR MANAGER $170,765 N/A $165,727 $144,421 N/A N/A N/A

MANAGER $150,225 N/A $129,778 $126,912 $84,000 $83,000 $130,000

SPECIALIST $79,000 N/A $88,000 $83,833 $83,000 N/A N/A

COORDINATOR $137,000 N/A $60,333 $71,714 N/A N/A $78,000

ASSISTANT N/A N/A $125,000 $45,000 $72,500 N/A N/A

With a few exceptions, respondents with JD qualifications

tended to report higher base compensation than those with other advanced degrees.


Benchmark Analysis (cont.)

US & CANADA: TOTAL COMPENSATION BY GENDER

US & CANADA: TOTAL COMPENSATION BY RACE/ETHNICITY

COUNT AVERAGE BASE COMPENSATION

AVERAGE BONUS COMPENSATION

AVERAGE SALARY INCREASE

FEMALE 295 $167,214 $16,397 4.46%

MALE 36 $193,667 $22,333 3.22%

I PREFER NOT TO ANSWER 3 $183,000 $13,333 2.00%

COUNT AVERAGE BASE COMPENSATION

AVERAGE BONUS COMPENSATION

AVERAGE SALARY INCREASE

CAUCASIAN (WHITE) 279 $171,986 $17,498 4.12%

PERSON OF COLOR 41 $160,049 $14,537 5.78%

I PREFER NOT TO ANSWER 14 $164,500 $14,500 3.71%

The survey uncovered compensation variances between respondents who identified as Caucasian (White) vs. those who identified as Persons of Color (POC). On average, base compensation for Whites is 7% higher than that for POCs, while average bonus compensation for Whites is 17% higher than that for POCs. Similar variances are evident at all job levels.

The survey results reveal compensation variances between males and females in these roles. On average, base compensation for males is 14% higher than that for females, while average bonus compensation for males is 27% higher than that for females. Similar variances are evident at all job levels.


Year-Over-Year Trends

AVERAGE BASE COMPENSATION BY SURVEY YEAR (IN US$)

AVERAGE BASE COMPENSATION 2016 2018 2021 %Δ 2016-211

CHIEF $265,178.57 $297,804.35 $265,483.87 0.1%

DIRECTOR $200,619.42 $223,658.42 $213,074.07 6.0%

ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR $137,000.00 $154,983.33 $211,857.14 42.9%

SENIOR MANAGER $145,712.60 $140,650.00 $158,936.17 8.7%

MANAGER $123,331.86 $129,939.82 $137,840.43 11.1%

SPECIALIST $83,957.14 $86,632.14 $84,217.39 0.3%

COORDINATOR $73,145.00 $69,386.53 $73,684.21 0.7%

ASSISTANT $54,235.50 $50,184.33 $72,000.00 28.1%

GRAND AVERAGE $135,397.51 $144,154.86 $152,136.66 11.6%

AVERAGE SALARY INCREASE BY SURVEY YEAR (IN US$)

AVERAGE SALARY INCREASE 2016 2018 2021

CHIEF 5.8% 4.7% 5.4%

DIRECTOR 11.2% 4.4% 4.7%

ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR 3.8% 3.7% 4.7%

SENIOR MANAGER 2.6% 7.0% 5.5%

MANAGER 3.4% 3.8% 3.3%

SPECIALIST 2.7% 2.1% 3.4%

COORDINATOR 4.3% 4.1% 3.3%

ASSISTANT 0.8% 2.2% 3.0%

GRAND AVERAGE 4.3% 4.0% 4.2%

AVERAGE BONUS BY SURVEY YEAR (IN US$)

1 Percentage delta (Δ%) was calculated by dividing the absolute value of the difference between the 2016 and 2021 amounts by the average of the amounts for 2016 and 2021.

AVERAGE BASE COMPENSATION 2016 2018 2021 %Δ 2016-21

CHIEF $33,018.57 $41,152.17 $36,774.19 11%

DIRECTOR $18,854.27 $21,598.13 $24,027.78 24%

ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR $3,200.00 $11,577.08 $25,714.29 156%

SENIOR MANAGER $12,895.00 $10,655.15 $15,446.81 18%

MANAGER $8,074.67 $8,114.69 $9,138.30 12%

SPECIALIST $3,175.29 $2,217.86 $4,608.70 37%

COORDINATOR $9,296.82 $3,256.25 $2,947.37 -104%

ASSISTANT $1,316.67 $1,400.00 $3,800.00 97%

GRAND AVERAGE $11,228.91 $12,496.42 $15,307.18 31%

The Professional Development Consortium (PDC) is a group of individuals working at law firms, law schools, government agencies and corporations who are responsible for developing and administering training and continuing professional development for lawyers. In existence since 1990, this collegial group enjoys sharing ideas, strategies and best practices to improve the performance of lawyers and the profession.

Calibrate Legal is a first-call resource for law firm leaders who seek the best business services talent and invest in their success. Our team, which comprises advisers and recruiters with law firm and corporate experience, helps law firms achieve superior business results through the strategic use of talent, time and technology. This work is driven by the fundamental belief that law firm business functions are far from being “overhead” – they are essential drivers of performance and profitability. Together with our clients, Calibrate Legal is replacing the outdated concept of “non” lawyers with Revenue Enablers who work in tandem with Revenue Producers to achieve sustainable growth and advance the strategies of law firm leadership.

DISCLAIMER © 2021 Professional Development Consortium (PDC). All rights reserved. All information in this report is verified to the best of the author’s and the publisher’s abilities. However, the PDC does not accept responsibility for any loss arising from reliance on it. Neither this publication nor any part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the PDC.

© 2021 Calibrate Legal, Inc. All rights reserved. All information in this report is verified to the best of our ability. Responses to the survey were voluntary. Calibrate Legal, Inc. does not accept responsibility for any loss arising from reliance on it.


2020-21 PDC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Milana Hogan, Chair Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Erin Walczewski, Vice Chair Cooley LLP Don Smith, Immediate Past Chair Crowell & Moring LLP Jeanne Picht, Treasurer Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP Matthew Galando K&L Gates LLP Aisha Green Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP Kristen Uhl Hulse Snell & Wilmer LLP

Shuhana Khan Jenner & Block LLP

Deepa Selvam Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Johnna Story Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP

Jane Williamson Ropes & Gray LLP

CALIBRATE LEGAL

Jennifer Johnson, Founder and CEO

Documents

2021 Compensation Survey