2024 Canada Legal Salaries and Hiring Trends

Law firms in major markets are seeing high demand for their services. Still, half of legal employers say finding candidates with the required skill sets is their greatest hiring challenge in 2024. Legal professionals are trying to attain better work-life balance through remote and hybrid work arrangements, although many employers want them fully in-office. According to Robert Half recruiters, this can contribute to positions being left unstaffed.

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Hiring Trends in Legal

Civil litigators, real estate lawyers sought

Law firms are hiring middle-level lawyers but bringing in fewer entry-level professionals. Roles in demand include civil litigators, real estate lawyers and law clerks.

Corporate legal departments, our recruiters report, aren’t hiring as much as they have in the past.

Employers that can’t find the candidates they need for permanent roles are keeping projects on track by engaging talent solutions firms to staff contract positions.

Practice areas most in need of legal talent

Ethics and corporate governance

Immigration

Insurance defense

Labour and employment

Litigation

Medical malpractice

Privacy, data security and information law

Real estate

AI and
machine learning Advanced
technical skills Management
experience Research and
info analysis Client management AI and
machine learning Advanced
technical skills Management
experience Research and
info analysis Client management

Remote and hybrid option a talent draw

Traditionally, the legal field has not offered off-site roles. Today, 33% of legal employers say they offer remote or hybrid work options, recognizing they must adapt to secure skilled candidates.

Some legal managers prefer to offer fully remote arrangements only to more tenured staff who have earned their trust.

Employers that don’t provide this flexibility may have to pay employees more: 82% of legal professionals said they’d like a salary premium if required to work in the office full time.

Hybrid Hybrid

Fully remote Fully remote

Hottest jobs

Law clerk

Lawyer, 4+ years’ experience

Legal administrator

Legal assistant

Industries hiring most

Financial services

Insurance

Litigation support

Real estate

In-demand certifications and credentials

Accredited legal professional (ALP)

Certified compliance and ethics professional (CCEP)

Certified eDiscovery specialist (CEDS)

Certified legal manager (CLM)

Professional legal secretary (PLS)

Accredited lawyer (JD)

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How do we determine our salary figures? See our methodology.

The salaries listed in the salary tables represent starting compensation only, meaning pay for someone new to a company in the position listed. Our estimates do not include bonuses, benefits or perks. We report salaries in percentiles and ranges, recognizing that professionals join companies at varied experience levels.

Other data referenced in this Salary Guide is based on online surveys developed by Robert Half and conducted by independent research firms. Respondents included hiring managers and employees from small (less than $50 million in revenues), midsize ($50 million to $1 billion) and large ($1 billion or greater) private, publicly listed and public sector organizations across Canada.

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