Firm Spy Remuneration – Mallesons Lawyer Salaries

Please find below our revised report into Mallesons lawyer salaries. Thankfully, the firm has introduced a sweeping redundancy scheme in between the receipt of many of these responses and today’s publication, making it difficult to determine who has submitted the relevant responses and whether they remain at the firm.

Of course, we’re dealing with a chief executive warlock, so anything is possible! Please let us know if you’re worried that we have inadvertently exposed you as an anonymous tipster (of sorts) by sending us your remuneration package details.

We still need more people to complete the survey, so by all means continue your great work by filling in the remuneration survey.

We will post each of the Big 6 law firms in order of revenue.

Mallesons is on the record as saying that its partnership has a whopping profit margin of 44%. It is easy to see why when looking at the paltry salaries given to staff.

Firm Spy cannot guarantee the accuracy of these figures. They come from anonymous sources.

Brisbane

0-1 Years PQE

Admitted between July 2008 and June 2009. Daily billable target – 6 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $60,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $65,000. Perks – free fruit; free gym; subsidised further education.

6-7 Years PQE

Admitted between July 2002 and June 2003. Daily billable target – 7.5 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $139,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $139,000. Perks – blackberry; free fruit; free gym; subsidised further education.

7-8 Years PQE

Admitted before – July 2002. Daily billable target – 7.5 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $138,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $138,000. Perks – blackberry; free gym; subsidised further education.

Melbourne

Graduate

Admitted 2009. Daily billable target – 4.5 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $64,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $66,000. Perks - free fruit; free gym; subsidised further education. Comments:

I’m employed – counts for something.

[and]

Hi guys I’m a recently admitted (20 Oct) Solicitor in Mallesons’ Melbourne office. Your figures are correct but the billable targets are not. It was 4hrs/day when we were grads and is now 6hrs/day (since admission). Cheers

0-1 Years PQE

Admitted between July 2008 and June 2009. Daily billable target – 6 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $68,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $68,000. Perks - free fruit; free gym; subsidised further education.

1-2 Years PQE

Admitted before – July 2008. Daily billable target – 6.5 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $74,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $74,000. Perks – free fruit; free gym; subsidised further education.

2-3 Years PQE

Admitted between July 2006 and June 2007. Daily billable target – 7 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $82,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $82,000. Perks – free fruit; free gym; subsidised further education. Comments:

MSJ’s remuneration strategy is to pay below market (ie 80-90%). Lovely strategy given that the partners are the most well paid in Australia! If only they put that in their recruitment promotional material! Re the subsidised further education – there are quite strict rules about how long you must remain after you receive you final results (12 – 24 months) otherwise you must pay it all back.

4-5 Years PQE

Admitted between July 2004 and June 2005. Daily billable target – 7.5 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $102,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $102,000. Perks – blackberry; free fruit; free gym; subsidised further education.

6-7 Years PQE

Admitted between July 2002 and June 2003. Daily billable target – 6.5 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $115,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $123,000. Bonus – $11,500. Perks – free fruit; free gym; subsidised further education.

8-9 Years PQE

Admitted between July 2000 and June 2001. Daily billable target – 7.5 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $163,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $163,000. Perks – blackberry; free fruit; free gym; subsidised further education; purchase additional leave. Comments:

I don’t think a blackberry is a perk! The fresh fruit is only available in some departments. Generally it’s a great place to work but so much depends on the particular partners you are working with. One thing that could be improved is transparency in career paths and future prospects.

10+ Years PQE

Admitted before – 1999. Daily billable target – 7.5 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $130,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $130,000. Perks – free fruit; free gym; subsidised further education.

Sydney

Paralegal

 Daily billable target – 4 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $65,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $65,000. Perks – free gym.

0-1 Years PQE

Admitted between July 2008 and June 2009. Daily billable target – 6 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $76,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $76,000. Perks – free fruit; free gym; subsidised further education.

1-2 Years PQE

Admitted between July 2007 and June 2008. Daily billable target – 6.5 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $84,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $84,000. Perks – free fruit; free gym; subsidised further education; parking on weekends; subsidised pilates and yoga; various discounts on products.

2-3 Years PQE

Admitted between July 2006 and June 2007. Daily billable target – 6.5 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $85,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $85,000. Perks – blackberry; free fruit; free gym; subsidised further education.

5-6 Years PQE

Admitted between July 2003 and June 2004. Daily billable target – 7.5 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $137,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $137,000. Bonus – $13,500. Perks – free fruit; free gym; subsidised further education; purchase extra leave.

8-9 Years PQE

Admitted between July 2000 and June 2001. Daily billable target – 7.5 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $153,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $153,000. Perks – blackberry; free fruit; free gym; subsidised further education. Comments:

Crappy salary makes me feel sad and the partners’ massive profits do not help.

Perth

1-2 Years PQE

Admitted between – July 2007 and June 2008. Daily billable target – 6.5 hours. Gross package 2008/2009 – $77,000. Gross package 2009/2010 – $77,000. Bonus – $5000. Perks – free fruit; free gym; subsidised further education. Comments:

Despite the freezing of my already below market salary, my billable targets increased and so did my charge-out rate. Further, there is no rewards for top performers as can be seen by the token bonus received.