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THE yuppie lawyer stereotype could well be a myth.

A national survey of lawyers with less than 10 years' experience in the profession found almost half were considering leaving their firms in the next year because of low pay or poor promotion prospects.

Contrary to notions of young lawyers earning six-figure sums, 56 per cent earn between $30,000 and $59,000 a year, the study by the Law Council of Australia found.

Almost 46 per cent are considering leaving their jobs in the next 12 months, mainly for a higher salary or more opportunity for promotion. Nearly a third see themselves ditching the law within five years.

Lawyers in NSW, the ACT and Queensland earned the most and Tasmanian lawyers the least.

Rural lawyers were the most likely to earn less than $39,000, but one perk was they got more parking spaces.

Overseas respondents were the most likely to earn more than $90,000 a year, but they were also the most likely to rate their job satisfaction as "neutral" and to complain about the pressures of work on their home lives.

The 869 respondents had all worked less than 10 years in the legal profession.

A significant proportion - 43.2 per cent - said excessive workloads were significantly affecting their personal relationships, health or wellbeing.

While hardly nine-to-fivers, they were not necessarily working terrible hours - most worked between 41 and 50 hours a week.

Law Council president Bob Gotterson QC said the survey showed work-family balance and a desire to have a life outside the office was very important to young lawyers.

"Contrary to public perceptions of lawyers, the results suggest financial rewards and status are not always as important to Australia's new breed of young lawyers," Mr Gotterson said.

Women made up 67.9 per cent of respondents to the questionnaire, but they were outdone by men in the financial stakes.

Male lawyers were generally better paid than females and received more job perks, but they worked longer hours - with a greater percentage of women working part-time.


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