US in-house counsel earn 21% more in 2021 than 2020: Barker Gilmore study

Other key trends revealed by the report include:

1. New positions: Twelve percent of respondents obtained a new position in 2021, a 50 percent increase from 2020. Thirty-seven percent of new legal positions received sign-on bonuses. Senior counsel were the most likely to receive a sign-on bonus at 41 percent percent. General counsel were the least likely to receive a sign-on bonus (33 percent); however, the general counsel median sign-on bonus was significantly higher than that of managing counsel and senior counsel.
2. Law School Rank: Respondents at all levels had higher total compensation if they went to a Top 100 law school. Total compensation averaged 25 percent higher for general counsel, 19 percent higher for managing counsel, and 12 percent higher for senior counsel if the respondent obtained their J.D. from a Top 100 law school.
3. Public vs. Private: Consistent with the last five years, 2021 revealed that the compensation of those at publicly traded companies is significantly higher than at private organizations. The gap is most significant at the general counsel level, with a 98 percent disparity in total compensation. Across all position levels, restricted stock units continue to be the most common form of long-term incentive compensation at public companies. In private organizations, if a long-term incentive is offered, the structure is much more variable and may come in the form of stock options or restricted cash.

The data was collected from a random sample of in-house counsel throughout the US via an online survey administered between March and April 2022.