BarkerGilmore’s In-House Counsel Salary Guide

Get data for total compensation, including salary and bonuses for in-house counsel and General Counsel.

BarkerGilmore’s annual 2024 In-House Counsel Compensation Report provides in-house counsel the ability to compare pay with peers and aids legal leaders and human resources departments in attracting and retaining top talent by explaining competitive compensation packages.

The anonymous data was collected from a random sample of approximately 3,700 in-house counsel throughout the United States via an online survey administered in March 2024.

In-house counsel and General Counsel salary data for 2024

The compensation report offers a detailed breakdown of average in-house counsel salaries influenced by factors such as:

• Job type: Including General Counsel, Managing Counsel, and Senior Counsel
• Company type: Spanning public, private, and portfolio companies
• Location: From major metropolitan areas to mid-sized and rural areas
• Practice area: Covering diverse legal fields
• Law School Rank and Law Firm Experience: Exploring the impact of these factors on compensation
• And more: Get valuable insights into other significant influences on in-house compensation

Corporate counsel salary trends in 2023 and into 2024 — retaining talent in a cooling market

As the world reopened in 2021, the legal industry witnessed unprecedented growth in hiring and compensation. In fact, the percentage of in-house counsel changing roles realized a 12% high in 2021. As the market has stabilized, in-house counsel have been more likely to stay in their current positions. The percentage of in-house counsel changing jobs last year decreased to 9% overall.

1. What were the in-house compensation trends in 2024?

Salaries for in-house counsel increased by 4.4% in 2024. The increase was most significant for Managing Counsel (3.8%), followed by General Counsel (3.2%) and Senior Counsel (2.9%).

2. What’s the average sign-on bonus for in-house counsel?

The percentage of Managing Counsel and Senior Counsel receiving sign-on bonuses has significantly declined, dropping from 45% last year to 25% this year.

3. How does legal education affect compensation?

According to the 2024 In-House Counsel Compensation Report, legal education significantly influences compensation levels. Graduates from Top 50 law schools generally earn more than those from lower-ranked institutions. Additionally, in-house counsel with experience at prestigious law firms, especially those ranked in the AM Top 50, also see higher compensation. This trend emphasizes the value placed on prestigious educational and professional backgrounds in determining pay scales across various in-house legal positions.

4. Is in-house compensation better at public or private companies?

According to the 2024 In-House Counsel Compensation Report, in-house counsel generally receive higher compensation at public companies compared to private companies. This trend is consistent across various levels of in-house positions, including General Counsel, Managing Counsel, and Senior Counsel. The report attributes the higher compensation at public companies to factors such as greater transparency in pay structures, potentially larger scale and scope of operations, and the need to attract top legal talent in a competitive market that often includes more rigorous regulatory requirements.

5. What industries offer the highest legal counsel compensation?

This year remained consistent with last year’s industry leaders. Download BarkerGilmore’s 2024 In-House Counsel Compensation Report to see the industries that pay the most and the least.

6. General Counsel Salary Insights

Our In-House Counsel Compensation Report reveals key salary data for General Counsel in public, private, and portfolio companies. The report highlights the average base salaries, bonuses, and the increased emphasis on long-term incentives, reflecting strategic adjustments to attract and retain top legal executives in a competitive market.