New Public Service Attorney Salary Figures Show Growth Since 2018, But Remain Considerably Below Private Sector Salaries (June 22, 2022 Press Release) — Salaries for public service attorneys have risen since 2018, particularly for attorneys working in civil legal services and public interest organizations.

Findings from the NALP/PSJD 2022 Public Service Attorney Salary Survey (NALP Bulletin+, June 2022) — Among attorneys working in civil legal services organizations, as public defenders, or as attorneys in public interest organizations in 2022, those providing civil legal services have the lowest median entry-level salary and receive the smallest increases in salary based on years of experience.

New Public Service Attorney Salary Figures from NALP Show Slow Growth Since 2004 (July 9, 2018 Press Release) — According to new research from NALP, salaries for public service attorneys have risen modestly since 2004, but among attorneys working in civil legal services organizations, as public defenders or local prosecuting attorneys, or as attorneys in public interest organizations, those providing civil legal services have the lowest median entry-leve l salary, earn the smallest increases in salary based on experience, and have seen the slowest growth in salary levels over the past 14 years. This is a key finding from NALP/PSJD’s 2018 Public Service Attorney Salary Survey and is consistent with findings from earlier surveys, which have been conducted periodically since 2004.

Findings from the NALP/PSJD 2018 Public Service Attorney Salary Survey (NALP Bulletin, June 2018) — Among attorneys working in civil legal services organizations, as public defenders or local prosecuting attorneys, or as attorneys in public interest organizations, those providing civil legal services have the lowest median entry-level salary, have the smallest increases in salary based on experience, and have seen the slowest growth in salary levels over the past 14 years.

NALP's Public Sector & Public Interest Salary Report Turns Ten! (NALP Bulletin, July 2014) — NALP’s first Public Sector & Public Interest Attorney Salary Survey was conducted in 2004 and has been conducted in even-numbered years ever since. Surveys during that ten-year span have consistently documented that practice experience brings with it relatively modest salary increases, particularly within civil legal services organizations.

New Public Interest and Public Sector Salary Figures from NALP Show Little Growth Since 2004 (October 18, 2012 Press Release) — It is evident, based on a comparison to findings dating from 2004, that salaries at public sector and public interest organizations have increased only modestly since 2004, typically by $9,000-12,000, depending on experience and type of organization. It is also the case in general that most of that increase occurred from 2004 to 2008, prior to the recession, and not since then.

Some Associate Salaries Retreat from Their High But Remain Far Ahead of Salaries for Public Service Attorneys (September 9, 2010 Press Release) — Recent research from NALP reveals that associate salaries at law firms were largely flat between 2009 and 2010, although median salaries in some markets fell back. During this same period, salaries for lawyers working in the public interest have also been largely flat, and the gap between private sector and public interest lawyer salaries remains as large as ever.

New Findings on Salaries for Public Interest Attorneys (NALP Bulletin, September 2010) — NALP’s new 2010 Public Sector and Public Interest Attorney Salary Survey documents that, in general, practice experience brings with it relatively modest salary increases, particularly within civil legal services organizations, a finding consistent with that of prior reports, the first of which was in 2004.

New Findings on Salaries for Public Interest Attorneys (NALP Bulletin, September 2008) — It is evident that salary medians at public interest organizations have increased quite modestly, generally by no more than $5,000, regardless of organization type or experience. It is also evident that experience brings with it relatively modest increases in salary, particularly at civil legal services organizations.

A Picture Worth 1,000 Words (Jobs & JD's — Class of 2006) — For another perspective on salaries of the Class of 2006, see A Picture Worth 1,000 Words, which features the bimodal distribution salary graph.

New Research on Attorney Salaries at Public Sector and Public Interest Organizations (NALP Bulletin, October 2006) —NALP has recently published the 2006 Public Sector and Public Interest Attorney Salary Report. This biennial report, first published in 2004, provides salary information for both entry-level and experienced attorneys at public sector and public interest organizations. 2006 Public Sector & Public Interest Attorney Salary Report (available in bookstore)

NALP Publishes New Report on Salaries for Public Sector and Public Interest Attorneys (September 1, 2006 Press Release) — According to the NALP 2006 Public Sector and Public Interest Attorney Salary Report, the median entry-level salary for an attorney at a civil legal services organization is $36,000; an attorney with 11-15 years of experience can expect a salary of $55,000. The median entry-level salary for public defenders is about $43,000; with 11-15 years of experience, the median is $65,000.

New Research on Attorney Salaries at Public Sector and Public Interest Organizations (NALP Bulletin, October 2004) — According to the 2004 Associate Salary Survey, the median salary for a fifth-year associate ranges from $82,000 to $155,000 — amounts two to three times what an attorney with similar experience makes at a public service organization.

Public Interest and Government Salaries (EJW/NLADA Employer Recruitment & Retention Survey, Spring 2002) — Attorney salaries at public interest and state government employers by years of experience.