Lawyers report increased income, job satisfaction.

While Florida lawyers are earning more and are generally satisfied with their Careers, they are concerned about the ever-increasing number of practitioners entering the state and competition from nonlawyers.

Those findings were among the conclusions drawn from a new survey conducted by the Bar's Research, Planning and Evaluation Department. More than two-thirds of the polled lawyers rate. The Florida Bar as either an excellent or good advocate for the legal profession. The 2001 results reveal a slight decrease in the percentage of excellent/good ratings from 1999; however, the 2001 ratings are still well above the ratings received from 1991-1997.

Almost three-quarters (74 percent) of lawyers responding to the Bar's 2001 Membership Opinion Survey also said the Bar is a "supportive and cohesive organization that is interested in the well-being of its members."

Three-quarters of the lawyers surveyed also said they are satisfied with their careers, equal to what they reported two years ago.

An overwhelming majority of lawyers (75 percent), however, still say the public does not have confidence in the legal system.

Those surveyed also shared their opinions on judicial competence and lawyer advertising. And the survey provides some information on how lawyers are doing financially, although the income data collected is not as comprehensive as is gathered every other year in the Bar's Law Office Management and Economic surveys.

When asked what will have the greatest impact on the profession over the next 10 years, the most often cited responses were an oversaturation of lawyers, computer technology/Internet, and competition from nonattorneys.

The Membership Opinion Survey was mailed to 2,650 randomly selected Bar members in April. By the May 30 deadline, 1,168 had been returned, for a response rate of 44 percent. Bar senior analyst Mike Garcia said the results of the survey are statistically valid and the margin or error is plus or minus three percent at the 95-percent level of confidence.

Income

The median income for those polled was $85,000, up from $70,000 two years ago.

"More than one-third -- or 36 percent -- of all respondents report earning more than $100,000 before taxes from legal work in 2000," Garcia said. "Just under one-quarter -- 24 percent -- report earning $50,000 or less last year. The majority of those under $50,000 are state government lawyers, associates, or sole practioners under the age of 35.

Here's a breakdown of median...