Mahlab published its 2026 Corporate and Private Practice report on 15 July 2026. It is the salary benchmark Australian lawyers will cite in reviews and negotiations for the rest of the year, and the one many firms will counter with. Source.
In May we published a multi-source snapshot built on PQE bands and practice-area premiums. Read the May snapshot. This piece is different. It sets out what the new Mahlab numbers actually say, what the figures include, and where the report stops. All bands below are taken directly from the published report. Source.
Key Summary
- Released 15 July 2026, covering the Australian corporate legal market and private practice. (Mahlab)
- Every figure includes superannuation but excludes bonuses and other benefits. The report states this on each salary page, and it changes how the numbers compare to a base-salary job ad. (Mahlab)
- Sydney and Melbourne only. There are no bands for Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra or regional markets. (Mahlab)
- Growth has slowed at the junior and intermediate levels, in-house and in private practice, with stronger outcomes concentrated around promotion points, particularly Senior Associate. (Mahlab)
- Specialists are the exception. Construction and civil infrastructure, energy transition, technology and data centres, and telecommunications infrastructure saw increases beyond CPI. (Mahlab)
- Equity partnership is no longer the default, and the gap between the lowest and highest earning partners is now significant. (Mahlab)
- No sample size or methodology is published in the report, so treat the bands as one experienced view of the market rather than a survey result. (Gorilla Jobs observation)
What the 2026 Bands Actually Say
Private practice lawyers
Mahlab reports private practice by year level, then by Senior Associate steps SA 1 to SA 5, with SA 5 grouped with Special Counsel. It splits top tier and international firms from mid tier and specialist firms, and Sydney from Melbourne. The table below shows selected levels. Figures are the published range with the typical (mode) figure in brackets. Source.
| Level | Top tier, Sydney | Mid tier, Sydney | Top tier, Melbourne | Mid tier, Melbourne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $120k to $145k ($130k) | $110k to $120k ($115k) | $115k to $135k ($120k) | $100k to $115k ($100k) |
| Year 3 | $140k to $170k ($160k) | $130k to $150k ($140k) | $130k to $160k ($140k) | $125k to $135k ($125k) |
| Year 5 | $160k to $185k ($180k) | $150k to $180k ($170k) | $160k to $180k ($170k) | $140k to $160k ($150k) |
| Senior Associate 1 | $200k to $250k ($220k) | $170k to $200k ($180k) | $175k to $200k ($190k) | $160k to $180k ($165k) |
| Senior Associate 3 | $230k to $280k ($250k) | $190k to $240k ($230k) | $220k to $255k ($235k) | $180k to $220k ($200k) |
| Senior Associate 5 or Special Counsel | $260k to $380k ($300k) | $230k to $320k ($270k) | $240k to $340k ($280k) | $230k to $300k ($240k) |
Three patterns are worth noting. The step from Year 5 to Senior Associate 1 is the largest single move in the top tier Sydney ladder, from a typical $180k to a typical $220k. The Sydney premium holds at every level, and at the junior mid tier end a Year 1 lawyer in Sydney sits at a typical $115k against $100k in Melbourne. And the bands widen sharply at the senior end, with the top tier Sydney Senior Associate 5 or Special Counsel range spanning $120k from floor to ceiling. Source.
In-house corporate lawyers
In-house bands run from Year 1 through to 10 or more years, then Head of Legal. In Sydney, Year 1 sits at $115k to $130k with a typical $120k, Year 5 at $170k to $200k with a typical $180k, the 8 to 10 year band at $225k to $300k with a typical $250k, and Head of Legal at $300k to $380k with a typical $350k. Melbourne runs below Sydney at every level, with Year 1 at $100k to $115k and Head of Legal at $270k to $350k. Source.
Short-term cash bonuses for in-house lawyers typically range between 8 and 20 per cent of base salary, with a mode of 10 per cent. Long-term incentives of 10 to 30 per cent may apply in some roles and sectors. Source. If you are weighing a move in either direction, our in-house versus private practice comparison covers the trade-offs beyond the salary line.
General Counsel and Company Secretaries
A sole General Counsel sits at $275k to $450k with a typical $340k. Leading a team of 4 to 20 lifts the band to $350k to $550k with a typical $450k. Group General Counsel roles with teams of 20 or more span $470k to $1.2m, with a typical $600k. Government General Counsel roles range from $250k to $700k, and not-for-profit from $250k to $350k. Source.
General Counsel short-term incentives run at 25 to 50 per cent of base salary with a mode of 30 per cent, and top performers can reach 80 to 100 per cent or more. Company Secretaries in ASX-listed companies attract a clear premium, at $320k to $550k with a typical $420k, against $225k to $350k in non-listed companies. Mahlab reports a shortage of Company Secretaries with ASX-listed experience. Source.
Partners
Salaried partners in top tier and international firms sit at $400k to $750k in Sydney with a typical $470k, and $400k to $650k in Melbourne with a typical $450k. Equity partner income in the same firms spans $800k to $7.5m in Sydney with a typical $2m, and $700k to $7m in Melbourne with a typical $1.7m. In mid tier and specialist firms, Sydney equity runs $450k to $2m with a typical $800k. Source.
The spread is the story. A typical top tier Sydney equity partner earns roughly four times a typical salaried partner in the same firm, and the top of the published equity range is close to sixteen times the typical salaried partner figure.
Reading the Figures Correctly
The bands include superannuation
Mahlab states on each salary page that figures include superannuation but exclude bonuses and other benefits. Source. That matters because many Australian legal job ads and offers are written as a base salary plus superannuation. The two are different bases, and comparing one to the other can put a negotiation off by a full super contribution.
The superannuation guarantee rate is 12 per cent for the 2026-27 financial year. Source. On that basis, a Mahlab package figure of $130k equates to roughly $116k base plus super. A $180k figure equates to roughly $161k base plus super. A $220k figure equates to roughly $196k base plus super.
Two cautions on that arithmetic. It only holds where the whole package is base plus superannuation guarantee, so allowances, salary sacrifice or an employer contribution above 12 per cent will shift it. It also breaks down at senior levels, because employers are not required to pay superannuation guarantee on qualifying earnings above $270,830 in 2026-27. Source.
Mahlab does not use PQE
The report uses year levels and Senior Associate steps, not post-qualification experience. Most job ads and most other Australian legal salary guides are written in PQE. The two overlap but they are not the same measure, and a lawyer whose admission year and firm year level differ can find themselves quoting the wrong row. It is worth confirming which measure the other side is using before either party puts a number on the table.
The mode is not the midpoint
Mahlab publishes a typical (mode) figure alongside each range, and in several bands the mode sits well below the midpoint. Mid tier Sydney Senior Associate 3 runs $190k to $240k with a typical $230k, which sits near the top. Mid tier Melbourne Year 1 runs $100k to $115k with a typical $100k, which sits at the floor. Reading the mode rather than assuming the middle gives a more accurate sense of where most lawyers at that level actually land. Source.
Where the Growth Is, and Where It Has Stalled
Junior and intermediate movement has slowed
Mahlab reports that remuneration for in-house lawyers has remained steady, and that the significant growth for junior and intermediate lawyers seen in previous years has slowed. It also describes a noticeable disconnect between in-house lawyers’ expectations and employer appetite to pay more, with lawyers expecting the movement of previous market peaks while employers focus on value and capability. Source.
Private practice tells a similar story. Mahlab describes salary progression as generally slower than previous years and less predictable, with some top performers rewarded outside the traditional bands based on skills, quality of experience and performance. Its outlook expects stronger remuneration outcomes to concentrate around promotion points, particularly at Senior Associate level. That is consistent with what the table above shows at the Year 5 to Senior Associate 1 step. Source.
Specialisation is where the premium sits
General Counsel remuneration is described as generally steady, with the exception of specialists in construction and civil infrastructure, energy transition projects, technology and data centres, and telecommunications infrastructure, who have seen increases beyond CPI. Mahlab expects demand to remain strongest for General Counsel with backgrounds in regulation, infrastructure, technology, energy, health and data-related sectors. Source.
For private practice, the outlook points to regulation, disputes, employment, infrastructure, energy and technology continuing to outperform broader generalist practices. Headcount growth is described as cautious, but high quality lateral hires are still sought after and receive attractive packages. Source.
Partnership has changed shape
Mahlab reports that median partner income growth is flat or slightly up while top rainmakers continue to achieve substantial growth, and that the gaps between the lowest and highest earners are now significant. Equity partnership is described as no longer the default, with most new partners salaried or fixed-draw equity partners on deferred and performance-based buy-ins. Lockstep models are described as almost eliminated in favour of numbers-based systems weighted to financial contribution, client origination and margin. Source. Our January outlook on lawyer salaries flagged several of these shifts as things to watch.
AI is reshaping the work the bands are paid for
The report describes AI adoption automating lower value tasks such as document review, contract triage and research, allowing lawyers to focus on commercial advice, strategic decision making, governance and risk. It expects AI-driven fee compression to continue on commoditised work, and notes that partners billing on fixed fees can often secure an upside while those billing purely on time tend to give efficiency gains back to clients. Source.
Why this matters
- Check the basis before you negotiate. Mahlab figures include superannuation. If the offer in front of you is base plus super, you are comparing two different numbers.
- Position yourself in the band, not on it. Mahlab notes that an individual’s position depends on background, experience, and the size and complexity of the organisation. The range is wide at senior levels for that reason.
- Timing beats persistence. With growth concentrated around promotion points, a conversation about the next level may move the number further than a conversation about the current one.
- For firms, the band alone will not hold a specialist. Mahlab is clear that competitive remuneration is no longer sufficient on its own, and points to upskilling, including AI fluency, leadership development and role scope.
What the Report Does Not Cover
The Mahlab Report 2026 is a useful benchmark, and it is worth being clear about its edges before leaning on it in a review or an offer.
- Two cities only. All bands are Sydney or Melbourne. A lawyer in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra or a regional practice quoting Mahlab is quoting a Sydney or Melbourne number.
- No practice-area splits. The bands are by firm tier, city and level. The report discusses which practice areas are outperforming in its commentary, but it does not publish separate bands for corporate, disputes, property, employment or any other area.
- No sample size or methodology. The report does not state how many respondents contributed, how the data was collected, or over what period. That does not make the figures wrong, but it does mean they cannot be checked the way a published survey can.
- Bonuses and benefits sit outside the bands. Given in-house bonuses run at a mode of 10 per cent and General Counsel bonuses at a mode of 30 per cent, total remuneration can sit well above the published figure.
- It is one view, not the market. Cross-checking against a second guide before a negotiation gives a more reliable picture, particularly outside Sydney and Melbourne.
Used properly, the report is a strong starting point for a conversation. Used as a single authority on what a role is worth, it will overstate its own reach.
Conclusion
The Mahlab Report 2026 describes a market that has stopped moving uniformly. Broad increases have given way to targeted ones: specialists, promotion points, and lateral hires with something specific to offer. For most lawyers, the practical question this year is less about which band they sit in and more about where in that band they can credibly place themselves, and what evidence they bring to the conversation. Source.
If you take one thing from this article, make it the basis check. Confirm whether the figure being discussed includes superannuation, whether it is measured in year levels or PQE, and whether the city it came from is the city you work in. Those three questions will resolve most of the confusion these reports create.
Disclaimer: This blog is a general overview and should not be construed as professional legal, financial or medical advice.
FAQs
- When was the Mahlab Report 2026 released?
Mahlab published its 2026 Corporate and Private Practice report on 15 July 2026. It combines salary benchmarks with commentary on hiring trends and market outlook for corporate legal teams and private practice.
- Do the Mahlab salary figures include superannuation?
Yes. The report states on each salary page that figures include superannuation but do not include bonuses or other benefits. Many Australian legal job ads are written as a base salary plus superannuation, so the two are different bases and should not be compared directly.
- Which cities does the Mahlab Report 2026 cover?
The published bands cover Sydney and Melbourne only. There are no separate bands for Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra or regional markets, so lawyers outside those two cities should treat the figures as an indicative reference rather than a local benchmark.
- What does a top tier Senior Associate earn in 2026?
In top tier and international firms in Sydney, Mahlab reports Senior Associate 1 at $200k to $250k with a typical figure of $220k, rising to $260k to $380k with a typical figure of $300k at Senior Associate 5 or Special Counsel. Melbourne runs slightly below Sydney at each step. All figures include superannuation.
- Does the report use PQE bands?
No. Mahlab reports private practice by year level and Senior Associate steps, and in-house by year level. Most job ads and several other Australian salary guides use post-qualification experience instead. The measures overlap but are not identical, so it is worth confirming which one is being used before quoting a figure.
- How much do equity partners earn according to the 2026 report?
In top tier and international firms, Mahlab reports equity partner income at $800k to $7.5m in Sydney with a typical figure of $2m, and $700k to $7m in Melbourne with a typical figure of $1.7m. Mid tier and specialist firms in Sydney run at $450k to $2m with a typical figure of $800k. The report also notes that equity partnership is no longer the default and that most new partners are salaried or fixed-draw equity partners.
Information Sources
- Mahlab – Market Insights (Mahlab Report 2026, published 15 July 2026)
- Mahlab Report 2026 – Corporate and Private Practice (PDF)
- ATO – Super guarantee percentage rates
- ATO – Maximum contributions base
- Gorilla Jobs – 2026 Australian Legal Salary Snapshot: PQE Bands, Practice Areas and Where the Premium Sits
- Gorilla Jobs – In-House vs Private Practice in 2026: Trade-Offs for Australian Lawyers
- Gorilla Jobs – Lawyer Salaries Update: What to Watch Heading into 2026
