2004 WV STATE BAR MEMBERSHIP SURVEY RESULTS
1. Please check the following category which most appropriately describes your employment status:
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Full time/does not require legal training
11.1%115
  Unemployed
0.4%4
  Retired
0.3%3
  Semi-retired or part-time
5.3%55
  Full-time attorney
82%853
  Dk/Na
1%10
Total Respondents  1040
(skipped this question)  5
2. How long have you been a licensed attorney?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Under 5 years
21.5%223
  6 to 10 years
19.3%201
  11 to 15 years
15.6%162
  16 to 20 years
10.1%105
  21 to 30 years
23.2%241
  31 to 40 years
7.7%80
  40+ years
2.6%27
  Dk/Na
0%0
Total Respondents  1039
(skipped this question)  5
3. What is your age?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Under 30 years
13.3%138
  31 to 35
16.9%176
  36 to 40
15.2%158
  41 to 45
11.2%117
  46 to 50
13.8%143
  51 to 55
13.6%141
  56 to 60
9.8%102
  61 to 65
3%31
  Over 65
3.3%34
  Dk/Na
0%0
Total Respondents  1040
(skipped this question)  5
4. What is your gender?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Female
35.9%373
  Male
63.7%662
  No answer
0.4%4
Total Respondents  1039
(skipped this question)  6
5. What is your race?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Caucasian
97.2%1006
  African-American
1.3%13
  Asian-American
0.2%2
  Hispanic-American
0.5%5
  Other
0.5%5
  Dk/Na
0.4%4
Total Respondents  1035
(skipped this question)  10
6. What was your 2003 taxable gross income from your law practice:
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Under $20,000
3.2%33
  $20,001 to $40,000
7.6%78
  $40,001 to $60,000
18.3%187
  $60,001 to $80,000
20.5%209
  $80,001 to $100,000
8.7%89
  $100,001 to $150,000
12.7%130
  $150,001 to $250,000
11.6%118
  Over $250,000
8.5%87
  Dk/Na
8.8%90
Total Respondents  1021
(skipped this question)  23
7. Of the following, which is your PRIMARY legal occupation?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Attorney in Private Practice
70.5%733
  Judge
0.7%7
  Government (except Judge)
0.9%9
  Government - Federal
2.9%30
  Government - State
10.7%111
  Government - County/Municipal
1.9%20
  Financial, Insurance, Utility or Other Business
2.2%23
  Professor of Law
0.5%5
  Legal Services Attorney
1.9%20
  Public Defender
2.1%22
  Dk/Na
1%10
  Other (please specify)
4.7%49
Total Respondents  1039
(skipped this question)  5
8. Where did you receive your legal training?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  WVU College of Law
65.9%685
  Other
34.1%354
  Dk/Na
0%0
Total Respondents  1039
(skipped this question)  6
9. Please characterize the quality of your education experience at the WVU College of Law.
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Excellent
19.4%199
  Good
38%389
  Fair
9.1%93
  Poor
0.9%9
  Dk/Na
32.6%334
Total Respondents  1024
(skipped this question)  21
10. What is the form of business under which you practice law?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Sole practitioner
12.7%122
  Sole practitioner sharing office space
1.8%17
  Associate
16.8%161
  Sole practitioner with associate
2%19
  Partner
10.9%104
  Legal Corporation
8.8%84
  Professional Limited Liability Company
24.1%231
  Dk/Na
22.9%219
Total Respondents  957
(skipped this question)  88
11. What is the size of your law office, including yourself?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  1 lawyer
17.1%163
  2 lawyers
10.4%99
  3 to 5 lawyers
15.5%148
  6 to 10 lawyers
8.8%84
  11 to 15 lawyers
4.5%43
  16 to 25 lawyers
9.7%93
  26 to 50 lawyers
9.2%88
  Over 50 lawyers
15.2%145
  Dk/Na
9.7%93
Total Respondents  956
(skipped this question)  89
12. Do you limit your practice to a specialty?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Yes
45.1%429
  No
46%437
  Dk/Na
8.9%85
Total Respondents  951
(skipped this question)  94
13. Check the single field of law listed below from your individual time and effort produced the greatest dollar amount of fees last year.
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Administrative Agencies
3.2%31
  Bankruptcy
1.8%17
  Commercial Law
3.6%34
  Criminal Law
7.2%69
  Estate and Probate
1.8%17
  General Practice
4.2%40
  Personal Injury, Defense
16.5%158
  Public Utilities
1.4%13
  Taxation
0.7%7
  Environmental
1.3%12
  Health
1.9%18
  Antitrust
0.1%1
  Appellate Work
0.3%3
  Coal, Oil and Gas
1.6%15
  Corporations
1.1%11
  Domestic Relations
2.8%27
  Financial Institutions
0.7%7
  Employment Law
4.2%40
  Personal Injury, Plaintiff
12.4%119
  Real Estate
4.8%46
  Trial Work Not Personal Injury
3.4%33
  Education
0.6%6
  Dk/Na
14.8%142
  Other (please specify)
9.5%91
Total Respondents  957
(skipped this question)  88
14. What percentage of fee-producing time did you devote to the field indicated in the previous question?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Less than 20%
1.6%15
  20% to 39%
6%57
  40% to 59%
13.4%128
  60% to 79%
20.4%194
  80% to 100%
38.5%367
  Dk/Na
20.1%192
Total Respondents  953
(skipped this question)  92
15. If you charge on a hourly basis, what is your usual hourly rate?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Less than $45
0%0
  $46 to $65
1.4%13
  $66 to $90
1%9
  $91 to $110
7.6%72
  $111 to $135
18%170
  $136 to $150
14.6%138
  $151 to $200
17%160
  Over $200
9.8%92
  Dk/Na
30.6%288
Total Respondents  942
(skipped this question)  102
16. If you charge on a contingency fee basis, what percentage do you charge most often?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  20% or less
1.1%10
  21% to 32%
7.5%68
  33% to 39%
29.7%270
  40% to 50%
2.6%24
  Over 50%
0.1%1
  Dk/Na
59%537
Total Respondents  910
(skipped this question)  133
17. How many days per week do you devote to the practice of law?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  7
4.4%42
  6
23.4%223
  5
62.2%593
  4
2.5%24
  Less than 4
4.5%43
  Dk/Na
3%29
Total Respondents  954
(skipped this question)  91
18. On average, how many chargable hours whether directly billed or not do you produce a day?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Less than 4
4.3%41
  4
2.8%27
  5
5.8%55
  6
13.1%125
  7
20.5%195
  8
18.7%178