April 2000Volume 1Number 1

FOR LOVE OR FOR MONEY?

Government Lawyer Survey

1. I am presently employed by/in:

_____ Federal government _____ State of Illinois _____ local government

_____ private practice representing governmental clients.

 

2. I am employed as a government attorney: _____full time _____part time.

 

3. I have worked for my present employer for: _____Years _____Months.

 

4. I was formerly employed as an attorney by the following entities for the indicated period :

_____Federal government: _____Years _____ State Government: _____Years

_____Local government: _____Years

 

5. I am presently a member of the following bar/legal associations:

 

_____Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) _____American Bar Association (ABA)

_____Chicago Bar Association (CBA) _____County/Local Bar Association

_____Specialty/Ethnic Bar Association _____Other (please specify)________________

 

6. I was formerly a member of the following bar/legal associations (mark all and list in number of years how long you were a member of each association):

 

_____ Illinois State Bar Association ____Years _____American Bar Association _____Years

_____ Chicago BarAssociation _____Years _____County/Local Bar Association _____Years

_____ Specialty/Ethnic Bar Association _____Years _____Other (please specify) _______________

 

7. (If applicable) I did not renew my membership in bar associations of which I was formerly a member for the following reasons (please rank your reasons, if more than one, in order of importance, with 1 being the most important reason, 2 the next most important reason, etc.)

 

_____dues too expensive _____did not receive value in return for membership
_____area/location of practice changed _____unable to participate in bar activities due to time
  constraints
_____employer discouraged participation _____not appointed to bar association committee(s) even
  though expressed interest in participating

_____other (please briefly describe)____________________________________________________

 

8. (If applicable) I have never joined a bar association for the following reasons (please rank your reasons, if more than one, in order of importance, with 1 being the most important reason, 2 the next most important reason, etc.):

 

_____ dues too expensive ____ did not feel I would receive value in return for membership _____ employer discourages participation ____ unable to participate in bar activities due to time constraints

_____ other (please briefly describe)______________________________________________________

 

 

9. If you are not currently a member of the ISBA, what would encourage you to join?

 

________________________________________________________________________________

 

10. My present employer pays for all or some of my bar association dues: _____Yes ____No

 

11. My past employer(s) paid for some or all of my bar association dues: _____Yes ____ No

 

12. If my employer were to pay some or all my bar association dues, I would be more likely to join and/or continue my membership in various bar associations: _____Yes _____No

 

13. What is your current salary?

(a) Less than $5,000 _____ (d) $15,000 - $25,000 _____ (g) $45,000 - $55,000 _____
(b) Less than $10,000 ____ (e) $25,000 - $35,000 _____ (h) $55,000 - $65,000 _____
(c) $10,000 - $15,000 ____ (f) $35,000 - $45,000 _____ (i) $65,000 - $75,000 _____

(j) Over $75,000 ________

 

14. Do you foresee government practice as a lifetime career? _____Yes _____No

 

15. What factors would cause you to leave government practice?

 

_____Salary _____Benefits

_____Politics _____Lack of professional development

_____Hours _____Other (please briefly describe)_____________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________________

 

16. Do you have any additional comments regarding the ISBA or the Committe on Government Lawyers?__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for participating in our survey. Please return completed surveys by mail to Ann Boucher at: Illinois State Bar Association, 424 South Second Street, Springfield, IL 62701; fax completed surveys to Ann Boucher at 217/525-0712; or complete and submit your responses electronically at www.isba.org/sections/governmentlawyers.html.

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