06/03/2013. The Australian Law Students’ Association (ALSA) is concerned by the results of the 2012 Gradstats survey on graduate salaries. The results of the survey indicate the gender pay gap for graduate lawyers has increased significantly in 2012, following a $2,000 gender gap difference in the 2011 survey.

Transparency

In response to the results of the survey, ALSA is particularly concerned by the lack of transparency in starting salaries for males and females in the graduate recruitment process, assessable

ALSA calls for greater transparency in this area to allow graduates to make more informed workplace decisions.  Molly Snaith, Vice-President (Education) said “the major issue is that without the Gradstats survey results, females may not be aware when they take graduate positions that they are being paid considerably less than their male counterparts.”   Ms Snaith also noted that “in the current legal market, graduates are not in a position to query their salary or the reason for the gender gap in graduate salaries.”

ALSA also calls for transparency about flexible working practices and other workplace policies during the graduate recruitment process.

“Disclosure about all flexible working practice and other workplace employment policies during the recruitment process will allow graduates to be better informed when taking graduate positions” Ms Snaith said.

ALSA believes that more transparency will affect job satisfaction, mental health and the work/life balance of graduates.

“Transparency and information is the key.  Without disclosure from firms, we can only speculate about the reasoning behind the gender pay gap and how widespread the issue is” Ms Snaith said.

(Read the full report here: Position Paper: The Gender Gap and Graduate Salaries .pdf )

Media Contact:

Molly Snaith

Vice-President (Education)

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