OKLAHOMA CITY - In a new 2002 membership survey, the Oklahoma Bar Association reports that median yearly income for Oklahoma lawyers is between $50,000 and $75,000, a modest increase from previous survey results in 1992, and community service remains important with the majority of bar members donating time or services every week.

OBA President Gary Clark of Tulsa said, "Contrary to common perceptions, the income of Oklahoma lawyers has increased only slightly compared to a median between $50,000 and $65,000 10 years ago. Considering the educational requirements and skills necessary to be a lawyer, the income levels are reasonable."

Attorney commitment to community service has remained strong over the decades, and for the first time a distinction was made between donated legal work and other community efforts. More than half of Oklahoma attorneys donate legal services and 70 percent spend time performing charity work within their communities as a non-attorney volunteer. Fifteen percent donate five hours or more per week to community service.

Clark said, "I am proud that most lawyers take an active role in their communities and give freely of their time and talent to support local charitable causes. I cannot think of another profession that is as involved as our profession."

Personal injury, estate and probate and real property were among the top five practice areas over the last four decades. The survey noted criminal law appears on the increase as a practice area, but 75 percent of Oklahoma lawyers practice in other areas. Mineral law as a practice area has declined over the decades. Differences in practice areas exist between metropolitan-area attorneys in Tulsa and Oklahoma City and non-metro attorneys. Metro attorneys are more likely to practice in business litigation and commercial law with more emphasis on family law in non-metro areas.

Metro-area attorneys in private practice also reported a slightly higher median rate of $156 per hour for services than non-metro attorneys at $138 per hour. Ten years ago the overall median hourly charge was $103.

The survey also found that about a quarter of all OBA members are under age 40 and the number of lawyers over 50 years of age has increased from 27 percent to 41 percent of active in-state members. The number of active Oklahoma attorneys has increased from 9,837 to 15,075, an average of 5 percent per year.

The 2002 survey polled ethnicity of state bar members for the first time. Results show 90 percent of Oklahoma attorneys are white. Other than Native Americans, minorities within the bar were disproportionate to the state's general population.

"We need to improve the diversity of our bar membership to more closely reflect Oklahoma's population," Clark said. "The legal profession on both state and national levels is working to diversify its membership with programs such as mentoring and scholarships to take bar exam review courses. We are committed to change in this area that also affects public trust in the legal system."

Survey results indicate the gender of Oklahoma attorneys is changing. Today more than a quarter of state attorneys are women, up from 22 percent of those surveyed 10 years ago. Oklahoma's law schools are close to admitting an equal number of men and women students. Freshman law classes are averaging 45 percent women and are expected to soon reach 50 percent. If this steady trend continues, the OBA estimates about half its members will be women by 2022.

The OBA commissioned the survey that was conducted utilizing the scientific research method of random sampling. Oklahoma State University professor Robert Darcy wrote and supervised the survey with assistance from OSU professor Mark Payton. Results from the final report issued to bar members Saturday [Dec. 7] were based on a response rate of more than 75 percent.

The Oklahoma Bar Association, located in Oklahoma City, has 15,000 members. The association was created by the Oklahoma Supreme court to advance the administration of justice and to foster and maintain learning, integrity, competence, public service and high standards of conduct among Oklahoma's legal community.