View a copy of the full MS Bar 2006 Economic and Technology Survey report in a 35-page downloadable PDF here.  

On May 31, 2006, the Economic and Technology Survey was mailed to a randomly selected sample of 3400 Mississippi Bar members. The purpose of this survey was to gather demographic, economic and technological data to provide Mississippi attorneys with useful information on law firm management and administration in Mississippi. This was the sixth bi-annual survey to be conducted since 1996. The survey consisted of 40 questions related to compensation, billing, practice management and technology.  To review or download a copy of the survey, click here. 

The questionnaire was developed by The Mississippi Bar. A letter from Executive Director Larry Houchins was enclosed with the survey to explain the process and need for the survey.

The questionnaire was requested to be completed and returned by June 23, 2006. The accounting firm of Grantham, Poole, Randall, Reitano, Arrington and Cunningham, PLLC, assisted the Bar with distribution, tabulation, and analysis of the surveys. Every effort was  made to encourage participation and to ensure confidentiality of the participants' responses. The number of usable questionnaires returned was 414 or 12% of the total members provided with a survey to complete. 

The major areas of information collected:

     • Employment/Type

     • Experience

     • Income

     • Technology

To make the information more meaningful, we segregated the responses by county. The survey involved a random sample of attorneys from around the state of Mississippi. Using a random selection process for survey distribution, each and every member of The Mississippi Bar had a statiscally equal chance of being selected to receive and complete a survey. After all of the completed surveys were received, we identified eight counties from which we experienced the greatest participation. Those eight counties with the greatest participation were: DeSoto, Forrest, Harrison, Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Warren and Washington. 

Out of 3400 surveys issued, we received 414 usable surveys. The largest response received was from Hinds County, with 27.5%  of the total. Other high response counties were Madison, 7.0%; Harrison, 5.3%; DeSoto, 4.3%; Rankin, 3.9%; Forrest, 3.6%; Warren, 3.6%; and Washington, 3.6%. No responses were received from the following counties: Benton, Carroll, Clarke, George, Issaquena, Itawamba, Jefferson, Jefferson-Davis, Kemper, Newton, Noxlubee, Perry, Quitman, Stone, Tate, Tishomingo and Walthall.

In order to provide Bar members with current economic and technological information, we performed an analysis of the survey responses received.

For calculations involving average salaries, the average and median salaries are presented to make the information more useful. The median represents a salary in the middle of all of the responses (50% fall below and 50% are above). When applicable, comparative data is presented from the 2004 and earlier surveys.

View a copy of the full MS Bar 2006 Economic and Technology Survey report in a 35-page downloadable PDF here.