2021 Report of the Economic Survey
In This Section
The bi-ennial Report of the Economic Survey is one of the premier and most sought-after publications of the Association. The Economic Survey’s results are often cited in judicial opinions, analyzed by research firms, and used by law firms. Current AIPLA members can access the Report online - for free! You must log in to access the digital file. When you open the file in PDF, you can display the bookmarks to more easily navigate to the specific information in the Report.
AIPLA 2021 Report of the Economic Survey - Table of Contents
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The changing landscape of the workplace...
- The overall percentage of people who worked remotely to those likely to work remotely jumped from 42% pre-pandemic to 81% post-pandemic, and there was a significant shift in remote work for practitioners 35 year and younger (86.4%).
- A small number (7.6%) said their billing rates changed during the pandemic, mostly in the solo practitioner space.
- Even with the pandemic, gross median income increased by two percent.
- From the Law Firm perspective, while many are not contemplating closing locations in 2021 or 2022, more than a quarter are considering reducing their office space.
- The median total billings per attorney dropped in 2020, but is still above 2016 levels.
- typical charges for law services,
- typical types of fees for law-service charges,
- typical costs of litigation, and
- characteristics of firms.
- COVID-19 QUESTIONS: Expanded questions regarding remote work (before, during, and after the pandemic) and added questions about closing or reducing office space as well as impact on summer associates’ programs.
- FILING US APPLICATIONS ABROAD: Revised to streamline responses. Individuals were asked to choose one foreign country and answer all questions in that section based on that one foreign country. Also, a question was added for respondents to indicate if there is a surcharge to clients for handling invoices from foreign counsel.
- COVERED BUSINESS METHOD (CBM) REVIEW: Replaced with the category of PGR/IPR.
- NEW QUESTIONS: Billing rate changes for private practitioners, outsourcing services (replacing two previous questions about outsourcing international filing and annuity payments), and percent change in the firm’s revenue for IP legal services from 2019 to 2020.
Note: The online edition of the Report is protected from copying, editing, and printing. We know that members may need specific pages for court filings and we hare happy to provide specific pages for such use upon request. If you are in need of specific tables to submit, please contact kdrake@aipla.org, and state the purpose for needing the tables, and the specific tables (page numbers) needed.
Upcoming Events
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Two-Day AIPLA CLE Web Series: Hot Topics in Chemical & Biotech Patent Practice
April 2 to 3, 2025 | Up to 180 Minutes Pending
Join us for this Members Only 2-Day CLE Webinar Series presented by the Chemical Practice and Biotechnology Committees. Following the resounding success of the Chemical Practice and Biotechnology Committees’ joint program at the 2024 AIPLA Spring Meeting in Austin, AIPLA and the Committees will host a two-day program where world-class experts will dive into some of the latest developments in chemical and biotech patent practice. -
2025 Women in IP Law Global Networking Event
April 3, 2025
The annual Global Networking Event connects intellectual property practitioners from around the world for a day of networking, education, and creating meaningful connections. This year’s theme, Innovation and Collaboration, is an opportunity for the AIPLA Women in IP Law Committee to come together and discuss how women drive innovation and foster collaboration in their workplace. -
World IP Day 2025
April 30, 2025 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Join AIPLA and partner organizations on April 30 in Washington, DC, for a special three-hour program to celebrate World Intellectual Property Day 2025. This annual international event is an opportunity to learn about the role that intellectual property (IP) rights play in encouraging innovation and creativity. The theme of this year’s celebration is “IP and Music: Feel the Beat of IP.” -
2025 Spring Meeting - Minneapolis, MN
May 13 to 15, 2025
Registration Now Open! The 2025 Spring Meeting is a 2.5 day conference focused on trending topics in IP law. Registration opens February 2025. -
AIPLA 2025 Annual Meeting
October 30 to November 1, 2025
Join us as we bring IP professionals together to learn and connect. More information coming soon! The 2025 Annual meeting will take place at the Westin Washington, DC, Downtown. Leadership Meetings on Wednesday, October 29. Programming scheduled October 30 - November 1.