Age, gender and lawyer's work satisfaction

The present study was designed to investigate possible gender differences regarding age-work value relationship, age-work reward relationship, age-work satisfaction relationship, and determinants of work satisfaction. Another objective of this study was to examine the hypothesis that age has an indirect positive effect on work satisfaction through its relationship to work values and work rewards.

Data utilized, the National Survey of Lawyers' Career Satisfaction, 1984, were originally collected by Hirsch. Only respondents in the mail survey were included in this study. After deducting non-white respondents and those who were retired, unemployed, or holding non-legal position, 1152 male lawyers and 234 female lawyers were left in the sample. The main finding was that gender does act as a moderator in the age-work value relationship, the age-work reward relationship, and the determinants of work satisfaction. More specifically, in the male group, older individuals were found to attach more importance to intrinsic work values, hold higher positions, and earn greater incomes than their younger counterparts. In addition, predictors of work satisfaction for the male lawyers were indicated to be income, age, work values, and position. In contrast, in the female group, age differences in work values or work positions were not found. However, older individuals do earn greater incomes than their younger counterpart. Work values seem to be the only predictor of work satisfaction for females. Overall, the results did not support the hypothesis that age's positive relationship with work satisfaction is mediated by work values and work rewards.

Plausible explanations were proffered. Finally, implications for academic research on age-work satisfaction relationship were also discussed.