different types of attorneys high paying

by Ward Smith 8 min read

Types Of Lawyers That Make The Most Money

  • Medical Lawyers. Medical lawyers make one of the highest median wages in the legal field. ...
  • Intellectual Property Attorneys. IP attorneys specialize in patents, trademarks, and copyrights. ...
  • Trial Attorneys. ...
  • Tax Attorneys. ...
  • Corporate Lawyers. ...

Some of the highest-paid lawyers are:
  • Medical Lawyers – Average $138,431. Medical lawyers make one of the highest median wages in the legal field. ...
  • Intellectual Property Attorneys – Average $128,913. ...
  • Trial Attorneys – Average $97,158. ...
  • Tax Attorneys – Average $101,204. ...
  • Corporate Lawyers – $116,361.
Dec 18, 2020

Full Answer

What kind of lawyer makes the most money?

Jan 20, 2022 · As you can see on this PayScale list of median attorney salaries (including bonuses, profit-sharing, and commissions), some types of attorneys make a lot more than others: Patent attorney: $180,000 Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000

Who are the highest paid lawyers?

Sep 10, 2021 · In our article, we covered how much lawyers working in different fields earn. Those with the highest salary are medical lawyers, and they earn over $150 000 annually. Some lawyers are better paid than others, but generally, all lawyers have good salaries. For example, business lawyers earn $90,000 per year.

Which lawyer gets paid the most?

What is the highest salary for a lawyer?

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Are attorneys and lawyers the same thing?

Although both attorneys and lawyers obtain law degrees, they don’t do the same job. An attorney actually practices law by representing other indivi...

What are the two main types of lawyers?

When talking about two main types of lawyers, we’re actually referring to criminal law professionals. These are prosecutors and defense attorneys....

What is the highest-paid type of lawyer?

In our article, we covered how much lawyers working in different fields earn. Those with the highest salary are medical lawyers, and they earn over...

What is the best career in law?

Choosing the best type of lawyer career depends on multiple factors, including your interests and ambitions. Our article delves deeper into differe...

Is law a good career?

This is a good career path for all those who love the law. It offers good salaries, benefits, and different working environments, depending on whic...

How do attorneys make money?

Even within specialties, attorneys can make different amounts of money. The income of an attorney depends on numerous different factors, including: 1 Geographic region—Attorneys who practice in major metropolitan areas tend to make more money than those practicing in small towns and rural communities. 2 Size of the law firm—Some lawyers never join a firm and instead go into solo practice. While this allows the most personal freedom, it often results in lower pay. Other attorneys choose to work for big law firms, some of which may employ hundreds of attorneys around the country or the globe. 3 Skill and experience—Like any career, an attorney’s income will depend on their skillset and experience. No matter how talented, a first-year associate will not make a comparable salary to a partner in a large firm. 4 Education—Not all law schools are created equally, and the potential for higher earnings comes with more prestigious schools.

What does an attorney do for tax?

Attorneys that specialize in tax law usually represent organizations when dealing with federal, state, and local taxing agencies. Corporations and large companies pay enormous amounts for attorneys skilled in tax laws to protect their assets and create a tax savings plan.

Why do lawyers choose to practice law?

Many lawyers choose the legal field because of a genuine desire to help others. Other attorneys practice law because they genuinely want to serve justice.

What are the skills required to be a trial attorney?

Trial Attorneys. Trial attorneys must have an excellent grasp of procedural law and have a responsibility to stay abreast of trends and changes in an ever-evolving field. Excellent oral communication skills are a must for success, and the art of persuasive speaking cannot be overstated.

What is the job of a medical attorney?

Many attorneys in this field specialize in representing hospitals and medical corporations. Others handle medical malpractice claims or personal injuries.

What does a corporate lawyer do?

Corporate lawyers provide clients with counsel on business transactions, acquisitions and mergers, the sale of businesses, and legal advice on running a corporation. Contract preparation and review is one hallmark of a corporate lawyer, ensuring that the contract’s language is favorable to their client.

What is IP law?

IP attorneys specialize in patents, trademarks, and copyrights. The high earning potential in this field arises because of the explosive growth of intellectual property. These attorneys practice in a fast-paced field, requiring them to keep up with quickly evolving laws and procedures. They work in large firms or in-house for big tech and big pharma, on the frontlines of protecting intellectual property from infringement.

How much does a medical malpractice lawyer make?

Medical Malpractice Lawyer Salary: $131,000.

What can a worker's compensation lawyer do?

Workers who are injured on the job or family members who suffer the loss of a loved one in a workplace accident can pursue compensation that protects a workers' rights by talking to a workers' compensation lawyer. These attorneys can help you determine whether you are entitled to benefits as well as the employer's legal fault in a workplace accident or injury. Further, these lawyers protect workers from wrongful employer retaliation or unfairly denied claims, benefits and wages.

Why do people need personal injury lawyers?

While car accident injuries are the most common reason why the average person will need a personal injury lawyer, these attorneys represent injured victims in any type of accident that resulted because of a legally responsible party's negligence or legal wrongdoing.

What does a personal injury lawyer do?

A personal injury lawyer will use the law and facts of your case to prove that your injuries and harms suffered in an accident were caused by the legal wrongdoing of a responsible party. In turn, you can then receive the compensation you deserve through a fair settlement offer or a successful jury verdict at trial.

When the average person searches for a lawyer, the person's search is almost assuredly based on a

When the average person searches for a lawyer, the person's search is almost assuredly based on a specific legal need. This is true whether that person was charged with a crime, injured in an accident or needs help creating an estate plan.

What is a real estate attorney?

A real estate attorney helps individuals resolve legal issues pertaining to property. For most people, you will end up relying on the legal services of a real estate lawyer when you buy or sell a home. In fact, some states require that real estate transactions must be closed by a real estate lawyer.

Can a contract be legally binding without a lawyer?

In fact, without the help of a contract lawyer, two parties to a "contract" may indeed find out that a legal contract was never created in the first place. These lawyers deal with complex legal ideas like "consideration", which is necessary for any contract to be considered legally binding.

What is the average salary of a lawyer?

Lawyers are among the highest earners in the country. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage for lawyers in 2019 was $145,300 while the median was $122,960. And while not every lawyer makes six figures, the best paying law jobs are found where you would expect in places like Washington D.C, New York, and California.

How much do personal injury attorneys make?

While statistics vary depending on the source, personal injury attorneys can make a decent annual wage. Some sources put the figure around $73,000 while others claim it can eclipse $200,000.

How much does a patent lawyer make?

On average, a patent lawyer can make $130,000 though with experience and skill that number can get a lot higher.

What is tax lawyer?

Tax lawyers are another group that is very well compensated. They specialize in advising companies on complex legal matters relating to their taxes or representing them in court if a company is accused of making mistakes on their taxes.

How much does a criminal defense lawyer make?

The average salary for a private criminal defense lawyer is around $115,000. However, like in other practice areas, the actual salary can vary greatly based on experience and the types of crimes a lawyer specializes in defending.

Do criminal defense lawyers make a lot of money?

Criminal defense lawyers take cases for those who are accused of a crime and work either get their charges dismissed, prove them innocent, or minimize their penalty. While public defenders who do the same but are paid by the state do not typically have very high salaries, private criminal defense lawyers have a much brighter income forecast.

How much do civil rights lawyers make?

The average starting salary for a civil rights lawyer is approximately $45,000 a year, but very capable and experienced attorneys in this field can make as much as $200,000.

What is the job of a tax lawyer?

Tax Lawyer Salary. Tax attorneys act as the representatives of a company, organization or an individual in dealing with federal, state, and local tax agencies. On a day-to-day basis, most tax lawyers give advice to businesses and individuals with regard to all aspects of tax legislation.

What are the responsibilities of a criminal lawyer?

Some of the main responsibilities of a criminal lawyer are to investigate the case at hand, interview witnesses, study case law and procedural law, construct a defense, and plan a strategy for the case. Negotiating plea deals in less serious cases is also within a criminal lawyer’s field of expertise.

What is real estate lawyer?

Real estate lawyers assist their clients in a variety of ways regarding commercial and residential real estate. Issues regarding tenants, neighbors, zoning and property development also fall under the umbrella of real estate law.

What does a personal injury lawyer do?

In case of an accident or injury, personal injury lawyers represent their clients to obtain justice and compensation for any losses or suffering. The vast majority of these cases fall under the area of tort law.

What is intellectual property law?

Intellectual property law is a complex field that requires a deep understanding of relevant laws in addition to a creative and analytical way of thinking. Intellectual property lawyers, or copyright lawyers, make sure that new intellectual inventions and innovations created by individuals gain the protection of the law, and are not infringed upon by competitors.

Why is it important to have a criminal lawyer?

It is important for a criminal lawyer to have superior written and oral advocacy skills in order to successfully argue a case in front of a judge and a jury. Creative thinking and analytical skills also play a significant role in the process of developing a strategy and doing the research for complex court cases.

What do lawyers do?

Different types of lawyers specialize in different areas of law. Some lawyers mostly do the work outside of the courtroom, such as drafting contracts and wills, preparing documents to comply with a process, negotiating deals, and advising clients on a legal problem. There are also lawyers who present cases in court or litigations ...

What is a business lawyer?

Also known as corporate lawyers, business lawyers are legal eagles who cover a more full range of expertise in building, managing, maintaining, transferring and dissolving a business. Lawyers in this area of practice deal with the formation of the company, employment contracts, tax compliance, acquisitions, and mergers.

Why do we need malpractice lawyers?

Since these are professions that ascribe to a set of standards , they have greater professional responsibilities that may be challenged in the courtroom or in litigation.

What is IP law?

1. Intellectual Property (IP) Lawyers. Any original creative, scientific, or technical invention which may benefit the public has to be protected ...

What is an intellectual property lawyer?

Any original creative, scientific, or technical invention which may benefit the public has to be protected from copycats and duplicates. If you've created an art design, a unique product, a novel, a song or a computer program, you can consult with an intellectual property lawyer for securing copyright, patents, trademarks, and licensing agreements.

What is a family lawyer?

Family Lawyers. These are lawyers who handle all kinds of domestic cases, such as divorce, legal separation, child custody, adoption, paternity, alimony, prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, and emancipation. But family attorneys may also handle reproductive rights cases, and their work may intersect with other areas of the law.

What is a personal injury lawyer?

This lawyer is an expert in tort law, which deals with civil legal liabilities and damages.

What is a worker's compensation lawyer?

If you’ve been injured while on the job, or have had to face the death of a loved one as a result of a workplace accident or occupational disease, a lawyer who specializes in workers compensation law can help you navigate the issues you face, such as the extent of the employer’s fault and the amount of benefits to which you are entitled.

What can a corporate lawyer do for you?

A corporate lawyer will be able to help you with issues related to the formation of your corporation, general corporate governance issues and corporate compliance issues.

What is an estate planning lawyer?

The estate planning lawyer specializes in wills and trusts, and can help you to draw up a will to pass on your assets. Among other estate planning legal services, this type of lawyer can help you set up a trust which will help take care of your children’s financial needs.

What is an IP lawyer?

Also known as an IP attorney, an intellectual property lawyer can advise you with regard to issues relating to intellectual property, such as copyrights, trademarks, patents, industrial design and trade secrets.

What is an employment lawyer?

Employment Lawyer. Whether you’re a company that’s having a problem with an employee, or an individual who’s having problems with the company you work for, an employment lawyer can generally provide advice about legal issues which arise from an employment contract or within an employment relationship.

What is general practice law?

Unlike lawyers who specialize in a particular area of law, a general practice lawyer has a practice that handles a wide range of legal issues. Different general practice attorneys will have different areas of law with which they are most comfortable, so if you consult with a general practice lawyer, it’s always prudent to discuss his or her experience in handling the type of legal issue you’re facing.

What is a disability attorney?

The Social Security Disability system can be a particularly complex system in which to navigate. An attorney who specializes in Social Security Disability issues can help you with any step in the Social Security Disability process, including assisting you with eligibility issues, launching an appeal of a decision to deny you benefits and dealing with the reduction or termination of your benefits.

Why are lawyers in high demand in South Africa?

This is because people usually resort back to them during financial losses or to use litigation as a tool for cash flow in order to prevent paying cash owned.

Where do lawyers work?

They majorly work in law firms and write contracts. Anyone that has a legal issue will go to an attorney who then “brief” an advocate, who will then argue the issue in court.

What is bankruptcy lawyer?

Bankruptcy Lawyers. Bankruptcy lawyers are also known to be among the types of lawyers in high demand in South Africa. Even though the economy of the country is known to be stabilized previously, the COVID era has also drastically affected the economy of the country. Hence, lawyers that are known to have a vast knowledge ...

What is the demand for defamation lawyers in South Africa?

Defamation lawyers are also known to be in high demand in South Africa. Defamation lawyers are a subset of civil lawyers and they help in fighting for those defame. With the rapid increase in slandering and libel across the globe, Lawyers that are experienced in handling the situation are usually in high demand.

Is foreclosure legal in demand in South Africa?

The effects of COVID-19 on the economy also make many homeowners struggle with the payment of the mortgage. Hence, lawyers that are known to be vast in the knowledge of foreclosure are known to be in high demand in order for South Africans to cope with the payment of a mortgage.

Why is intellectual property important?

Intellectual property is known to be the most valuable asset of any organization. Lawyers with experience in intellectual property are important to businesses, authors, inventors, etc. The world is in competition nowadays and hence only properties that are secured will only survive the heat.

What are environmental lawyers?

In today’s world, there has been a surge in environmental issues like the use of technology, renewable energy, managing carbon assets, etc. Therefore, lawyers with vast experience in global issues are known to have an upper hand. In fact, issues like global warming; climate change, greenhouse gas, etc have been predicted to drastically increase the legal work of environmental lawyers in the coming years.

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Criminal Law

  • Criminal defense lawyers represent individuals under investigation for a crime or who have been arrested for a crime. There is room for a huge difference in salaries depending on the type of criminal cases the attorney handles. The salary trajectory based on the type of criminal lawyer a…
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Bankruptcy Law

  • Attorneys who handle bankruptcy matters assist individuals and companies in filing for bankruptcy relief. They may also work with creditors to file claims in bankruptcy cases. The salaries of Bankruptcy Lawyers in the US range from $13,985 to $377,698, with a median salary of $68,292 . The middle 57% of Bankruptcy Lawyers make between $68,292 and $171,420, with th…
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Family Law

  • Family law is another area of law that is in high demand. It covers all matters related to divorce, including custody, property division, and domestic support. Family law also includes martial agreements and paternity questions. As of August 2022, the average Family Law Attorney salary is $85,716, but the range typically falls between $73,078 and $99,149. Salary ranges can vary wi…
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Immigration Law

  • When it comes to types of private practice lawyers that make the most compensation, immigration lawyers round up the bottom of the list, according to labor statistics. Immigration lawyers are people who work in the field of helping citizens obtain legal documentation of their current status in the United States. On average, a salary for an immigration lawyer rests around …
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Civil Rights Lawyer

  • A person that focuses on cases that revolve around things like equality, social freedom, human rights, and discrimination are civil rights lawyers. Often, they handle cases where citizens are put under scrutiny for things they cannot control—the color of their skin, sexual orientation, etc. These lawyers enforce the freedoms of these people, and their right to exist as who they are. Where the…
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Personal Injury Lawyer

  • How much money personal injury lawyersmade in the United States during 2019 was $122,960 per year, according to the American Bar Association. Personal injury attorneys have a positive job outlook, but the future growth in wages is about the same as other comparable industries. Therefore, a personal injury lawyer can expect to earn somewhere between the low end of the av…
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Salaries For Other Types of Lawyers

  1. Tax Attorneys / Tax Lawyers– The average salary for Tax Lawyers with extensive tax laws knowledge is $88,863 an year.
  2. IP Lawyers, IP Attorneys– The average Intellectual Property Attorney salary is $174,562 as of August 27, 2022, but the range for intellectual property lawyers typically falls between $158,390 and $...
  1. Tax Attorneys / Tax Lawyers– The average salary for Tax Lawyers with extensive tax laws knowledge is $88,863 an year.
  2. IP Lawyers, IP Attorneys– The average Intellectual Property Attorney salary is $174,562 as of August 27, 2022, but the range for intellectual property lawyers typically falls between $158,390 and $...
  3. Medical Lawyers – Salaries as high as $155,331 and as low as $20,154, the majority of Medical Lawyersalaries currently range between $31,950 (25th percentile) to $83,563 (75th percentile) with top...
  4. Real Estate Lawyers– The average Real Estate Attorney salary in the United States is $152,863 as of August 27, 2022, but the range typically falls between $133,300 and $169,371, includin…