what are the highest paying lawyer jobs?

by Joesph Friesen Sr. 8 min read

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

Which lawyer gets paid the most?

What Kind Of Lawyer Gets Paid The Most? Lawyers earning over $260,000 in salary are known as medical attorneys and their earning is regarded as among the highest salaries in legal. How Much Do Scottish Lawyers Earn? There are on average 40,027 lawyers in Scotland earning a salary. There are 28 people on this planet.

What is the average wage or salary for a lawyer?

Average Lawyer Salary: How Much Does a Lawyer Earn? The average lawyer salary is $120,910, but earnings can vary greatly depending on where you practice and in what field. State

Who are the 10 highest paid lawyers in the USA?

Who Are The 10 Highest Paid Lawyers In The USA?

  1. Ana Quincoces - Net Worth: $8 Million. If you combine beauty with brains, the end result is Ana Quincoces. ...
  2. Vernon Jordan - Net Worth: $12 Million. Vernon Jordan kick started his career as a civil rights activist and he has devoted his life and career to bringing about ...
  3. Thomas Mesereau - Net Worth: $ 25 Million. ...

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What are the lowest paid legal jobs?

Psychiatric technicians

  • Annual mean salary: $38,080
  • Employment: 85,330
  • Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
  • Metros with lowest average pay: — Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($23,760) — Charleston, WV ($24,170) — Lake Charles, LA ($24,750)

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Intellectual Property Lawyers

Average: $170,000; depending on your expertise and clients, compensation can reach the millions.Description: Intellectual property law focuses on t...

Employment and Labor Attorneys

Average: $155,000Description: Employment and labor attorneys help workers and/or employers with issues regarding wages, pension and benefits, unlaw...

Immigration and Civil Rights Lawyers

Average: $125,000Description: Immigration lawyers focus on government policies relating to foreign nationals immigrating temporarily or permanently...

Best Paying States For Lawyers

Getting paid well as a lawyer isn’t just about the type of law you study and practice. The highest paid lawyers are often in the states and cities...

What is the highest paid legal profession?

Trial Lawyers. Trial lawyers are among the highest paid legal professionals in the world. Thousands practice across the globe, but civil litigators who handle high-dollar, high-profile and high-stakes cases are the most highly compensated. However, not all lawyers rake in high incomes.

How much do tax attorneys make?

Although this type of work isn’t as flashy as that of trial lawyers, tax attorneys still bring in decent paychecks. The median pay is about $99,000 as of 2018, while some make as much as $200,000 each year.

What is labor attorney?

Employment and labor attorneys work to ensure that relationships between employers and employees stay balanced and fair. They represent either the employers and management or the employees. They are compensated well.

How much do judges make?

Judges preside over court proceedings in federal, state, and local courts. Judges and magistrates earn a median annual salary of $66,000 to as much as $148,000. The highest-paid judges are those within the federal court system, while local judges and magistrates earn the least.

What is the job of a law firm administrator?

Law firm administrators or chief managing officers oversee the business and administrative aspects of running a law firm. Their duties cover the non-legal aspects of law practice, such as financial management and reporting, business development, human resources, facilities management, technology, marketing, and practice management.

What are the qualifications to become a law professor?

Qualifications for top candidates include a law degree from a top law school, law review, high-class standing, judicial clerkship experience, law practice experience, and publication credits in scholarly journals.

Is a law degree required to become a politician?

If you like the idea of working in the business of changing laws for the betterment of an entire state or country, maybe a career in politics is for you. Although a law degree isn’t technically a requirement to get into politics, it can certainly help.

How much does a legal officer make?

According to the Law Department Compensation Benchmarking Survey, chief legal officers at large U.S. corporations earned an average of $475,000 in salary, with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, in non-cash awards.

What is tax attorney?

Description: Tax attorneys specialize in working with business entities and individual taxpayers to solve tax issues, including relief/avoidance (minimizing tax liability), guidance during an audit, estate planning, defending or bringing suit against the IRS or State Revenue Department, drafting contracts and setting up companies while doing business.

What do civil rights lawyers do?

On the other hand, civil rights lawyers specialize in the balance of power between the government and its people. Most civil rights attorneys work for government agencies, non-profits, or advocate groups.

What is a trial lawyer?

Description: Trial lawyers represent clients during criminal and civil litigation (lawsuits). Criminal lawyers include private attorneys representing plaintiffs or defendants, as well as prosecutors, ADAs (Assistant District Attorneys) or DAs (District Attorneys) who represent the “people” or the justice system (government).

What do environmental lawyers do?

Similarly, environmental lawyers working for governmental agencies or corporations work on air and water quality, protecting the environment against hazardous wastes, licensing, energy trade regulation, or ensuring businesses abide by the laws and regulations to avoid litigation and liability. 8. Law School Professors.

What is a law firm administrator?

Description: Law firm administrators, also known as chief managing officers, oversee and manage the business-side of running a law firm , including strategic partnerships, financial management and reporting, personnel, marketing, brand and practice management, business development, human resources, etc.

What does a law professor do?

Description: Law school professors primarily teach classes/courses on different aspects of the law, while performing research for scholarly publication. By publishing their work and establishing themselves as an expert in their field, law professors bring prestige for themselves as well as their respective educational institutions.

What are the benefits of being a lawyer?

While a legal career often provides you with a generous paycheck, this field also comes with several other benefits. Knowing these benefits can help you determine whether you find this career path worthwhile. Here are some of the benefits of pursuing a legal career: 1 Intellectually challenging: When you work in the legal field, you have to navigate the legal system, take on challenging cases, research complex matters and analyze both your cases and the law. Therefore, having a legal profession provides you with an intellectually stimulating environment. 2 Financially rewarding: The legal industry offers some of the most lucrative careers in the job market. This means you can often expect high salaries which can afford you added luxuries in life. 3 Fulfilling: When you have a legal job, you work with a variety of clients. Knowing you're pursuing justice and helping others resolve their legal problems can help you find fulfillment and give you the satisfaction of knowing you made a difference in their life. 4 Flexible: As a lawyer, you have the ability to set your own hours, choose your own clients and pick your own hours. This means you're better able to balance your personal life with your job, ultimately increasing your job satisfaction. 5 Diverse career options: The legal field houses many careers that serve various legal functions. From lawyers to mediators, you have the opportunity to follow the ever-evolving legal system and the various career paths so long as you meet a particular job's qualifications.

What is the primary job of a corporate lawyer?

Primary duties: Corporate lawyers ensure the legality of commercial transactions. They represent corporations and counsel a corporation's employees regarding their legal duties and their responsibilities. Corporate lawyers often specialize in a specific area of corporate law such as mergers and acquisitions.

What are the duties of an attorney?

Primary duties: An attorney's duties vary based on the type of law they practice . They typically advise their clients regarding litigation and explaining various legal issues they're dealing with. Attorneys also perform research regarding legal cases, interpret case law and decisions from other courts, create case strategies, prepare pleadings and appear in court to defend their clients.

What do immigration lawyers do?

Primary duties: Immigration lawyers advise their clients, whether it's an individual or a business, on matters regarding visa applications, migration, political asylum citizenship, green cards, deportation problems and noncitizen employment . They also represent clients in U.S. Immigration Courts.

What are the benefits of pursuing a legal career?

Here are some of the benefits of pursuing a legal career: Intellectually challenging: When you work in the legal field, you have to navigate the legal system, take on challenging cases, research complex matters and analyze both your cases and the law.

What is the role of a litigation lawyer?

They handle the entire litigation process including the investigation, pleadings, trial and settlement. Litigation lawyers consult with their clients, conduct pre-trial activities and, if a case doesn't reach a settlement in enough time, they represent their client in a trial.

What is the primary job of a counsel?

Primary duties: A counsel provides legal advice and guidance to individuals or organizations. They use their understanding of a company's objectives and strategies to advise them about risks and legal issues regarding management decisions. They work alongside a company's management team to create efficient defense strategies and monitor the company's compliance with various laws and regulations.

1. Corporate Law

The primary role of a corporate lawyer in a large law firm is to ensure the legality of company transactions. In most cases, attorneys' salaries with big law firms will start somewhere between $30,000 and $100,000 a year, depending on the size, location and financial condition of the employer.

2. 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 and years of experience is:

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Personal Injury Lawyer

How much money personal injury lawyers made in the United States during 2019 was $122,960 per year, according to the American Bar Association.

How much do tax lawyers make?

While this type of job isn’t flashy like a trial lawyer, tax lawyers still bring in a decent paycheck—the median pay is $99,000, while some make as much as $189,000 each year.

How much do law professors make?

They are handsomely rewarded for their hard work, too—the median salary for a law professor is $128,000 with the high end reaching $194,000.

What is the job of a trial lawyer?

Trial Lawyers. Trial lawyers are the ones you see on television and on the silver screen—they stand in courtrooms and argue cases before judges and juries. There are fewer trial lawyers than there are law graduates who want to do this job, so competition is often fierce.

What does a real estate attorney do?

Real estate attorneys review offers and contracts and make sure that buyers are getting fair deals on the properties they are purchasing. Real estate lawyers also work with sellers to make sure everything is fair on that end, as well.

How much does a managing partner make in a law firm?

Managing partners are rewarded for all of their sleepless nights, though—the median salary for a managing partner in a law firm is $139,000, and that can go as high as nearly $400,000 in big cities and prestigious firms.

How much does a CLO make?

The median pay for a CLO is $183,000, with some making as much as $285,000 per year. Getting a CLO position takes time and hard work, though—there are very few of these positions available across the country, and many require at least a decade of experience.

How much do corporate lawyers make?

In most cases, a corporate lawyer’s salary will start somewhere between $30,000 and $100,000 a year, depending on the size, location and financial condition of the employer. The best graduates of top law schools can expect much higher salaries and lucrative careers right after they graduate if they have the right skill set and have performed well during their internships. The Forbes website lists several first rate programs, such as Columbia Law School, whose graduates can expect an average starting salary of $165,000.

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 do medical lawyers do?

Some medical lawyers work for hospitals and health care clinics, providing advice and guidance with regard to their rights and obligations, and defend them in medical malpractice cases. Others specialize in representing clients who wish to sue health care facilities or individual health care professionals.

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 is a patent lawyer?

Patent Lawyer Salary. In a nutshell, patent attorneys are tasked with assessing and analyzing whether an invention is eligible for a patent or not. They guide and advise individual private inventors as well as corporations that are in the process of securing a patent.

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.

How much does Columbia Law School make?

The Forbes website lists several first rate programs, such as Columbia Law School, whose graduates can expect an average starting salary of $165,000. Other institutions that produce top earners in the field include Stanford University, the University of Chicago, Harvard University, and the University of Virginia.

How much do corporate lawyers make?

At the low end of the salary scales, some corporate lawyers make less than some schoolteachers–$66,000. The more successful corporate lawyers can earn well into six figures, though.

How much do tax attorneys make?

Tax attorneys make $80,000 on the low side and $105,000 on the high scale, with most practitioners making nearly $100K. This type of attorney represents a company that deals with federal, state, or even local taxing bodies.

Why do IP lawyers make so much money?

One of the reasons IP lawyers make so much is due to the fact that it can be difficult to sort out IP facts and prove the case evidentially.

What are the skills needed to be a successful trial attorney?

They need to stay current with new, potentially precedent-setting cases. Their verbal, writing, and memory skills should also be top-notch. Personality also plays a huge role in trial attorneys’ compensation. The best trial attorneys are confident, persuasive courtroom performers who are nimble on their feet.

What does an IP lawyer do?

IP lawyers usually deal with patents that protect inventors’ rights and keep copycat competitors at bay during the time period the patent is valid. The stringent patent application process can be challenging even for experienced IP attorneys, so competition for the best, most experienced IP lawyers is high.

How much does a lawyer make in 2021?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average lawyer’s salary is $144,230.

Do trial lawyers make a living?

Some are barely surviving while others are swimming in cash. However, there’s no doubt that a lawyer with a penchant for the courtroom can earn a decent living.

How much do lawyers make?

Lawyers made a median salary of $122,960 in 2019. The best-paid 25 percent made $186,350 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $80,950.

Which state pays the most lawyers?

Best-Paying States for Lawyers. The states and districts that pay Lawyers the highest mean salary are District of Columbia ($192,180), California ($173,970), New York ($168,780), Massachusetts ($164,800), and Illinois ($157,010).

What is the job of assistant city attorney?

Assistant City Attorney PURPOSE OF THE CLASSIFICATION: Provides legal advice and representation; drafts and administers a variety of contracts for which the City is a party; conducts significant and ...

What are the two types of legal writers?

First, there are two types of legal writers: the news writer and the brief writer . The former will report or analyse on any current event issues that deal with the law, from a murder trial to a political scandal to legal troubles for a multinational corporation.

What does a legal editor do?

Second, legal editors can complete a variety of tasks, such as copyediting, content editing, proofreading and fact-checking. These duties can be performed for news writing and brief writing. 9.

What do paralegals need to know?

Since paralegals take on much of the legwork, they require substantive knowledge of the law and legal procedures, which is attained through education and training. Put simply, you still have a career in law, but you don’t have the pressures that a typical lawyer faces. 3. Legal Secretary.

What is a paralegal?

Being a paralegal is a rewarding and critical position in any law office, corporation or governmental agency. This position performs legal work that the lawyer is responsible for to prepare him or her for their case. Since paralegals take on much of the legwork, they require substantive knowledge of the law and legal procedures, which is attained through education and training.

What is a policy analyst?

Policy analysts are integral to legislative bodies, large corporations and non-profit organisations. These professionals will devise policies, provide advice to legislators or senior management and brief individuals close to the matter. Another facet is gathering data and using research to either better understand or persuade public opinion.

Is a legal secretary a paralegal?

Oftentimes, a legal secretary is incorrectly equated with paralegals, much in the same way that paralegals are misidentified as legal assistants. But a legal secretary has differing functions on a day-to-day basis, though they are sometimes described as a legal assistant so law firms can bill their clients appropriately.

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Corporate Law

Criminal Law

Bankruptcy Law

Family Law

Immigration Law

Civil Rights Lawyer

Personal Injury Lawyer

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…