what is the highest paid lawyer specialty

by Judson Turner 7 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 type of lawyer is highest paid?

What type of lawyer is highest paid? Medical Lawyers typically make the highest yearly salary. This type of lawyer provides their clients with a variety of legal advisement and services related to medical law. This includes the areas of health care law, personal injury, medical malpractice and a variety of other related areas.

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 is the highest paying job in law?

The Highest Paying Legal Jobs

  • Trial Lawyers. Trial lawyers are among the highest paid legal professionals in the world. ...
  • Intellectual Property Lawyers. ...
  • Tax Attorneys. ...
  • Employment and Labor Attorneys. ...
  • Real Estate Attorneys. ...
  • Chief Legal Officers. ...
  • Judges. ...
  • Members of Congress. ...
  • Law School Professor. ...
  • Litigation Support Director. ...

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Who is the highest paid attorney?

Who is the highest paid attorney?

  • Patent attorney: $180,000.
  • Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.
  • Trial attorneys: $134,000.
  • Tax attorney (tax law): $122,000.
  • Corporate lawyer: $115,000.
  • Employment lawyer: $87,000.
  • Real Estate attorney: $86,000.
  • Divorce attorney: $84,000.

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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...

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 does a tax lawyer make in 2021?

Tax Lawyer Salary is $ 109,181; it is the average pay as per report of 2021 by Glassdoor. Tax attorneys have multiple options to work in the private sector or with federal and state governments. Most importantly, every sector needs a tax lawyer; as a result, its employment rate is also good. 3.

What is tax attorney?

2. Tax Attorney (tax law) Tax Lawyers are best paid lawyers who act as remedial person for companies or individuals to relieve tax issues settlement with IRS. Apart from this, they need to advise their client to reduce financial burden.

How do personal injury lawyers get paid?

Personal Injury Lawyer gets paid from the client as flat fees, hourly rate, and contingency fees; Mostly Personal Injury Lawyer sets up the particular percentage of settle compensation.

What is corporate lawyer?

Corporate Lawyers are the shield between their client and the party for closing the contracts and making negotiations on behalf of the company. Corporate Lawyers are multitasking; in some projects, they need to go through various financials and patents of merging companies with depth analysis.

What is the job of an IP lawyer?

If you like to work in diverse fields, you will love the IP Lawyer job; in this law specialization, you have to protect the new inventions made by different field professions. These inventions can be a new drug for a disease, and they can be music.

How do real estate attorneys save the buyer from fraud?

They save the buyer from fraud by checking all the property documents and preparing the legitimate agreement for making the payment process. Apart from the domestic market, the demand for real estate attorneys is also in gas, oil, and electricity to acquire land with ease and authentic process.

Do specialized lawyers have a good success rate?

As per consumers, specialized lawyers are more updated for their niche, which indirectly has a good success rate compared to other lawyers. If you are a law student or will pursue law, you need to know which are the highest paid lawyers specialization in today market.

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 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 is real estate law?

Description: Real estate lawyers focus on all aspects of real property, such as ownership of land and buildings, who has the right to use it, the sale and purchase of real property, easements, compliance with local, state and federal permits and regulations, landlord and tenant contracts, and construction deals. Real estate lawyers may also specialize in a particular type – the oil, gas, and natural resource industries require acquisitions or easements to expand drilling, production, and/or excavation.

What is immigration law?

Immigration law deals with the legal rights and duties of aliens, the process of naturalization (immigrants becoming U.S. citizens), the care and treatment of refugees, cases of illegal immigration, etc. On the other hand, civil rights lawyers specialize in the balance of power between the government and its people.

What is intellectual property law?

Description: Intellectual property law focuses on the protection of inventor’s and businesses’ legal rights in protecting their discoveries, innovations, trademarks, and patents. Most IP lawyers specialize in a particular sector or area.

Why is the Cravath scale still used?

The Cravath scale continues because firms compete for the top students from the best law schools. If one firm offers a higher salary, other firms tend to follow suit shortly afterward.

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.

What does a patent attorney do?

Primary duties: Patent attorneys deal with similar cases as IP lawyers and paralegals do, however, patent attorneys deal specifically with the processes and legal implications surrounding patenting intellectual property. Typically, patent attorneys help inventors prepare, file and submit their patent applications. If another individual or entity tries to infringe upon a patent attorney's client's patent, the attorney assists the client in raising a lawsuit against them.

What is a civil litigation paralegal?

Primary duties: Civil litigation paralegals are responsible for assisting practicing attorneys with court filings, pleadings and the preparation of legal documents for trials. Many of these kinds of law professionals work in private law firms but can have careers in the government sector. These paralegals will work under the supervision of a litigation attorney until they advance in their careers to become fully practicing attorneys.

What are the duties of a civil litigation attorney?

Litigation attorneys will meet with and collect information and documentation from clients, whether plaintiffs or defendants. They'll also work with clients to prepare court and trial documents, draft pleadings and enter pleas. In serious cases, litigation attorneys may also appear in court to testify on behalf of their clients.

What is an employment law associate?

Employment law associates, or employment and labor lawyers, work with both employers and employees to provide support and counsel on the state and federal employment laws. These attorneys typically help employers ensure their workplaces are in compliance with these employment laws and that all employees are treated fairly and consistently. Additionally, employment lawyers will commonly represent employees in discrimination cases.

What is the job of a bankruptcy paralegal?

Primary duties: Bankruptcy paralegals and attorneys frequently work in public agencies, corporations and lending institutions where they prepare and file proofs of claims on behalf of their clients. These paralegals must understand financial laws and regulations regarding bankruptcy claims and they provide direct support to practicing attorneys in the preparation of financial documents, claim applications and additional documents their clients will need in a bankruptcy case.

What is the job of a personal injury paralegal?

Primary duties: Personal injury paralegals work with practicing attorneys in much the same way as litigation paralegals. They'll typically help prepare legal documents for personal injury cases involving either the plaintiff or the defendant. Personal injury paralegals will work under the supervision of a lawyer, where they'll commonly interview clients, gather medical records, collect insurance information and documents from defendants and assist in organizing and preparing settlement demands.

What is an attorney at law?

An attorney at law or (trial lawyer) is a practicing lawyer who counsels and represents their clients and legal rights in both civil and criminal cases. Attorneys at law are most commonly trial lawyers, where they'll assist clients in pre-trial counsel, prepare legal documents and pleadings and even appear in court to represent their clients.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

What is a CLO?

Chief legal officers (CLOs), also known as general counsel, head the law departments of corporations. Generally, the larger the corporation, the greater the general counsel's salary. Earnings for CLO's heading large, multi-national corporations can reach seven figures.

1. Attorney at law

Primary duties: An attorney at law, sometimes called a trial lawyer, counsels and represents their clients' legal rights in civil and criminal cases. Attorneys at law can have varying responsibilities depending on who they represent.

2. Patent attorney

Primary duties: A patent attorney helps clients secure patents for inventions or other types of new products.

3. Legal manager

Primary duties: A legal manager offers legal advice to a company or another type of organization.

4. Intellectual property paralegal

Primary duties: An intellectual property paralegal helps attorneys who specialize in protecting their clients' IPs. Intellectual property paralegals can organize paperwork like patent applications, research intellectual property pieces to identify similar products from other sources and review sensitive information while maintaining security.

5. Lawyer

Primary duties: A lawyer represents clients in legal cases and provides legal advice before, during, and after court proceedings. Their job can involve reviewing evidence to develop an argument to use in court, preparing documents like plea agreements and witness statements, and arguing cases in court during trials and hearings.

6. Family lawyer

Primary duties: A family lawyer helps settle cases that focus on events within families, such as divorce or custody agreements. Family lawyers can act as mediators during negotiations between family members or spouses, represent their clients in court, and draft paperwork such as prenuptial agreements and adoption contracts.

7. Personal injury lawyer

Primary duties: A personal injury lawyer takes on cases for people who experience injuries that they aren't personally responsible for, such as an accident at a business place.

What Kind of Lawyer Makes the Most Money?

What type of lawyer makes the most money? The median salary for different specialties differs. Some of the highest-paid types of lawyers and most lucrative specialties include the following.

What Factors Influence the Salaries of Attorneys?

Many factors affect how much lawyers earn; however, the salary range for lawyers varies widely. As of 2019, the average lawyer earned $126,930 annually, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Conclusions

There’s a large difference in average salaries between different practice areas, especially about halfway down the list. The highest-paid lawyers make considerably more on average than the lowest-paid ones. As an example, medical lawyers earn more than average salaries, while family-law attorneys earn a salary that falls below the average.

Why do lawyers get into law school?

Many lawyers get into the practice because they have a passion to help others, which is probably even more rewarding in the long run.

What are the most in demand law fields?

Right now, some of the most in demand law fields include intellectual property, corporate law, and healthcare law . These can even equate to some of the highest paying law fields depending on where you are working.

Is it easy to practice law?

When it comes to the easiest fields of law to practice or the easiest type of law to practice, there really aren’t any. Obviously, some areas are less stressful and time-consuming than others, but none of it is “easy.”.

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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…