what is the salary of a lawyer 2015

by Jakayla Padberg I 9 min read

In 2015, the median level of compensation within the first level was $145,000 in firms of more than 500 lawyers, and $130,000 overall. The median in the second level of compensation was $185,000 in the largest firms and about $160,000 overall. The respective figures for the third level were $217,500 and $188,000.

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average annual wage of a lawyer is $144,230.
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StateCalifornia
2017 Average Salary$168,200
2016 Average Salary$162,010
2015 Average Salary$163,020
2014 Average Salary$158,200
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Full Answer

What is a lawyer salary in India?

Lawyer salary in India ranges between ₹ 1.0 Lakhs to ₹ 10.0 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 3.5 Lakhs.

What is the best lawyer salary?

Highest paid lawyers: salary by practice areaPatent 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.More items...

What is the highest paid lawyer job?

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.

Are all lawyers rich?

The majority of lawyers, or rather attorneys, are not rich, but many of them make a decent income in exchange for complex work.

How much does a lawyer make a month?

A: In 2020, the average salary of a lawyer was approximately $12,410 a month, which amounts to about $148,910 a year.

Is law school difficult?

In summary, law school is hard. Harder than regular college or universities, in terms of stress, workload, and required commitment. But about 40,000 people graduate from law schools every year–so it is clearly attainable.

What is the highest paid job?

The highest-paying job in the world, in a traditional sense, holds the number one spot in this article: anesthesiologist. They are also the only job listed above $300,000 a year. The list, however, does not take into account mega-CEOs like Warren Buffett and Jeff Bezos, who make considerably more than that.

Why are Lawyers paid so much?

Lawyer salaries are driven by supply and demand, just like everything else. According to data from CEB, the average hourly rate charged by major law firm partners nearly doubled since 2000, while average hourly wages for both blue-collar and white-collar workers have increased less than 20%.

How much does a Lawyer in United States make?

The national average salary for a Lawyer is $121,980 per year in United States. Filter by location to see a Lawyer salaries in your area. Salaries...

What is the highest salary for a Lawyer in United States?

The highest salary for a Lawyer in United States is $250,338 per year.

What is the lowest salary for a Lawyer in United States?

The lowest salary for a Lawyer in United States is $59,436 per year.

What is the a Lawyer career path and salary trajectory?

If you are thinking of becoming a Lawyer or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajecto...

What is the biggest determinant of salary for lawyers?

One of the biggest determinant of salary for lawyers is the type of employer they work for. Lawyers who clock in and out for big corporate law firms will command a much higher salary than those who work as public defenders. Not all lawyers represent individual clients in court.

How many hours do lawyers work?

As most lawyers will tell you, though, the typical work week at a law firm tends to be a lot longer than 40 hours. According to 2017 data from U.S. New and World Report, the average salary for lawyers in the U.S. is $141,890.

How much debt do law students have?

That degree won’t come cheap: The American Bar Association reports that law students rack up an average student debt burden of $84,000 if they graduate from a public school and $122,158 if they graduate from a private school. Some of these graduates have loans from their undergraduate education, too.

Is being a lawyer a good job?

Becoming a lawyer is an expensive and time-consuming undertaking, but can lead to a financially and intellectually rewarding career. If you can succeed in law school and get good jobs and internships along the way, you’ll have a good shot at a high salary.

Featured Content

New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.

Gender Breakdown

This data is based on 2,621 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.

How does a lawyer's salary depend on experience?

Additionally, a lawyer’s annual salary will heavily depend on the years of experience they’ve acquired practicing law , with the payscale steadily increasing as lawyers are able to charge higher premiums for their legal advice. Salary increases at large law firms have outpaced the rest of the legal market.

How much does a district attorney make in Manhattan?

The average salary for a district attorney in Manhattan is around $60,000-$70,000. Even though the job is in a metropolitan city such as New York, the sector here plays an important role in determining the salary. Public sector jobs also tend to have a lower salary average than private-sector jobs.

What was the average legal job rate in the 1980s?

The average rate in the mid to late 1980s was 82.9% .

What is the highest paying field in the world?

Fields such as Intellectual property, medical malpractices, tax law, corporate and securities law, sports, and entertainment are some of the highest paying fields with salaries ranging from $126,000 to $182,000.

Most common benefits

The average salary for a lawyer is $5,233 per month in the United States. 291 salaries reported, updated at February 18, 2022.

How much should you be earning?

Get an estimated calculation of how much you should be earning and insight into your career options. See more details

Common questions about salaries for a Lawyer

If you’re unsure about what salary is appropriate for a lawyer, visit Indeed's Salary Calculator to get a free, personalized pay range based on your location, industry and experience.

How many hours do lawyers work?

Some work for federal, local, and state governments. Most work full time and many work more than 40 hours a week.

How much will the number of lawyers grow in 2029?

Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Competition for jobs over the next 10 years is expected to be strong because more students graduate from law school each year than there are jobs available.

What is the role of a lawyer?

Lawyers advise and represent individuals, businesses, and government agencies on legal issues and disputes. Lawyers, also called attorneys, act as both advocates and advisors. As advocates, they represent one of the parties in a criminal or civil trial by presenting evidence and arguing in support of their client.

What does it mean to advance as an attorney?

After several years, some lawyers may advance to partnership in their firm, meaning that they become partial owners of the firm .

How much will the legal profession grow in 2029?

Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Demand for legal work is expected to continue as individuals, businesses, and all levels of government require legal services in many areas.

How long does it take to become a lawyer?

Becoming a lawyer usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school—4 years of undergraduate study, followed by 3 years of law school. Most states and jurisdictions require lawyers to complete a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).

What is a lawyer called?

In law firms, lawyers, sometimes called associates, perform legal work for individuals or businesses. Those who represent and defend the accused may be called criminal law attorneys or defense attorneys. Attorneys also work for federal, state, and local governments.

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 lawyers make?

Lawyer Salary Guide. Lawyers earned a median annual wage of $122,960 in 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports, with a range from the lowest 10% earning less than $60,000 and the highest 10% earning more than $208,000.

How much do first year associates make?

However, pay information from the American Bar Association (ABA) Journal says first-year associates earned median base salaries of $98,750 to $180,000 in 2019, depending on the size of their firms. ABA estimates partners earned $371,000 to $1.136 million depending whether they had equity in the firm.

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