what type of lawyer makes most money

by Elmer Schmeler 8 min read

Types of Lawyers That Make the Most Money

  1. Intellectual Property Lawyers. Topping the list of lawyers who earn the most are the Intellectual Property (IP) lawyers. ...
  2. Trial Lawyers. One of the highest paid lawyers in the law field, trial lawyers handle several functions as an attorney.
  3. Corporate Lawyers. Corporate lawyers work in private practices, law firms that provide services to corporations, or in-house legal departments or corporations, to ensure that the business is complying with ...
  4. Tax Lawyers. Tax lawyers work with private individuals and businesses to ensure their taxes are properly filed and any tax-related case they have is handled.
  5. Civil Rights Lawyers. A civil rights lawyer deals in cases that involve discrimination based on things people cannot control (race, age, disabilities, sexual orientation, gender), human rights, and equality.
  6. Criminal Defense Lawyers. Criminal defense lawyers get a bad rap because, as their job title goes, they defend the person charged with a crime in any crime-related case.
  7. Real Estate Lawyers. Real estate lawyers handle anything related to businesses dealing in residential, commercial, and office real estate.
  8. Family Lawyers. Contrary to what you might have seen in Marriage Story, family lawyers handle more than just divorce cases.

Types of Lawyers That Make the Most Money
  • Tax attorney (tax law): $122,000;
  • Corporate lawyer: $118,000;
  • Employment lawyer: $88,000;
  • Real estate attorney: $87,000;
  • Divorce attorney: $86,000;
  • Immigration attorney: $85,000;
  • Estate attorney: $84,000;
  • Public defender: $66,000.

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. ...

More items...

What is the average starting salary for a lawyer?

  • District of Columbia – $192,530
  • California – $171,550
  • New York – $167,110
  • Massachusetts – $165,610
  • Connecticut – $153,640
  • Illinois – $152,980
  • Texas – $150,250
  • Colorado – $147,560
  • Arizona – $145,750
  • Virginia – $139,180

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What is the the gross monthly income for a lawyer?

As of Nov 22, 2021, the average annual pay for a Corporate Lawyer in the United States is $163,166 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $78.45 an hour. This is the equivalent of $3,138/week or $13,597/month.

How much can a lawyer expect to get paid?

How Much Does a Lawyer Make? Lawyers made a median salary of $126,930 in 2020. The best-paid 25 percent made $189,520 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $84,450. The BLS projects ...

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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.

How does a tax attorney help?

A tax attorney helps his client by taking over all tax-related tasks. He can also suggest his client make his taxes paid smoothly. It’s a very tough-rough job to earn the most money from law-field, of course, one’s capability can bring him with such the highest amount such as $100,000 in a year.

When do you need a corporate lawyer?

There is always a need for a corporate lawyer when a firm or a company must be handled with full regulation. Generally, a corporate lawyer acts to manage all projects, contracts, goods delivery & so on. In short, the whole nine yards of an industry.

What is personal injury lawyer?

People are supposed to be injured physically, which leads to an incurred loss to their health issues. Personal injury lawyers handle this kind of case. They cover up the reasons for the failures of their client’s perceptible object and how to recover the client’s properties so that the client gets his proper rights.

What is intellectual property lawyer?

Genuinely, an intellectual property lawyer handles, take-over the copyright, patent & trademark of companies or brands. They are supposed to help their client make the best goods that are different from others and what others can do & can’t do with their interests, which the company has been completed.

How much does a criminal defense lawyer make?

On average, a criminal defense lawyer will earn $80,000 a year, but can go as much as $174,000. 5. Civil Rights Lawyers. A civil rights lawyer deals in cases that involve discrimination based on things people cannot control (race, age, disabilities, sexual orientation, gender), human rights, and equality.

How do personal injury lawyers get paid?

This means that they can only get paid if their client wins the case and receives a settlement. The lawyer takes a percentage of this settlement (usually 1/3 of the total settlement).

What is corporate law?

Corporate lawyers work in private practices, law firms that provide services to corporations, or in-house legal departments or corporations, to ensure that the business is complying with laws and regulations. Every legal aspect a corporation needs (copyright, patenting an employee’s work, libel cases against the corporation, down to making sure advertising and marketing aren’t committing copyright infringement) lies in the hands of their corporate lawyers.

Why do tax lawyers work?

Tax lawyers work with private individuals and businesses to ensure their taxes are properly filed and any tax-related case they have is handled. Because taxes affect nearly everyone, tax lawyers have the option of working for a corporation or to have their own private practice to help multiple clients with their tax cases. Tax lawyers have a comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge on tax laws, so it’s no surprise that many tax lawyers also have accounting licenses. Their knowledge in tax law allows clients to know all their options when making financial and legal decisions.

What do real estate lawyers do?

Real estate lawyers handle anything related to businesses dealing in residential, commercial, and office real estate. They look at the contracts and make sure their client is getting a fair deal with no loopholes that can be exploited. They make sure the rental agreements are fair. They make sure the deeds are in place and that those planning to buy, rent, or sell property are getting whatever is entitled to them. And given that the median home price in the United States is $200,000, it means real estate lawyers handle large assets in terms of property.

What does it mean when a real estate lawyer handles large assets?

They make sure the deeds are in place and that those planning to buy, rent, or sell property are getting whatever is entitled to them. And given that the median home price in the United States is $200,000, it means real estate lawyers handle large assets in terms of property.

What is the legal aspect of a corporation?

Every legal aspect a corporation needs (copyright, patenting an employee’s work, libel cases against the corporation, down to making sure advertising and marketing aren’t committing copyright infringement) lies in the hands of their corporate lawyers.

Corporate Lawyer –

The role of a corporate lawyer provides clients with counsel on legal issues relating to different business transactions, which include the sale of businesses, acquisitions, and mergers. Their role is to draft a lot of contracts and browse through offers of big businesses and corporations.

Tax Lawyers –

Tax lawyers mostly represent organizations when they are dealing with Central and State government agencies. They are responsible for their clients for preparing legal documents that involve liabilities and the development of plans that help in saving taxes. Tax attorneys must know when proposed changes to the tax laws are scheduled to take place.

Criminal Lawyers –

A criminal lawyer must have a sharp knowledge of the penal system of India and must be very instinctive in making arguments. They must be able to think out of the box, organize their thoughts properly, and formulate strategies while arguing in the court of law. The best criminal lawyers are confident and know the law inside out.

IP Lawyers –

IP refers to Intellectual Property. Intellectual Property is a booming field in law, and it has a high earning potential because there are times when the cases on IP are hard to dissect and prove evidently. IP requires an in-depth study of the subjects of Patents, Trade Marks, Copyrights, Geographical Indications, and Designs.

Cyber Lawyers –

The advancement of technology is considered a blessing for some but for most, and it includes online injuries. By injuries, it is meant cybercrime. To resolve these issues, cyber law has emerged, which acts as a remedy. It contains criminal activities that are traditional in nature, such as theft, fraud, forgery, defamation, and mischief.

Human Rights Lawyers –

These types of lawyers mostly work in government organizations like the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), State Human Rights Commissions, NGOs, Social Welfare departments, and International organizations such as Amnesty International and the Red Cross Society. They also give their valuable inputs informing governmental policies.

Real Estate Lawyers –

A real estate lawyer helps their clients in a variety of ways regarding commercial and residential real estate. Real Estate lawyers mostly go to courts to argue on a contract of purchase or sale agreement, if it was violated, or when a tenant or landlord breaks the law.

What Does a Patent Attorney Do?

The job of a patent attorney is an interesting one. Patent attorneys have to understand the science behind new or improved technologies so they can explain it to a jury in a simplified yet convincing manner.

Does Where You Go to Law School Matter?

The answer to this question might make you consider law schools that were previously not on your radar. There is a common stigma around the idea of graduating from a lower-ranked law school. This stigma leaves many students overly fixated on insignificant differences within the programs.

What Are Other Law Specialties? How Much Do They Make?

Salaries within the law industry vary widely depending on the geographic region of where an individual chooses to practice. The salaries are usually dependent on the cost of living or the labor cost of the given region. For instance, being a lawyer in New York City is probably more extravagant when compared to being a lawyer in Wyoming or Kansas.

How much does a corporate lawyer make?

5. Corporate Lawyer – $98,822 annually. Corporate Layers make an average of $98,000 annually, but some of the more successful ones can make well into the triple digits in their salaries, while some make as low as $66,000. The average is $98,000 per year.

Why is there a high earning potential for intellectual property lawyers?

There is a high earning potential for intellectual property lawyers because there are times when the facts regarding intellectual property are hard to dissect and prove evidentially.

What is tax attorney?

This type of attorney represents an organization when they are dealing with government taxing agencies which include federal, state and local entities. Tax attorneys are responsible to their clients for the preparation of legal documents that involve liabilities and for developing plans that help in saving taxes.

What skills do you need to be a trial judge?

They must also possess impeccable verbal and writing skills as they spend a great deal of time divided among speaking and writing to others in matters that pertain to the trial. They must also maintain a sharp memory for remembering significant facts that may come in handy during a trial.

What is corporate lawyer?

A corporate lawyer provides clients with counsel on legal matters pertaining to a variety of different business transactions including the sale of businesses, acquisitions, and mergers.

What is the role of a trial attorney?

The trial attorney must have a strong and comprehensive knowledge of the law. They are also charged with the responsibility of staying abreast of current trends and changes to the law as they occur throughout the length of their careers.

Do tax attorneys have to stay on top of changes?

The tax structure within the United States is an ever-changing animal and tax attorneys are required to stay on top of all changes to the law as they are enacted and when they are proposed. They must know if and when proposed changes to the law are scheduled to take place.

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.

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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 empl…
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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 and years of experience is: Public prosecutor 1. Entry-level criminal lawyers with less than five y…
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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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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…