what type of lawyer makes the least money

by Jewell Littel 10 min read

According to 2012 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, lawyers who own their own practices generally earn less than those who work as partners in firms, and public sector attorneys earn the least of all attorneys.

In general, private sector lawyers make more money than public sector lawyers, and sole practitioners earn less money than lawyers at large firms. Geography will impact salary, with lawyers in bigger cities bringing home more than lawyers in rural areas.

Full Answer

Do lawyers who own their own law firms make more money?

According to 2012 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, lawyers who own their own practices generally earn less than those who work as partners in firms, and public sector attorneys earn the least of all attorneys. Most law firms only take cases that have the potential to bring the greatest financial rewards, and clients with a lot to lose or gain, financially, often …

How much money does a family law attorney make?

Nov 01, 2017 · If you’re not only after money and are looking for some of the least stressful law practices, you’re in the right place. When it comes to the easiest fields of …

What are the different types of lawyers that make the most?

Feb 13, 2019 · 15. Criminal Defense Lawyers. Last but not least, a criminal defense lawyer is skilled in handling all stages of a criminal lawsuit. They provide valuable counsel to their clients from the time they are arrested, through the investigation, charging, arraignment and sentencing. Their work isn't quite done if their clients wish to appeal their case.

What are the highest-paid lawyer specializations?

Oct 27, 2021 · Legal Aid vs. For-Profit. In some of the nation’s biggest law firms, first-year associates can earn six figures; however, lawyers working for non-profit organizations, such as legal aid, generally earn less. Legal aid attorneys earned an average salary of $63,911 in 2021, according to Glassdoor.

image

Where do lawyers make the least money?

10 States Where Lawyers Earn the Least MoneyMontana average lawyer salary: $88,600.Mississippi average lawyer salary: $97,990.West Virginia average lawyer salary: $98,630.Arkansas average lawyer salary: $98,780.Idaho average lawyer salary: $99,360.Kentucky average lawyer salary: $100,100.More items...•Nov 18, 2019

What is the easiest type of lawyer?

However, there are many sectors of law which are less stressful:Real estate law.Intellectual property law.High Street family law.Government lawyers.Working In-House.Jul 9, 2021

What is the most needed lawyer?

The Top 10 Lawyer Types You're Most Likely to NeedBusiness Lawyer (litigation or transactional) ... Family Lawyer (a.k.a. Domestic Relations Attorney; a.k.a. Divorce Lawyer) ... Traffic Lawyer. ... Trusts and Estates Lawyer. ... Immigration Lawyer. ... Personal Injury Lawyer. ... Real Estate Lawyer.More items...•Dec 31, 2015

What lawyer type makes the most money?

Types Of Lawyers That Make The Most MoneyMedical 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

What type of law is most fun?

The 5 Most Interesting Law Sectors to Work InIntellectual Property Law. What is intellectual property? ... Human Rights Law. There is no more noble and important area of law work than human rights law. ... Personal Injury Law. Personal injury lawyers do what you'd expect! ... Military Law. ... Employment Law.

How difficult is law school?

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 hardest type of lawyer?

Moral Dilemma. Lawyers who represent clients accused of criminal acts or civil wrongdoing face a moral dilemma, which can be the hardest part of their job as an attorney.

Is law a dying field?

So, is Lawyer a Dying Profession? Law is not a dying profession since there will always be individuals, businesses, and all levels of government that use legal services in a variety of areas, including litigation.

What are the 7 types of laws?

CLASSIFICATIONS OF LAWPublic and Private Law.Civil Law and Criminal Law.Substantive and Procedural Law.Municipal and International Law.Written and Unwritten Law.Common Law and Equity.Mar 11, 2016

Is medical school or law school harder?

You probably already know that law school is tough. But someone else says that medical school is tougher. No, law school is tougher than medical school.Feb 12, 2021

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.Apr 6, 2021

How much do criminal lawyers make?

The salaries of Criminal Lawyers in the US range from $21,204 to $556,465 , with a median salary of $102,507 . The middle 57% of Criminal Lawyers makes between $102,507 and $253,785, with the top 86% making $556,465.

How much do criminal defense lawyers make?

Often pictured on television programs, people think of these lawyers first when it comes to a career in the legal system. However, when it comes to types of lawyers that make the most money, they don’t top the list. They do, however, make an expected salary of $78,500.

Why do lawyers work for corporations?

Corporate lawyers are people that work with corporations in order to ensure that the company is complying with standard laws and regulations. They’ll also work closely with an employee to make sure that the company is processing things correctly when it comes to collections, patents, contracts, and more.

What is a criminal lawyer?

Criminal lawyers—defense lawyers and attorneys at law—are just a small portion of what people in the legal field can do. Lawyers all over the world help can help their community and their people by dedicating themselves to ensuring that the law is upheld and that the people are getting the best possible treatment due to things that, sometimes, ...

How much do immigration lawyers make?

People often seek out immigration lawyers if there happens to be troubles or miscommunication about their ability to stay in the country and work in the country as well. In hard times, these lawyers are called upon to help people remain exactly where they are, and exactly where they belong. On average, a salary for an immigration lawyer rests around $62,000 a year.

What is 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 the cases where citizens are put under scrutiny for things they cannot control—the color of their skin, perhaps, or their sexual orientation.

What is a family and divorce lawyer?

3: Family and Divorce Lawyers. A family and divorce lawyer is rather self-explanatory. In cases of marriages ending in a separation, a divorce lawyer is a person who settles all necessities when it comes to that break.

What is personal injury lawyer?

Personal injury lawyers are people that provide help to citizens who’ve been harmed by accidents that have occurred. These accidents involve things like car crashes, slip and fall incidents, and things that occur outside of the home on public or private property.

How much do criminal defense attorneys make?

Some specialize in certain areas of criminal defense, such as traffic citations or felony cases. Criminal attorneys’ salaries range from $45,000 to $130,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Experience and the type of employer determine the exact salary.

What happens when you start your own law firm?

If you start your own practice, you may reap non-financial rewards that offset the lost earning potential. For example, firm lawyers tend to work longer hours and face greater stress due to the types of cases they handle. According to Catalyst, 52 percent of female attorneys have private practices.

How long does it take to become a lawyer?

All lawyers follow the same path to their professional lives. They endure four years in a bachelor's degree program and three years in law school. After law school, decision-making time arrives. Newly minted attorneys select an area of specialization, and not all types of lawyers earn the same pay. In fact, gender can play a role.

What is public sector attorney?

Public sector attorneys include those who work for cities, counties, state agencies, public schools and universities and other government organizations. Examples include public defenders, who represent defendants in legal matters, and prosecuting attorneys, who represent the people in criminal and some civil cases.

What do mediators do?

They serve as mediators for businesses. They frequently handle litigation and financial matters, including bankruptcies and tax issues. These attorneys tend to work for large- to medium-sized firms or work directly for a particular private company, and tend to earn more than most other types of attorneys.

Do law firms take cases?

Most law firms only take cases that have the potential to bring the greatest financial rewards, and clients with a lot to lose or gain, financially, often prefer to give their business to a firm rather than to a private practice.

Why do lawyers practice law?

Many lawyers get into the practice because they have a passion to help others, which is probably even more rewarding in the long run. However, having the title of attorney, especially when it comes to some of the most difficult areas of law, also can mean enduring long hours and many nights burning the midnight oil.

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.”.

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.

image

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. The best graduates of top law schools can expect much higher salaries and legal care…
See more on schmidtandclark.com

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…
See more on schmidtandclark.com

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…
See more on schmidtandclark.com

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 2021, 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…
See more on schmidtandclark.com

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 …
See more on schmidtandclark.com

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…
See more on schmidtandclark.com

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…
See more on schmidtandclark.com

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, 2021, 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, 2021, 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, 2021, but the range typically falls between $133,300 and $169,371, includin…