what are the most highest paying attorney jobs

by Prof. Layla Sawayn III 3 min read

The Highest Paying Legal Jobs

  • Trial Lawyers. Trial lawyers are among the highest paid legal professionals in the world. Thousands practice across the...
  • Intellectual Property Lawyers. Intellectual property laws protect ideas, such as patents, copyrights, trademarks, and...
  • Tax Attorneys. Tax attorneys work with both individuals and businesses to solve tax issues. They...

What are the highest paying lawyers' jobs?
  1. Civil litigation paralegal. National average salary: $54,819 per year. ...
  2. Personal injury paralegal. National average salary: $57,364 per year. ...
  3. Bankruptcy paralegal. ...
  4. Family law paralegal. ...
  5. Employment law associate. ...
  6. Attorney at law. ...
  7. Immigration attorney. ...
  8. Legal manager.
Mar 15, 2021

Full Answer

How to become a high paid lawyer?

Mar 15, 2021 · What are the highest paying lawyers' jobs? 1. Civil litigation paralegal. Primary duties: Civil litigation paralegals are responsible for assisting practicing... 2. Personal injury paralegal. Primary duties: Personal injury paralegals work with practicing attorneys in much the same... 3. Bankruptcy ...

What lawyer makes the most money?

Feb 22, 2021 · Highest paying legal jobs. 1. Lawyer. National average salary: $52,775 per year. Primary duties: Lawyers represent their clients in a courtroom, before government agencies and ... 2. Counsel. 3. Mediator. 4. Immigration lawyer. 5. Managing partner.

How much can a lawyer expect to get paid?

Sep 09, 2011 · The Highest Paying Legal Jobs Trial Lawyers. Trial lawyers are among the highest paid legal professionals in the world. Thousands practice across the... Intellectual Property Lawyers. Intellectual property laws protect ideas, such as patents, copyrights, trademarks, and... Tax Attorneys. Tax ...

Who are the 10 highest paid lawyers in the USA?

Jan 20, 2022 · Which type of law you specialize in. Medical Lawyers – $150,881 per year. If you can’t or don’t want to be a doctor, you can still make a good living in the medical field as a medical ... IP Attorneys – $140,972 per year. Trial Attorneys – $101,086 per year. Tax Attorneys – …

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What is the job of a corporate attorney?

They are responsible for drafting legal documents, structuring transactions, negotiating business deals and ensuring agreement provisions, policies and legal compliance are unambiguous and consistent. Corporate attorneys are typically the legal professionals that ensure companies' operations are in compliance with related laws and regulations and that the implementation of certain business practices are within legal parameters and won't cause legal issues in the future.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 is location quotient?

Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here. Attorney Jobs in Texas.

Do college majors line up with jobs?

College majors don't line up exactly with jobs. Instead, most majors qualify you for a variety of positions. The "Occupational Outlook Handbook" shows you which positions over the next decade will be in high and which positions in low demand. You can tailor your resume to fit a variety of positions.

Top 100 Federal Occupations in 2018

This table shows the top 100 most well-paid occupations in the federal government in 2018, ranked by average pay. In 2018, the number one most well-paid job was " Securities Compliance Examining ," with an average yearly pay of $181,645. The runner-up job, " Patent Attorney ," follows with an average of $170,324, which is a 6.23% decrease.

Data Sources

The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.

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