what is the best paying attorney job

by Carlie Kuphal 6 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

How to become a high paid lawyer?

Mar 15, 2021 · What are the highest paying lawyers' jobs? 1. Civil litigation paralegal. National average salary: $54,819 per year. Primary duties: Civil litigation paralegals are responsible for assisting ... 2. Personal injury paralegal. 3. Bankruptcy paralegal. 4. Family law paralegal. 5. Employment law ...

How to hire the best lawyer?

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 globe, but civil litigators ... Intellectual Property Lawyers. Tax Attorneys. Employment and …

What type of lawyers make 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.

What is the average salary for lawyer jobs?

Jan 20, 2022 · One key takeaway from the chart is that there’s a tremendous variation in pay based simply upon the state where the job’s located. Here are the states with the highest salaries for attorneys: 1. District of Columbia — $192,530; 2. California — $171,550; 3. New York — $167,110; 4. Massachusetts — $165,610; 5. Connecticut — $153,640

image

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...

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.

How much does a legal officer make?

According to the Law Department Compensation Benchmarking Survey, chief legal officers at large U.S. corporations earned an average of $475,000 in salary, with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, in non-cash awards.

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 a law firm administrator?

Description: Law firm administrators, also known as chief managing officers, oversee and manage the business-side of running a law firm , including strategic partnerships, financial management and reporting, personnel, marketing, brand and practice management, business development, human resources, etc.

What does a law professor do?

Description: Law school professors primarily teach classes/courses on different aspects of the law, while performing research for scholarly publication. By publishing their work and establishing themselves as an expert in their field, law professors bring prestige for themselves as well as their respective educational institutions.

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.

Is a law degree required to become a politician?

If you like the idea of working in the business of changing laws for the betterment of an entire state or country, maybe a career in politics is for you. Although a law degree isn’t technically a requirement to get into politics, it can certainly help.

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 do intellectual property paralegals do?

Primary duties: Working in the legal industry without a law degree, intellectual property paralegals deal with copyrights, patents and trademark law. They assist intellectual property attorneys and the work for their clients. They also create, revise and file patent documents and manage client communication.

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 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.

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 lawyers make?

While this type of job isn’t flashy like a trial lawyer, tax lawyers still bring in a decent paycheck—the median pay is $99,000, while some make as much as $189,000 each year.

How much does a managing partner make in a law firm?

Managing partners are rewarded for all of their sleepless nights, though—the median salary for a managing partner in a law firm is $139,000, and that can go as high as nearly $400,000 in big cities and prestigious firms.

How much do law professors make?

They are handsomely rewarded for their hard work, too—the median salary for a law professor is $128,000 with the high end reaching $194,000.

What is the job of a trial lawyer?

Trial Lawyers. Trial lawyers are the ones you see on television and on the silver screen—they stand in courtrooms and argue cases before judges and juries. There are fewer trial lawyers than there are law graduates who want to do this job, so competition is often fierce.

What does a real estate attorney do?

Real estate attorneys review offers and contracts and make sure that buyers are getting fair deals on the properties they are purchasing. Real estate lawyers also work with sellers to make sure everything is fair on that end, as well.

How much does a CLO make?

The median pay for a CLO is $183,000, with some making as much as $285,000 per year. Getting a CLO position takes time and hard work, though—there are very few of these positions available across the country, and many require at least a decade of experience.

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.

Is it hard to beat a healthcare career?

When it comes to high-paying jobs, it’s hard to beat a career in healthcare. Specialists tend to earn the largest paychecks, but general practitioners and even nonphysician roles, such as nurse anesthetists, certainly bring in attractive salaries. If the medical field isn’t for you, then careers such as engineering and management can also lead to lucrative jobs.

Do nurse anesthetists pay well?

Nursing tends to pay well in general compared with most other career paths, although nurse anesthetists do particularly well. Per the BLS, nurse anesthetists “administer anesthesia and provide care before, during, and after surgical, therapeutic, diagnostic, and obstetrical procedures.” 38 28

image