where do civil rights attorney make the most money

by Vada Bernier 9 min read

The average starting salary for a civil rights lawyer is approximately $45,000 a year, but very capable and experienced attorneys in this field can make as much as $200,000. Top earners tend to be employed by federal government agencies.

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How much does a civil rights lawyer make?

Jul 20, 2018 · Civil rights lawyers can earn anywhere between $45,000 per year for a first year lawyer to more than $140,000 for a highly experienced senior attorney. A civil rights lawyer salary varies dramatically, depending on your area of expertise, location, years of experience and specific employer.

Where do lawyers make the most money?

These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Civil Litigation Lawyer in the United States. The base salary for Civil Litigation Lawyer ranges from $111,762 to $149,921 with the average base salary of $131,005. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary …

What are the highest-paying States for lawyers?

Depending on where you practice law, you could also earn more money. According to the BLS, the following states offer the highest salaries: California, New York, Florida, and Texas. Highest Paying States for Lawyers Some states have a higher salary than others.

Where do lawyers make the most money in Oregon?

Jan 14, 2019 · Median hourly wage: $56.73. Average lawyer salary: $138,130. Colorado is one of 13 states to average more than $133,000 annually, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Breaking down the state, Fort Collins has the highest average salary at $155,390, and Grand Junction has the lowest at $82,850.

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Which type of attorney 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

Where do most civil rights lawyers work?

The majority of civil rights attorneys hold positions in government or public service. When a person's rights have been violated, the individual has the right to file a civil suit against the person or institution that committed the offense.

What state pays attorney the most?

10 States Where Lawyers Earn the Most MoneyCalifornia average lawyer salary: $171,550.New York average lawyer salary: $167,110.Massachusetts average lawyer salary: $165,610.Connecticut average lawyer salary: $153,640.Illinois average lawyer salary: $152,980.Texas average lawyer salary: $150,250.More items...•Nov 18, 2019

How much do civil rights lawyers make in New York?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $145,335 and as low as $24,679, the majority of Human Rights Lawyer salaries currently range between $38,938 (25th percentile) to $79,522 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $109,686 annually in New York City.

How much do civil rights lawyers make in California?

How much does a Civil Rights Lawyer make? The average Civil Rights Lawyer in the US makes $61,496. Civil Rights Lawyers make the most in San Francisco, CA at $92,746, averaging total compensation 51% greater than the US average.

What is the highest paying job in the world?

The 20 Highest Paying Careers in the WorldCEO. ... Psychiatrist. ... Orthodontist. Average Salary: $228,500. ... Gynecologist. Average Salary: $235,240. ... Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon. Average Salary: $243,500. ... Surgeon. Average Salary: $251,000. ... Anesthesiologist. Average Salary: $265,000. ... Neurosurgeon. Average Salary: $381,500.More items...•Apr 4, 2022

How much do the top 1 percent of lawyers make?

How much do attorneys make? Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for attorneys in the US is less than $120K. The top 10% make over $208K. However, the top 1% of attorneys make $500K or more per year.Mar 23, 2022

How can a lawyer make a lot of money?

Here are eight ways to start doing that.Stop wasting time with the wrong clients. ... Spend time getting better clients. ... Work smarter, not longer. ... Spend less money. ... Improve your client intake process. ... Accept credit card payments to get paid faster. ... Hire staff or use cost-effective services. ... Use technology to streamline your day.Nov 10, 2021

How much do civil rights lawyers make?

Civil rights lawyers can earn anywhere between $45,000 for a first-year lawyer to more than $140,000 for a highly experienced senior attorney. A civil rights lawyer salary varies dramatically, depending on the area of expertise, location, years of experience and specific employer.

How to become a civil rights lawyer?

To become a civil rights attorney, you must earn a four-year bachelor’s degree as well as a three-year Juris Doctor degree. Both degrees must be earned from reputable, accredited institutions. While you’re in law school, focus on civil rights law to whatever extent possible. Try to find opportunities in the area in which you plan to practice. Take some constitutional law courses, as well as anything offered in the field of human or civil rights. If your school offers a program in civil rights, take advantage of it. Seek out internships, fellowships and legal clinics that demonstrate your commitment to civil rights. Again, it is a good idea for civil rights lawyers to specialize in one subject area. So if there's one area of civil rights you are particularly passionate about, that is where you should spend your time and energy building your resume.

What is civil rights?

Civil rights attorneys work to ensure that all people may enjoy the legal protections laid out by the law, regardless of race, age, gender, disability, military status, sexual orientation or national origin. Essentially, a civil rights lawyer fights against discrimination experienced by marginalized groups of people.

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.

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.

How much do personal injury lawyers make?

In terms of the types of lawyers that make the most money, personal injury lawyers can expect a salary of $73,000.

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.

10 States Where Lawyers Earn the Most Money

The national average annual wage of an lawyer is $144,230, according to the BLS, which is not far from being three-times the average annual salary for all occupations, $51,960. However, that average salary is for the U.S. overall, which hides significant differences depending on geography, such as the state you reside in.

10 States Where Lawyers Earn the Least Money

The bottom-10 states where lawyers make the least money tend to be ones less densely populated, and either in the South or the Mountain states of the West. Check them out below, with No. 1 being the lowest-paying state:

How Much Do Lawyers Make in Each State

Below you’ll find the average annual wage for lawyers in all 50 states from 2013 to 2018. Unfortunately, there was no 2018 data available for the average lawyer salary in Delaware from the BLS. The rank is included, as well as the five-year change in average annual wage in percent.

Civil Litigation Lawyer

Review the job openings, similar jobs, level of education, and experience requirements for the Civil Litigation Lawyer job to confirm that it is the job you are seeking.

Average Total Cash Compensation

These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Civil Litigation Lawyer in the United States. The base salary for Civil Litigation Lawyer ranges from $109,987 to $147,516 with the average base salary of $128,913.

How much should you be paid?

For a real-time salary target, tell us more about your role in the four categories below.

What industries make the most money for lawyers?

Here’s the what the BLS says are the highest paying industries for lawyers: Scheduled Air Transportation, Industrial Machinery Manufacturing, Beer, Wine and Distilled Beverages, Semiconductors and Other Electronics.

Which state has the highest pay?

Here are the best paying states with the highest mean salaries according to the BLS: District of Columbia, California, New York, Massachusetts.

Why do lawyers work?

Lawyers are responsible for working on some sensitive cases that can alter the outcome of people’s lives. Keeping this in mind, there is much more to the law than just money. However, money is a motivating factor in any career.

How much do lawyers make in Connecticut?

Connecticut is home to one of the top-paying metropolitan areas for lawyers in the country. Lawyers in Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk on average earn $185,560. But don't get too excited -- the cost of living in Connecticut is pretty high.

Which state has the highest concentration of lawyers?

Delaware is one of the top-paying states for this occupation -- trailing California, New York and Massachusetts, as well as the District of Columbia. Delaware also has among the highest concentration of jobs for lawyers.

What is the average salary of a lawyer in Illinois?

Illinois has one of the highest employment numbers for lawyers, with 30,250. The average salary in the Chicago area is $134,200. The highest earning potential is in Lake and Kenosha counties, with an annual mean wage of $143,040.

Which state has the highest average salary?

Colorado is one of 13 states to average more than $133,000 annually, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Breaking down the state, Fort Collins has the highest average salary at $155,390, and Grand Junction has the lowest at $82,850. 7/51.

What is the average hourly wage for a lawyer in Virginia?

With an average hourly wage of about $60, Virginia is one of the most lucrative states in the country for lawyers. The Arlington/Alexandria area has higher earning potential, with $173,800 as the average annual salary.

How much does a lawyer make in Kansas?

The top 10 percent of earners who practice law in Kansas make $200,350. For the highest concentration of jobs, head to Wichita, which has the highest employment number and an average annual wage of $107,440.

Where is Lia Sestric?

Lia Sestric is a Pittsburgh native and graduate from E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. Her bachelor’s degree is in Broadcast News. She has written and produced television news stories in the Los Angeles area and Charleston, S.C. In 2012, Lia began to freelance write on the side about higher education and careers for Yahoo! Finance. Lia is now based in the Washington, D.C. area and continues to work on national and local writing contracts. Her work frequently appears on major sites like Yahoo, The Huffington Post, MSN, Entrepreneur, Business Insider, USA Today, in addition to GOBankingRates.

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.

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 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.

What is IP law?

IP is short for Intellectual Property. These are the second highest paid attorneys in most cases. There are three separate categories within intellectual property law that they must be well-versed in and aware of. These are patents, trademarks, and copyrights. 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. This type of layer typically deals with patents that protect inventors rights and prevent others from infringing on these rights by making similar products or inventions for the period of time that the patent is in force. The application process for a patent can be quite challenging, even for IP attorneys and their expertise on the matter is in high demand.

Our Methodology

Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

Practice Area Definition

Civil rights law is the practice area of attorneys who advise individuals, businesses, and governmental entities about legal matters touching upon civil rights. Civil rights laws are varied, complex, and constantly evolving.

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