which attorney specialists make the most money

by Polly Conroy 4 min read

  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.

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

Who is the highest paid attorney?

Who is the highest paid attorney?

  • Patent attorney: $180,000.
  • Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.
  • Trial attorneys: $134,000.
  • Tax attorney (tax law): $122,000.
  • Corporate lawyer: $115,000.
  • Employment lawyer: $87,000.
  • Real Estate attorney: $86,000.
  • Divorce attorney: $84,000.

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 ...

What is the highest salary for a lawyer?

Many young lawyers do report having little to no work-life balance ... So, while this list is for the highest starting salary, it is only the start and there is no telling how one’s job might change.

What is the highest paying attorney job?

  • Patent attorney: $180,000
  • Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000
  • Trial lawyer: $134,000 (remember, this is average; trial lawyers especially can be sink-or-swim)
  • Tax attorney: $122,000
  • Corporate lawyer: $115,000
  • Employment lawyer: $87,000
  • Real Estate attorney: $86,000
  • Divorce attorney: $84,000
  • Immigration attorney: $84,000
  • Estate attorney: $83,000

More items...

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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 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 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).

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.

Why do people choose to become criminal defense lawyers?

This is not always the case though: some lawyers choose to become criminal defense lawyers because they want to make sure that those accused of certain crimes get justice that they still deserve unless they are proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

What is a trial lawyer?

One of the highest paid lawyers in the law field, trial lawyers handle several functions as an attorney. They have to handle all the functions aside from arguing their client’s case in court. This also includes reviewing potential clients, fielding witnesses, meeting other attorneys to see if their case can be settled out of court. In court, they’re the one you see selecting jurors and then later on arguing the case for their client. Under this field, verbal and written communication skills are a hard requirement to succeed in this field.

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.

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.

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Making More or Making Less?

When comparing their 2018 earnings to their 2017 pay, close to half of the respondents reported increases .

Who Is Earning the Most?

The highest-earning practice area this year is medical malpractice, which boasts an average salary of $267,000.

The Report

The full Attorney Compensation Report offers a more detailed picture with details such as:

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Criminal Law

Bankruptcy Law

Family Law

Immigration Law

Civil Rights Lawyer

Personal Injury Lawyer

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 $...
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