Do law firm partners make millions?

Asked by: Miss Colleen Nitzsche DDS  |  Last update: May 21, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (74 votes)

According to a 2022 survey, law firm partner salaries averaged $1.12 million. The median salary for this position was $675,000.

How much do partners make at top law firms?

The size and profitability of a law firm significantly impact partner salary, with equity partners at top firms enjoying impressive earnings that range anywhere from $3–$10 million—or for star partners, sometimes even more.

How rich are law firm partners?

Average compensation for partners in larger law firms is $1.4 million, a record high that represents a 26% increase since 2022, according to a new survey by legal recruiting firm Major, Lindsey & Africa.

What kind of lawyer makes millions?

Patent Attorney Salary

Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.

Can you make millions from being a lawyer?

Yes. It depends what area of law you practice. If you practice corporate law and work for a firm, you can make over $1 million/year, especially if you're a partner. Criminal law is a lot more interesting, but unless your clients are mob bosses, you're probably not going to make 7 figures.

Big Law's Big Paychecks: Partner Compensation, Explained

36 related questions found

Can a lawyer make $500,000 a year?

The highest-paid lawyers (10% of the legal workforce) make over $208,000 However, the top 1% of attorneys make $500,000 or more per year.

What percentage of lawyers are millionaires?

There are 4100 biglaw attorneys who rake in a million a year or more, which is 0.31% of all attorneys; the 100 highest paid GCs average $2.7 million per year, and there are easily just as many solo or small-firm attorneys who also make that much.

Which type of lawyer is the richest?

The highest-paid lawyers typically specialize in fields such as corporate law, intellectual property, tax law, medical malpractice, and entertainment law. These areas command higher salaries due to the complexity, demand, and financial stakes involved.

Can lawyers make 7 figures?

Corporate Lawyer (Partner)

Though that's far from pocket change, it's certainly not landing you in the earnings tier of a millionaire. That said, corporate lawyers generally stand to make the most and can pull in seven figures a year — if they make partner.

Is making partner at a law firm a big deal?

Partnership. For many, many BigLaw associates, partnership is the holy grail of a BigLaw career. Partnership represents the pinnacle of success, the reward for many, many years of hard (often grueling) work.

Does owning a law firm make you rich?

Yet this is the norm: Most law firm owners are not high-income earners but they work more — and have more stress — than their peers. For many law firm owners, winning comes down to making $1 million a year or more. A goal most will never accomplish, although it is not nearly as hard as it may seem.

Do big law partners make millions?

How much do partners at big law firms make? When it comes to earning top dollar as a lawyer, nothing beats the earning potential of an equity partner. Astoundingly, the highest-earning equity partners in the most successful law firms make a million a year or more.

How long does it take to become a partner in a law firm?

Young attorneys who ask questions learn the partnership process at their firms. At most law firms, it's the seventh- and/or eighth-year associates who come up for a partnership vote.

What percent of lawyers make a partner?

“So, over time, roughly 30 percent have eventually made partner for this group. But that doesn't mean that on any given year, 30 percent of associates are going to make partner.” Zamsky estimates that half of associates hired by small firms eventually become partners. Their average salary might be $80,000 or $90,000.

Do top lawyers make millions?

In general, the five highest-paying states for lawyers are as follows: California ($201,530) Massachusetts ($196,230) New York ($188,900)

Who is the lowest paid lawyer?

We find that within the legal industry, certain segments are known to offer lower compensation. Typically, public defenders, legal aid attorneys, and lawyers working for nonprofit organizations are among the lowest paid.

What is the most lucrative law specialty?

Highest-Paid Types of Lawyers
  • Patent attorney: $180,000.
  • Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.
  • Trial lawyer: $134,000.
  • Tax attorney: $122,000.
  • Corporate lawyer: $115,000.
  • Medical lawyer: $113,000.
  • Real estate lawyer: $98,000.
  • Family lawyer: $93,000.

How much do big law firm partners make?

Over the past decade, average compensation for partners has nearly doubled to $1,411,000 in 2024, rising 26% in the last two years alone. Equity partners are earning more than three times more than non-equity partners on average. Average originations have soared to $3,476,000—a 26% increase from 2022.

Do lawyers make 200k a year?

The median starting salary is $215,000 in 11 cities and geographic areas. They are Austin, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Houston; Los Angeles/Orange County, California; New York City; San Diego; San Francisco; Silicon Valley in California; and the Washington, D.C., area.

Which law firm pays highest salary?

What is the best-paying law firm in India? Currently, from all of these law firms, S&R Associates, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co., and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas stand at the top as they pay fresh law graduates a salary of up to ₹20 lakhs a year.

Are law partners rich?

Partner pay has continued to escalate in 2024, according to industry observers, with the top rung of the pay scale around $20 million and even approaching $30 million annually for the biggest star laterals, firm leaders and the highest-performers within the most profitable firms.

What are the top 5 professions of millionaires?

According to the study, the top five professions that produce millionaires are engineers, accountants, teachers, business managers and attorneys. “Medical doctor didn't even make the top five,” Ramsey told Von. Here's why these unexpected professions beat out those in the medical field for millionaire-status.

Do 90% of millionaires make over $100,000 a year?

The claim that 90% of millionaires make over $100,000 a year is likely false because many millionaires accumulate wealth through investments rather than solely high salaries.