How much do legal interns make NYC?
Asked by: Tommie Runolfsson | Last update: April 22, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (18 votes)
Legal intern pay in NYC varies widely but averages around $23-$25/hour, with big firms offering significantly more ($50-$100+/hour) and smaller firms or non-profits sometimes paying less, though some positions are unpaid; expect a range from minimum wage up to over $40/hour for high-paying roles, especially in big law.
How much do law interns make in New York?
How much does a Law Intern make in New York City, New York? As of Jan 16, 2026, the average annual pay for a Law Intern in New York City is $38,768 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $18.64 an hour. This is the equivalent of $745/week or $3,230/month.
How much do interns make in NYC?
Intern pay in NYC varies widely, from minimum wage (around $16-$18/hr) for some roles to $30-$50+/hr for top finance, tech, and consulting firms like Morgan Stanley ($33-$58/hr) or JPMorgan Chase ($34-$58/hr), with general averages often falling between $19-$22/hr across various sectors, though high-paying industries skew averages up significantly. Many paid internships offer $20/hr or more, but unpaid positions still exist, especially in certain fields.
Are most law school internships paid?
Law school internships can be a great way to gain experience and learn about the legal profession. Unfortunately, most of these positions are unpaid. However, some options, such as stipends or grant funding, are available for students who need to earn money while working an internship.
Are law internships worth it?
If possible, acquiring work experience during the summer break might prove to be invaluable later on. Summer internships will offer you a wide range of benefits that can significantly boost your academic, professional, and personal development. Working hard while you are already a student will pay dividends later on!
Day in the Life of a Corporate Lawyer [The HONEST TRUTH]
Can you make $500,000 as a lawyer?
Yes, lawyers can absolutely make $500,000 or more, especially by specializing in high-paying areas (like corporate, IP, or medical malpractice), working in large firms ("Big Law") as partners, building successful solo practices in lucrative niches, or becoming General Counsel for major companies, though it requires strategic focus, business acumen, and often, working smarter, not just harder, through marketing and efficiency.
Is $20 an hour good for an internship?
Yes, $20 an hour is generally considered a good to very good rate for an internship, often above average, though it varies significantly by industry, location (cost of living), and your year in school, being excellent for early-stage students but potentially low for senior STEM or high-demand tech roles where $30-$50+ is common.
Is $30 an hour for an internship good?
Yes, $30 an hour is generally considered a very good to excellent rate for an internship, especially outside of high-paying tech or finance roles, often exceeding the national average and placing you in a strong earning bracket for an intern. While top-tier software engineering or investment banking roles can pay more, $30/hr is significantly above average for many fields and locations, offering strong compensation for valuable experience, notes Reddit users and career sites.
What is the lowest paid lawyer?
There's no single minimum salary for lawyers, as pay varies wildly by location, firm size, and specialization, but entry-level salaries range from around $50k-$70k in public interest/small firms to over $200k at big corporate firms, with overall averages often near $100k-$120k. The lowest earnings are typically in public service, while high-paying areas include corporate law, IP, and big cities like NYC or D.C.
How hard is it to get a legal internship?
Scoring an internship as a law student is not easy. It requires preparation, organization, hard work, and tenacity. The process takes time, effort and, regrettably, rejection.
Is $23 an hour good for an internship?
Yes, $23 an hour is generally a very good rate for an internship, often above average, especially for a first internship, as it aligns with or exceeds the national average for bachelor's level interns and reflects strong compensation in high-demand fields. While top-tier tech/finance internships might pay more ($30-$50/hr), $23 provides solid earnings and allows you to focus on valuable experience, making you competitive for future roles.
Is it hard to get an internship in NYC?
NYC is super competitive, so it's good you're starting early. If you want to reach out to hiring managers directly, I'd focus on smaller companies where you can actually land a message in their inbox. And If your school has any career fairs or career portals then you'll want to make use of those too.
How much do Big 4 interns get paid?
Big 4 internship salaries vary by firm, location, and service line (audit/tax vs. consulting), but generally range from $30 to over $40 per hour, with some specialized consulting internships paying even more and offering significant bonuses, translating to annual figures of roughly $60,000 to over $85,000 when annualized, plus potential overtime and signing bonuses. Expect higher rates for consulting and potentially higher rates in major cities, with firms like EY and Deloitte often paying competitively, especially for master's-level roles.
How much do first year lawyers make in NYC?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $209,508 and as low as $44,308, the majority of First Year Attorney salaries currently range between $71,700 (25th percentile) to $131,300 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $172,857 annually in New York City.
Is $75000 a good salary in NYC?
A $75k salary in NYC is considered "okay" for a single person if they are careful with budgeting, potentially sharing an apartment or living in less central boroughs (Queens/Brooklyn), but it's tight for affording Manhattan or living alone in trendy areas, requiring smart spending to cover rent, food, and fun. While above the average NYC earner ($74k) and qualifying for some affordable housing, saving significant amounts or living lavishly is challenging, so it's a modest but manageable income.
Is $400 an hour a lot for a lawyer?
Yes, $400 an hour is a significant amount for a lawyer, but whether it's "a lot" depends on factors like the lawyer's experience, location (urban areas charge more), and specialty (corporate law often costs more). While $100-$300 is a common range, $400 can be standard for experienced attorneys in complex fields or major cities, and even less experienced lawyers in big firms might bill similarly, with partners charging much more.
Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?
Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially partners at large firms, top corporate lawyers, or specialized trial attorneys, but it's not typical for the average lawyer, whose median salary is much lower, requiring significant experience, specialization (like IP or M&A), and business acumen to reach that high income level.
How old is the youngest lawyer?
The youngest lawyer is currently Sophia Park, who passed the California Bar exam at 17 years and 8 months old in late 2024, breaking her brother's record and becoming the youngest in California history. While she passed the exam, she was sworn in as a licensed attorney in March 2025 after turning 18, joining the Tulare County District Attorney's Office as a prosecutor.
Is 1200 billable hours a lot for a paralegal?
Yes, 1200 billable hours is generally considered a reasonable or even low target for a full-time paralegal, often seen as a good work-life balance, though it depends heavily on the firm's size and expectations, as many large firms aim for 1800-2000+ hours annually, while smaller firms might have 1200-1800 goals. It's a comfortable number for work-life balance, but may signal lower pay or a different role than high-demand Big Law positions.
What is $80,000 a year hourly?
$80,000 a year is approximately $38.46 per hour, assuming a standard 40-hour workweek (2080 working hours per year), calculated by dividing your annual salary by 2080. This breaks down to about $1,538 weekly, $3,077 bi-weekly, or $6,667 monthly before taxes.
Is an unpaid internship a red flag?
Yes, an unpaid internship can be a significant red flag, especially if it lacks structure, mentorship, or clear learning objectives, essentially functioning as free labor by replacing paid employees with menial tasks, which often violates labor laws and exploits ambition, though some highly specific, short-term, non-profit, or academic opportunities might be justifiable if truly valuable for development.
Can you live off $20 an hour?
You can potentially live on $20 an hour, but it's extremely tight and depends heavily on your location (cost of living), lifestyle, and household size; in expensive cities or with dependents, it's often not enough, while in low-cost areas with careful budgeting, some individuals manage, but savings and emergencies are difficult. A 40-hour week at $20/hour is roughly $3,200/month before taxes, which quickly disappears with rent, food, and other essentials, especially in high-cost areas where closer to $25-$30/hour might be needed for a single person.
How much is $70,000 a year hourly?
$70,000 a year is approximately $33.65 per hour, based on a standard 40-hour workweek (2,080 hours per year), calculated by dividing $70,000 by 2,080. This figure doesn't include taxes or benefits, but it's the common conversion for an annual salary to an hourly wage.
How rare is a paid internship?
39.2% of internships in the U.S are unpaid, while 60.8% are paid. Former interns are 15% less likely to be unemployed and earn 6% more than those without internship experience.
Do I get taxed as an intern?
If you will be paid at your internship/training program, U.S. law requires that you pay federal, state, and local taxes. As an income-earning individual, you will be taxed on income from your salary or stipend. Your employer will submit the amount withheld from each paycheck directly to the federal government.