What is the lowest paid lawyer?
Asked by: Dr. Giovanni Tillman | Last update: July 12, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (19 votes)
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 lowest salary for a lawyer?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $148,350 and as low as $50,525, the majority of Lawyer salaries currently range between $84,900 (25th percentile) to $110,700 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $140,825 annually in Los Angeles.
What is the lowest pay for a lawyer?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $136,194 and as low as $46,385, the majority of Entry Level Lawyer salaries currently range between $78,000 (25th percentile) to $101,700 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $129,284 annually in California.
Which lawyer earns the least?
Public interest lawyers and public defenders often find themselves on the lower end of the income spectrum due to the nature of their work, which prioritizes service over profit. Meanwhile, corporate lawyers and those in specialized legal fields typically command higher salaries.
Which type of lawyer gets paid the most?
- Intellectual Property (IP) Lawyer. One reason IP lawyers are some of the highest-paid types of lawyers is that they require very specialized knowledge in distinct fields. ...
- Tax Attorneys. Tax codes are complex. ...
- Trial Attorney. ...
- Medical Lawyer. ...
- Patent Attorney. ...
- Corporate Lawyer. ...
- Real Estate Lawyer. ...
- Family Lawyer.
Why some lawyers make $$$$$ ... and others don't
What type of lawyer is the richest?
Corporate and tax lawyers tend to be the highest earners, with patent and IP lawyers not far behind. Trial lawyers also pull down a lot of money, particularly in the civil litigation field. Other lawyers are more motivated by getting justice for their clients than by collecting the largest possible paycheck.
Do lawyers make 300k?
Lawyer salaries by state
Lawyers in these states earn the highest median salaries: California ($175,680) New York ($172,880) Massachusetts ($161,530)
Which lawyer is the easiest?
The easiest law to practice is often considered to be estate planning. This involves helping clients prepare for the distribution of their assets upon death or incapacitation, making it relatively straightforward compared to other legal fields.
How to make $500,000 as a lawyer?
- High-Performance Law Firm Website.
- Create High-Performance Content.
- Optimize Legal Website Ads.
- Improve Reviews and Listings.
- Manage Your Legal Reputation.
What job makes the most money?
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist. #1 in Best-Paying Jobs. ...
- Psychiatrist. #2 in Best-Paying Jobs. ...
- Emergency Medicine Physician. #3 in Best-Paying Jobs. ...
- Orthodontist. #4 in Best-Paying Jobs. ...
- Anesthesiologist. #5 in Best-Paying Jobs. ...
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. #6 in Best-Paying Jobs. ...
- Radiologist. ...
- Pilot.
Do lawyers make $500 an hour?
A lawyer's hourly rate depends on the lawyer's area of practice, experience, operating expenses, and geographic location. Attorneys' fees can range from $100 per hour to well over $500 per hour.
What type of lawyer makes the least?
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.
Do losing lawyers get paid?
Contingency Fees
If the lawyer does not win, they do not receive a fee for their services. The contingency fee arrangement aligns the lawyer's interests with those of the client, as both parties benefit from a successful outcome.
How many hours do lawyers work?
Although most lawyers have a regular 40-hour week, a significant percentage of them work more frequently. The average weekly work hours for various types of lawyers are: Lawyers working for large firms: 66 hours per week. Lawyers working for small and medium-sized firms: 42-54 hours per week.
What is the lowest level of lawyer?
Ranks in a law firm start from entry-level positions like paralegals and trainee solicitors, progressing through legal associates and senior associates, up to managerial roles such as legal directors and partners, with senior partners at the top.
Do lawyers get paid enough?
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the top-paying states for lawyers are: District of Columbia — $226,510 annual mean wage. California — $201,530 annual mean wage. Massachusetts — $196,230 annual mean wage.
Can a lawyer be a millionaire?
Some lawyers have not only made a name for themselves through legal prowess but also amassed significant wealth in the process. We explore individuals who have achieved millionaire status by excelling in the legal field or leveraging their legal expertise in other ventures.
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.
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.
Is doctor or lawyer easier?
In short, medical school is hands-on and requires a lot of memorization. Law school requires analytical work and critical thinking. Law school requires heavy reading and writing while medical school requires learning about problems through clinical studies and hands-on training.
Which law is best for girls?
The Constitution along with legislations such as the Equal Remuneration Act of 1975 the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961 and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013 guarantees these rights to women.
What is the lowest GPA to become a lawyer?
What Is the Lowest GPA For Law School? Since the majority of law schools require a GPA of 3.0 or higher, anything below a 3.0 is considered very low. Some of the absolute lowest GPA requirements for schools are 2.80.
What kind of law pays the most?
- Patent Attorneys.
- Intellectual property (IP) Attorneys.
- Trial Lawyers.
- Tax Attorneys.
- Corporate Lawyers.
What is big law?
“Big Law” is a term used in the legal field when referring to large law firms in major cities. A career in Big Law can set you on track for a high-paying salary. However, the field is highly competitive and careers tend to be demanding.
How rich is the average lawyer?
In general, the five highest-paying states for lawyers are as follows: California ($201,530) Massachusetts ($196,230) New York ($188,900)