What type of lawyer makes the least?

Asked by: Dr. Joanny Osinski  |  Last update: June 20, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (54 votes)

Public Interest Law: Lawyers working in public interest or for non-profit organizations often earn less than those in private sector roles. Government Lawyers: Positions within the government may offer lower salaries than private practice but often come with benefits such as job security and pensions.

What is the lowest paid type of 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 least a lawyer would make?

The median annual wage for lawyers was $145,760 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $69,760, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $239,200.

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.

Which type of lawyer is the easiest?

The easiest law to practice is often considered to be estate planning.

6 Types of Lawyers Job , Their Job Profiles and Salaries

35 related questions found

What job is below a lawyer?

Lawyers are licensed to practice law and represent clients, whereas paralegals are not. This means that lawyers are typically more highly trained and better compensated than paralegals. Paralegals support lawyers by assisting with legal research, document preparation, and client communications.

What is the lowest salary for a lawyer?

According to BLS data, the lowest 10% of lawyers earn $66,470. Whereas, the top 75% earns $208,980. Payscale states the average lawyer salary is $96,680. But it also includes the ability to earn a bonuses, profit sharing or a commission.

What type of lawyer pays the best?

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.

What job makes the most money?

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  • 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.

How hard is the bar exam?

The bar exam is hard. In fact, it may be one of the most difficult challenges you ever embark on. You must memorize numerous laws and consume a lot of knowledge to answer questions correctly. For many, it feels like trying to hold sand in your hands, knowing that you'll inevitably lose much of it.

What type of lawyers are needed most?

Some of the most universally in-demand legal specialties include intellectual property law, family law, immigration law, real estate law, and corporate law. Other quickly growing areas of law also include intellectual property law, data privacy and cybersecurity law, litigation, and labor and employment law.

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 type of lawyer goes to court the least?

There are many types of lawyers that rarely (if ever) go into court, as the scope of their work does not require it. These may include estate planning lawyers, labor lawyers, personal injury lawyers, and bankruptcy lawyers.

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.

Which type of lawyer is the richest?

As of 2024, the top five highest paid types of lawyers are:
  • Patent Attorneys.
  • Intellectual property (IP) Attorneys.
  • Trial Lawyers.
  • Tax Attorneys.
  • Corporate Lawyers.

What type of lawyer is the most happy?

If you're practicing law for reasons of self-realization or altruism, you're likely to be happier than someone whose work motivation revolves around money or recognition.

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)

What kind of lawyer gets the most money?

11 of the highest-paying lawyers
  • Civil litigation attorney. ...
  • Real estate attorney. ...
  • Intellectual property attorney. ...
  • Bankruptcy lawyer. ...
  • Family lawyer. ...
  • Tax attorney. ...
  • Corporate attorney. ...
  • Patent attorney.

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.

What state pays lawyers the least?

1 being the lowest-paying state: Montana average lawyer salary: $88,600. Mississippi average lawyer salary: $97,990. West Virginia average lawyer salary: $98,630.

What is a first year lawyer called?

First-year associates are entry-level junior attorneys and are generally recent law school graduates in their first year of law practice.

Which law is best for a career?

Here are 16 fruitful, promising areas of law for you to consider.
  1. Complex Litigation. This is an area of law that demands a lot of patience and incredible attention to detail. ...
  2. Corporate Law. ...
  3. Tax Law. ...
  4. Intellectual Property. ...
  5. Blockchain. ...
  6. Healthcare. ...
  7. Environmental. ...
  8. Criminal.

Is it better to be a lawyer or paralegal?

Here are a few reasons why you might want to consider becoming a paralegal instead of a lawyer: Paralegals typically have less student loan debt than lawyers. The number of years in education required to become a paralegal is typically less than what is required to become a lawyer. Paralegals make a comfortable salary.