Where is the best place for a lawyer to live?

Asked by: Ms. Rosemary Hudson  |  Last update: September 17, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (3 votes)

Top Cities for Lawyers
  • Los Angeles, CA. ...
  • New York City, NY. ...
  • Boston, MA. ...
  • Washington, DC. ...
  • Santa Cruz, CA. ...
  • Oxnard, CA. ...
  • Denver, CO. ...
  • Miami, FL. This southern-Florida city has a growing population and economy, which fuels growth in the legal sector as well.

Where do the highest paid lawyers live?

San Jose ($267,840/year) and San Francisco ($239,330 /year) top the list for the best-paying cities for lawyers. In addition, lawyers in the state of California earn a mean salary of $201,530/year. However, Washington, D.C. is another prime city for lawyers looking to earn a competitive salary.

What is the best state to live in as a lawyer?

What Is the Best State to Work in as a Lawyer?
  1. New York. New York offers a compelling mix of professional and lifestyle advantages for lawyers. ...
  2. Maryland. Maryland shines as a hub for legal talent thanks to its booming sectors like biotech and government contracting. ...
  3. Georgia. ...
  4. Illinois. ...
  5. Connecticut.

What percent of lawyers make $500,000?

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual pay for lawyers in 2022 was $135,740, with only the top 1% surpassing the $500,000 mark.

Where do lawyers make the most money?

The top countries which offer the highest average Lawyer's salary are the USA, Germany, Canada, the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Switzerland. The legal field presents numerous opportunities for skilled professionals to create significant impacts locally and globally.

Top 10 Cities for Lawyers (Buying Power Index!)

37 related questions found

Where is the best place to live as a lawyer?

Some of the best cities for lawyers in the US, such as New York, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, offer high-paying opportunities and access to prestigious law firms, making them attractive destinations for legal professionals.

Which state do lawyers get paid most?

Highest paid states for lawyers
  • New York ($188,900)
  • Connecticut ($174,520)
  • Colorado ($168,680)
  • Nevada ($166,740)
  • Texas ($166,620)
  • Georgia ($165,560)
  • New Jersey ($163,690)
  • Minnesota ($163,480)

What type of law is the richest?

  • 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.

What type of lawyer is best paid?

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.

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.

What type of attorney is in most demand?

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 hardest state to become a lawyer?

California is widely considered to have the hardest bar exam, due to its low pass rate and the difficulty of the content and constraints of the exam.

What is the closest job to a lawyer?

Alternative Careers and Related Jobs For an Attorney
  • General Counsel. Very Similar Skills. ...
  • Legal Counsel. Very Similar Skills. ...
  • Public Defender. Very Similar Skills. ...
  • Law Clerk. Fairly Similar Skills. ...
  • Judicial Law Clerk. Very Similar Skills. ...
  • Legal Researcher. Fairly Similar Skills. ...
  • Legal Director. Very Similar Skills. ...
  • Commercial Lawyer.

Are there millionaire lawyers?

Regions that are financial and business hubs, like New York, California, and Washington D.C., boast a significant portion of the lawyer millionaire demographic.

What is the best state to practice law?

10 best states for attorneys in 2025
  1. New York. Total Attorney Jobs: 447. ...
  2. District of Columbia. Total Attorney Jobs: 229. ...
  3. California. Total Attorney Jobs: 694. ...
  4. Massachusetts. Total Attorney Jobs: 189. ...
  5. Delaware. Total Attorney Jobs: ...
  6. Virginia. Total Attorney Jobs: ...
  7. New Jersey. Total Attorney Jobs: ...
  8. Connecticut. Total Attorney Jobs:

What job makes the most money?

Get Matched!
  • 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.

What is the richest part of law?

Some areas of law have emerged as particularly lucrative due to their complexity, the high stakes involved, or the specialized knowledge required.
  • Patent Attorneys. ...
  • Intellectual Property (IP) Attorneys. ...
  • Trial Lawyers. ...
  • Tax Attorneys. ...
  • Corporate Lawyers.

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.

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.

What state pays lawyers the most?

Best-Paying States for Lawyers

The states and districts that pay Lawyers the highest mean salary are District of Columbia ($238,990), California ($213,860), Delaware ($212,360), New York ($208,480), and Connecticut ($195,730). How Much Do Lawyers Make in Your City? See current salary offers for jobs in your field.

Which law is highest in demand?

Some of the most popular law specializations in India are – Civil Law, Criminal Law , Corporate Law , Cyber Law and Intellectual Property Law .

What law is the most broken?

Here are the five laws that are broken most often in the United States.
  1. Underage drinking. ...
  2. Smoking marijuana. ...
  3. Crossing the wrong way. ...
  4. Stealing tunes. ...
  5. Trashing the place.

Where do the most lawyers live?

Nationwide, there are roughly four lawyers for every 1,000 residents, but some states have far more. Not surprisingly, New York tops the list with 9.6 lawyers per 1,000 residents. California is NOT second on the list; it has 4.5 lawyers per 1,000 residents — a little higher than the national average.

What area of law pays best?

Along with your geographical location, the legal practice area you choose to specialise in can have a big impact on your earnings. You'll find the highest salaries in practice areas that deal with high-profile companies on national and international scales, such as commercial, corporate and intellectual property law.

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.