Which type of lawyer gets paid the most?

Asked by: Stacy Frami  |  Last update: April 26, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (5 votes)

Law can be an extremely lucrative career field, with some attorneys making north of $200,000 and the top earners occasionally breaking seven figures. Corporate and tax lawyers tend to be the highest earners, with patent and IP lawyers not far behind.

What is the highest paid lawyer?

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.

What kind of lawyer earns the most money?

11 of the highest-paying lawyers
  1. Immigration lawyer. ...
  2. Employment law associate. ...
  3. Personal injury lawyer. ...
  4. Civil litigation attorney. ...
  5. Real estate attorney. ...
  6. Intellectual property attorney. ...
  7. Bankruptcy lawyer. ...
  8. Family lawyer.

How can a lawyer make $500,000 a year?

Absolutely, that is an achievable income. It all depends on your area of expertise and the client you work for. Attorneys who specialize in corporate law or work closely with companies to battle litigation cases or draft terms and conditions can earn more than those who work with smaller clients.

What is the highest position in a lawyer?

The highest level in a law firm is typically the senior partner, who has significant control over the firm's operations, strategic direction, and client management.

Which type of lawyer makes the most money

40 related questions found

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 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.

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)

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.

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.

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 branch of law pays the most?

As we have discussed earlier, corporate lawyers, tax attorneys, and intellectual property lawyers are among those who receive the highest salary. These fields require specialized knowledge and skills, but they are among the most financially rewarding.

Which law field is best?

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.

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.

Who is the wealthiest lawyer in America?

Richest Lawyers In America
  • Steuart Walton – $300 Million net worth.
  • Robert Shapiro – $120 Million net worth.
  • John Branca – $100 Million net worth.
  • Charlie Munger – $2.6 Billion net worth (In Memoriam)
  • Peter Angelos – $2 Billion net worth (In Memoriam)
  • Joe Jamail – $1.7 Billion net worth (In Memoriam)

What field of law is most in demand?

Which Legal Fields Are in Demand?
  • Intellectual property law. ...
  • Family law. ...
  • Immigration & naturalization law. ...
  • Real estate law. ...
  • Contract management. ...
  • Compliance. ...
  • Labor and employment. ...
  • Corporate transactions. Also known as mergers and acquisitions, or M&A, this work navigates the buying and selling of companies and their assets.

Can you make $500,000 as a lawyer?

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. So, what sets apart that elite 1%? The secret lies in their mastery of marketing!

Which 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.

Where are lawyers paid the most?

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.

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.

Who is the most paid lawyers?

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.

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 job has most millionaires?

THE TOP 5 CAREERS OF MILLIONAIRES: - Engineer - Accountant (CPA) - Teacher - Management - Attorney Some of those are surprising, huh? Nope, teacher isn't a typo. You see, it's not chance or inheritance that creates most millionaires.

What is the lowest paid profession?

11 lowest paying jobs
  • Care worker.
  • Shelf packer.
  • Play worker.
  • Nursery nurse.
  • Teaching assistant.
  • Cashier.
  • Dental nurse.
  • Cook.

What is the #1 most paying job in the world?

Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs Globally
  • Chief Executive Officer.
  • Anesthesiologist.
  • General and Orthopedic Surgeons.
  • Psychiatrists.
  • Data Scientists.
  • Software Engineers.
  • Investment Banker.
  • Professional Athletes.