Which US states have the most law firms?

Asked by: Ms. Lyla Johns  |  Last update: November 23, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (1 votes)

States with larger urban populations – like New York, Texas, California, and Florida – have the most lawyers and law firms per capita in the United States. Washington D.C. – although it is not a state and is qualified as a district – has been deemed by many as the Lawyer Capital of the World.

Why does Chicago have so many law firms?

Teresa Harmon: Chicago is one of the world's largest and most diversified economies, with no single industry representing more than 12% of its economy. As a result, the Chicago legal market offers opportunities for lawyers across a broad range of industries.

Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?

Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for attorneys in the US is just over $125,000. The highest-paid lawyers (10% of the legal workforce) make over $208,000 However, the top 1% of attorneys make $500,000 or more per year.

What state has the highest demand for lawyers?

A State-by-State Analysis: Where Are Lawyers Most in Demand?
  1. California. As the state ranking first in terms of job openings, California offers over 87,000 job vacancies in the legal field, dwarfing many other states. ...
  2. New York. ...
  3. Florida. ...
  4. Texas. ...
  5. Illinois. ...
  6. Pennsylvania. ...
  7. New Jersey. ...
  8. Massachusetts.

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.

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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.

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.

How hard is law school?

In summary, law school is hard. Harder than regular college or universities, in terms of stress, workload, and required commitment. But about 40,000 people graduate from law schools every year–so it is clearly attainable.

How much does Harvey Specter make?

Financial Evaluation: Harvey starts at a high earning point of $1,000,000 - $1,500,000 as a senior partner. His move to managing partner could see him earning up to $2,500,000. Financial Advice: Harvey's already at the pinnacle of his career; now would be a good time to focus on investments and wealth management.

What law firm did Michelle Obama work at in Chicago?

Following law school, Obama became an associate at the Chicago office of the law firm Sidley & Austin, where she met her future husband Barack. At the firm, she worked on marketing and intellectual property law.

Is Chicago law better than Harvard?

UChicago also outperforms Harvard in terms of relevant employment, with a gap of 94.6% vs. 88.1% at graduation, and 95.1% vs. 91.8% 10 months on.

What city has the most big law firms?

New York City, NY

If you want to work for a reputable firm, New York is the ideal location since the city is the home base for many big law firms like DLA Piper LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, and Latham & Watkins LLP.

What is the most elite law firm in the US?

Here are the Top 10 Most Prestigious Law Firms based on Vault's Annual Associate Survey for 2025:
  • Skadden.
  • Latham & Watkins.
  • Sullivan & Cromwell.
  • Kirkland & Ellis.
  • Davis Polk & Wardwell.
  • Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.
  • Simpson Thacher.
  • Gibson Dunn.

What are the magic circle law firms?

In the world of Commercial Law, you will often hear talk of 'Magic Circle' firms. This is an informal term used to describe what are generally regarded as the five leading UK-headquartered law firms, namely Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Linklaters and Slaughter and May.

How much do Kirkland and Ellis charge?

Under the new ranges unveiled by Kirkland on Thursday, bankruptcy partners will charge between $1,195 to $2,465 an hour; of counsel bill $820 to $2,245 an hour; and associates bill $745 to $1,495 an hour.

What is the hardest law degree to get?

The hardest law school to get into is Yale Law School, with an acceptance rate of 5.5%. Followed by: Stanford Law School: 7% acceptance rate. The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School: 3.8% acceptance rate.

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.

How hard is the LSAT?

This process is not only time-consuming but can be very expensive as well. So yes, the LSAT is hard, and it is designed that way. It's not so much a test that requires a student to remember random facts, but instead, it is a test that showcases a student's thought process.

How to make $500,000 as a lawyer?

How can a lawyer make 500k a year?
  1. Create an SEO for Lawyers Strategy.
  2. Build a Solid Law Firm Website.
  3. Write Engaging Attorney Content.
  4. Start a Lawyer PPC Campaign.
  5. Register Your Law Firm in Relevant Listings and Directories.
  6. Engage in Reputation Management for Lawyers.

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.

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.

Which state needs the most lawyers?

Top 10 U.S. States with the Highest Interest in Lawyers in 2024
  • North Carolina. North Carolina stands strong at number 1 with 252.87 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. ...
  • Colorado. ...
  • Nevada. ...
  • Connecticut. ...
  • Florida. ...
  • South Carolina. ...
  • Georgia. ...
  • Oregon.

What is the highest paying job in the world?

Topping the list, being a CEO gets you the highest paying job in the world, no matter where you work. A CEO is the highest-ranked position in any organisation's structure. Irrespective of the company's size, a CEO handles all its day-to-day corporate affairs, manages resources and handles all managerial processes.

What branch of law makes the most money?

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