How much money does a lawyer earn?

(14) On June 6, 2011 at 5:14 am Ckl123 [0] said:

I don't know if the above are the only people willing to answer or the ones who are doing well and are willing to comment, but according to the literature there are about 1 million too many lawyers in the USA. Most graduates cannot get a job, many grads do other things entirely unrelated to law. The ABA refuses to limit the number of graduating attorneys and each school charges tuition to support its institution , pumping out 45,000 lawyers a year to fill 30,000 jobs per year. The average JD makes less than $75K if they can get a job at all. Unless you graduated from Harvard or Yale, you are in the pile of grads that are flooding the market, bringing down prices and creating huge numbers of frivolous law suites generated by starving JD's desperately seeking the deep-pocket defendent.

If you really want to make real money, drop out of the final year of your law program and get into Medicine ! You can make starting salary of $350K plus as a surgical subspecialist.

(13) On March 3, 2011 at 7:29 am Janosovd [0] said:

I graduated in the top 10% of a tier 3 law school in CT, was an editor on law review, and went to work in Norwalk, CT, a city of about 60,000 people. I went to work at a two partner/3 associate (counting me and another new hire from my class, doing litigation work as a criminal defense attorney, and Plaintiff's personal injury work. My starting salary was $60,000 plus 30% of the GROSS fees (before costs were even subtracted) of any case originating from my personal contacts. Within the first year I tried 3 cases to verdict, amassed close to a million dollars in PI verdicts, (got a 10% trial bonus...10% of the difference between the fee on the last settlement offer, and the fee on my verdict. got a raise to $85k a year and 40% of my clients, and earned close to $100k. Was made managing partner at a spin off firm, with my name second on the door/building/letterhead by the middle of my second year (18 months after being sworn in to the bar). I made $125k that first year as Managing partner of "my firm". Third year, still bringin in $85k on salary and 40% of my cases, I made $165k; and this year, my 4th year, I earned nearly $200k. I come and go as I please, handle all complex litigation, try at least one case a year, do criminal court in the moring, and spend my afternoon settling cases (settled one today for $215,000...i get a 10% of the fee...and settled one of MY cases last month for $232,500 and got 40% of the fee) writing briefs, etc. I really answer to no one, but also have no one to guide me...but I'm the "jump in swim" kinda guy. But dont let people tell you that you need to work 90 hour weeks for 125k and HOPE you make partner in 5 years...or that you HAVE TO go to a Tier 1 law school and graduate top of your class. If you enjoy public speaking, logic, sales, and are likeable with a good memory...you can make a KILLING at a small firm...essentially...you can tak it over...and increase revenue for EVERYONE. Outside litigation, I dont know much, but i graduated with kids who went white-shoe in NYC for the $125k starting salary...quit within a year, and came back to mid-sized to small firms, because the large firm life sucks. If you can generate business, you can make more at a small boutique litigation firm than ANYWHERE else. I probably earn as much, or more than anyone else from my 138 person graduating class...and two people who graduated with me, and one who graduated a year behind me...technically work for me...and they make well over $100k. All before 5 years of practice...the one golden rule: go to law school in the state where you want to practice, or go to Yale, Harvard, NYU or Colombia...otherwise, you'll be stuck in Missouri because you went to University of Washington St. Louis...a Tier 1 law school (I was accepted to), but not one yer gonna get hired as a graduate of in NYC, CT, NJ, etc.

(12) On May 21, 2010 at 5:03 pm Jonesey100 [0] said:

You'll find that most law firms essentially put you on a commission basis, and then of course they dictate how you & your services are marketed. Therefore, you may as well hang out your own shingle, which is why so many dissolutioned fresh graduates are dissatisfied with their first job and decide to go it alone before too long. It's because you're essentially self-employed regardless of who's writing checks to you. And being self-employed is tough, regardless of your profession. Law school doesn't help - it teaches you broad theory in a broad range of fields, and when you get out, you know how to do ... nothing. And to learn practical skills and refine your knowlege base in one or two particular fields is terribly expensive to do out of pocket once you're a lawyer - but that's what's expected. Can you tell I'm broke? :)

(11) On May 18, 2010 at 10:09 pm LBrohm [139] said:

The numbers listed are very high. Many lawyers start out at $35K or less. When you consider law school costs about $100K, it's not the fastest way to get rich.

The highest paid partners at the big firms that make $250-500K are few and far between, but they skew the average. The typical lawyer probably won't cross $100K until about 10 years into his/her career, making it much less lucrative than going to work in business or finance.

(10) On April 8, 2010 at 11:27 pm Wesley Sawyer [0] said:

These numbers are extremely high. A state assistant DA may make well be low $50k. A small firm or mid-size firm lawyer starting out in a smaller legal market is more likely to make between $60k-$80k than over $100k. Yes, some lawyers make $250k or more a year, but they are a small percentage of all the lawyers in the country.

(9) On March 8, 2010 at 8:31 am Ny-injury-lawyer [0] said:

Most of the lawyers work on contingency basis therefore they do not charge anything to those who are seeking legal help.

Their service fees is just a percentage of the total compensation amount which their clients receive from the negligent authorities or individual.

(8) On October 3, 2009 at 11:45 pm Jjeremy spence [0] said:

how much does a trinidad lawyer make

(7) On August 22, 2009 at 5:34 am Simplemary [2547] said:

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(6) On January 26, 2009 at 1:56 am Elmo23 [0] said:

Note: Elmo23 changed "How much money does a lawyer earn?" to "How much money will a family layer be making in the beginning middle end?".

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(5) On May 24, 2008 at 3:22 am Aiwahp [1] said:

I the these days plenty lawyer that is finding some extra income from the outside, because some lawyer not too much depending in their being a lawyer. Some lawyer have better income rather than others but not because of being a lawyer,some are making a business and any others.

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(4) On May 7, 2007 at 2:10 pm Volleyballchic2011 [7] said:

I never in my life imagined how much if i do get a lawyer job how much i could make! Thank you for giving me my answers!

(3) On July 28, 2006 at 5:12 am RoyR [5626] said:

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(2) On July 26, 2006 at 1:35 am RoyR [5626] said:

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(1) On July 13, 2006 at 5:24 pm Chris [4170] said:

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