Lawyer Pay: What to Expect in Different Practice Areas

Lawyer Pay: What to Expect in Different Practice Areas


Becoming a lawyer can be a lucrative career choice, but the amount of money you can earn as a lawyer varies depending on several factors, including your location, experience, and the type of law you practice. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at lawyer pay, what to expect in different practice areas, and how you can increase your earning potential as a lawyer.

Average Lawyer Salaries

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for lawyers in the United States was $126,930 as of May 2020. However, this number can vary greatly depending on the type of law you practice and your level of experience.

For example, lawyers who work for the federal government typically earn higher salaries than those who work in private practice. The median annual wage for lawyers in the federal government was $151,010 as of May 2020, while those who work in legal services earned a median annual wage of $98,630.

Lawyer Salaries by Practice Area

The amount of money you can earn as a lawyer also varies depending on the type of law you practice. Here’s a closer look at what to expect in some of the most common practice areas:

  1. Corporate Law

Corporate lawyers work with businesses to help them navigate legal issues related to their operations. This can include everything from mergers and acquisitions to contract negotiations and intellectual property rights. The median annual wage for lawyers who work in corporate law was $145,300 as of May 2020.

  1. Intellectual Property Law

Intellectual property lawyers specialize in helping clients protect their patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights. This can include filing patent applications, negotiating licensing agreements, and litigating intellectual property disputes. The median annual wage for lawyers who work in intellectual property law was $146,720 as of May 2020.

  1. Criminal Law

Criminal lawyers represent clients who have been accused of crimes, from misdemeanors to felonies. They may work as public defenders, private defense attorneys, or prosecutors. The median annual wage for lawyers who work in criminal law was $67,000 as of May 2020, although salaries can vary widely depending on experience and location.

  1. Personal Injury Law

Personal injury lawyers represent clients who have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing. This can include everything from car accidents to medical malpractice cases. The median annual wage for lawyers who work in personal injury law was $80,000 as of May 2020.

  1. Family Law

Family lawyers help clients navigate legal issues related to family relationships, such as divorce, child custody, and adoption. The median annual wage for lawyers who work in family law was $83,660 as of May 2020.

  1. Immigration Law

Immigration lawyers help clients navigate the complex legal process of immigrating to the United States. This can include everything from applying for visas to defending clients against deportation. The median annual wage for lawyers who work in immigration law was $131,210 as of May 2020.

  1. Tax Law

Tax lawyers specialize in helping clients navigate the complex world of tax law, including everything from filing tax returns to defending clients against IRS audits. The median annual wage for lawyers who work in tax law was $126,190 as of May 2020.

Increasing Your Earning Potential

While salaries for lawyers can vary widely depending on practice area and location, there are several things you can do to increase your earning potential as a lawyer:

  1. Gain Experience

Lawyers with more experience typically earn higher salaries than those who are just starting out. Look for opportunities to gain experience early in your career,Becoming a lawyer can be a lucrative career choice, but the amount of money you can earn as a lawyer varies depending on several factors, including your location, experience, and the type of law you practice. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at lawyer pay, what to expect in different practice areas, and how you can increase your earning potential as a lawyer.

Average Lawyer Salaries

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for lawyers in the United States was $126,930 as of May 2020. However, this number can vary greatly depending on the type of law you practice and your level of experience.

For example, lawyers who work for the federal government typically earn higher salaries than those who work in private practice. The median annual wage for lawyers in the federal government was $151,010 as of May 2020, while those who work in legal services earned a median annual wage of $98,630.

Lawyer Salaries by Practice Area

The amount of money you can earn as a lawyer also varies depending on the type of law you practice. Here’s a closer look at what to expect in some of the most common practice areas:

  1. Corporate Law

Corporate lawyers work with businesses to help them navigate legal issues related to their operations. This can include everything from mergers and acquisitions to contract negotiations and intellectual property rights. The median annual wage for lawyers who work in corporate law was $145,300 as of May 2020.

  1. Intellectual Property Law

Intellectual property lawyers specialize in helping clients protect their patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights. This can include filing patent applications, negotiating licensing agreements, and litigating intellectual property disputes. The median annual wage for lawyers who work in intellectual property law was $146,720 as of May 2020.

  1. Criminal Law

Criminal lawyers represent clients who have been accused of crimes, from misdemeanors to felonies. They may work as public defenders, private defense attorneys, or prosecutors. The median annual wage for lawyers who work in criminal law was $67,000 as of May 2020, although salaries can vary widely depending on experience and location.

  1. Personal Injury Law

Personal injury lawyers represent clients who have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing. This can include everything from car accidents to medical malpractice cases. The median annual wage for lawyers who work in personal injury law was $80,000 as of May 2020.

  1. Family Law

Family lawyers help clients navigate legal issues related to family relationships, such as divorce, child custody, and adoption. The median annual wage for lawyers who work in family law was $83,660 as of May 2020.

  1. Immigration Law

Immigration lawyers help clients navigate the complex legal process of immigrating to the United States. This can include everything from applying for visas to defending clients against deportation. The median annual wage for lawyers who work in immigration law was $131,210 as of May 2020.

  1. Tax Law

Tax lawyers specialize in helping clients navigate the complex world of tax law, including everything from filing tax returns to defending clients against IRS audits. The median annual wage for lawyers who work in tax law was $126,190 as of May 2020.

Increasing Your Earning Potential

While salaries for lawyers can vary widely depending on practice area and location, there are several things you can do to increase your earning potential as a lawyer:

  1. Gain Experience

Lawyers with more experience typically earn higher salaries than those who are just starting out. Look for opportunities to gain experience early in your career,

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