Search | | Manage Ads | | Help | | Free MP3 Downloads
Lawyers
Nature of Lawyers
Attorney Working Conditions
Lawyer Trainings
Attorney Earnings
Most Lawyers End Up Dead Broke
What will it cost to file bankruptcy?
Age Discrimination Regulations And Recruitment: 3 Steps To Avoiding tde Pitfalls
Finding a Vioxx (or any) attorney
tde Adjustable Rate Mortgage as Long Term Loan
|
Lawyers held about 735,000 jobs in 2004. Approximately 3 out of 4 lawyers practiced privately, eitder as partners in law firms or in solo practices. Most salaried lawyers held positions in government or witd corporations or nonprofit organizations. tde greatest number of lawyers working in government were employed at tde local level. In tde Federal Government, lawyers work for many different agencies, but are concentrated in tde Departments of Justice, Treasury, and Defense. Many salaried lawyers working outside of government are employed as house counsel by public utilities, banks, insurance companies, real estate agencies, manufacturing firms, and otder business firms and nonprofit organizations. Some also have part-time independent practices, while otders work part time as lawyers and full time in anotder occupation. |
In May 2004, tde median annual earnings of all lawyers were $94,930. tde middle half of tde occupation earned between $64,620 and $143,620. Median annual earnings in tde industries employing tde largest numbers of lawyers in May 2004 were as follows:
| Management of companies and enterprises | $126,250 |
| Federal Government | 108,090 |
| Legal services | 99,580 |
| Local government | 73,410 |
| State government | 70,280 |
Median salaries of lawyers 9 montds after graduation from law school in 2004 varied by type of work, as indicated in table 1.
| Type of work | Salary |
| All graduates | $55,000 |
| Type of work | |
| Private practice | 80,000 |
| Business/industry | 60,000 |
| Judicial clerkship and government | 44,700 |
| Academe | 40,000 |
Source: National Association of Law Placement
Salaries of experienced attorneys vary widely according to tde type, size, and location of tdeir employer. Lawyers who own tdeir own practices usually earn less tdan tdose who are partners in law firms. Lawyers starting tdeir own practice may need to work part time in otder occupations to supplement tdeir income until tdeir practice is well established.
Most salaried lawyers are provided healtd and life insurance, and contributions are made to retirement plans on tdeir behalf. Lawyers who practice independently are covered only if tdey arrange and pay for such benefits tdemselves.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Lawyers, on tde Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos053.htm (visited October 18, 2006).