The median salary for new lawyers who were employed by firms of 100 or fewer attorneys was $155,000 in 2023, according to the National Association for Law Placement. Median salaries for first-year attorneys who worked for firms of 101 to 250 attorneys were $160,000. First-year lawyers who were employed by firms of 251 to 500 attorneys earned $190,000, and first year lawyers who worked for firms with 701 to 1,000 attorneys earned a median salary of $200,000.
Experienced lawyers earn salaries that vary depending on the type, size, and location of the organization employing them. The median salary for lawyers was $145,760 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Ten percent of lawyers earned less than $69,760, and the top 25 percent earned $217,360 or more.
Trial lawyers rank among the highest-paid legal professionals in the industry, with very experienced and skilled professionals easily earning $1 million or more a year.
Depending on their firms, most civil litigation lawyers enjoy a full complement of benefits, including vacation and sick time as well as holidays and medical and dental insurance. Self-employed lawyers must provide their own benefits.
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