The Reality of Average Attorney Salaries Might Surprise You

Everyone knows that new lawyers aren’t making what they used to make before the recession, Attorney Salaries but these numbers might shock you. According to the National Association of Legal Professionals, many new attorneys make less than $40,000 per year in their first jobs out of law school.

And depending on the state where you work, the average judge’s salary might be even lower! The median annual wage for judges and magistrate judges nationwide was $138,780 as of May 2011. Read on to learn how much lawyers earn in your state and other states across the country.

What are the average attorney salaries?

In the legal field, salaries can vary widely. How much you make is largely dependent on what type of work you’re doing and where you are attorney Salaries practicing law. Still,

there are general trends that everyone in the legal field should be aware of before accepting a job. On average, an attorney makes anywhere from $120,000 to $250,000 per year as an entry-level associate at a firm. The pay at firms rises with tenure: Some attorneys earn $400,000 or more by their sixth year.

At the federal level, judges on average make around $150,000 per year.

What are judges’ average earnings?

Being a judge is one of the most challenging professions in the country. When you factor in a job competition, hours, and pay, it’s easy to see why.

In 2015, new federal judges earned $208,100 as an annual salary (including bonuses). This was down 3% from 2014 when new federal judges earned $217,600.

This is at least in part because federal judges face a lot of competition for their job, and many candidates drop out or never even apply because they figure it’s not worth the effort. In some areas, like New York, only 5% of applicants end up as federal judges.

That’s a very small percentage! And being accepted is only half your battle; you then have to go through training and orientation before you can even start as a judge. If all that sounds discouraging, keep in mind that federal judges are paid much more than their state counterparts.

How do you compare to other lawyers and judges?

While the average attorney salary might surprise you, it is always important to do your research and create a personalized plan that includes short-term goals, long-term goals, contingency plans, and risks. We have identified the average attorneys and judges’ salaries to compare with your own.

Many law firms look for an associate with a 4-year degree (minimum) who has relevant experience. This experience can range from clerking in a courthouse to interning at a law firm Attorney Salaries. There are also ways to work in any desired field outside of the law, such as engineering or finance.

What is causing this disparity?

According to an analysis by the Wall Street Journal, when attorneys are promoted to a new job title within their firm, they see a salary increase of around $15,000-$20,000. A one-time, year-end bonus often tops out at 25% or 30% of an attorney’s annual salary.

The catch is that promotions usually only happen for  Attorney Salaries in their first five years with the firm. Why does this matter? Because associate salaries remain stagnant as a result. The starting salary for recent law school graduates is about $160,000 in private practice—$98,000 less than what someone would earn Attorney Salaries starting at the partner level!

What can we do about Attorney Salaries ?

Legal fees are one of the leading causes of rising living costs, which is one of the reasons why lawyers’ wages have been stagnant. It also doesn’t help that judges’ average earnings are even lower than attorneys’. That being said, many things can be done to reduce these high legal fees and increase Attorney Salaries salary stability for attorneys.
One way to mitigate legal fees would be instituting a cap on the hourly rate charged by attorneys. Another way would be simplifying our complex litigation system, which will result in substantial savings in both attorney’s time and hourly rates. Though doing this will require politicians to enforce sensible laws, which may seem daunting at first glance but is not impossible.

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