Corporate Lawyers

Average salary of a corporate lawyer is $139684 per year. Lawyers who work on corporate legal matters, such as negotiating mergers and acquisitions or IPOs tend to earn very high salaries. Top lawyers at large law firms in big cities can make over $200,000 per year. In-house corporate counsel at large companies also earn a high salary, often over $150,000 per year. Corporate law is a popular and competitive field, but the potential financial rewards are significant.

Intellectual Property Lawyers

Lawyers who specialize in intellectual property, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets also tend to earn a high salary. These lawyers help companies legally protect their most valuable assets like technology, brands, creative works, and proprietary information. IP lawyers with an advanced degree in a technical field and experience at a large law firm can earn $200,000 per year or more. Based on salary.com average salary of Intellectual Property lawyers is between $147,527 and $174,971.

Trial Lawyers

Trial lawyers, or litigators, who represent clients in court cases also have the potential to earn a very high salary. Top trial lawyers can earn well over $300,000 per year at large law firms. While the day-to-day work of a trial lawyer can be demanding, those who are successful in high-stakes cases can earn a sizable percentage of the settlement or verdict, which adds to their high base salary. The average salary of a Trial Lawyer is $108,948 based on salary.com.

Environmental Lawyers

Lawyers who practice environmental law also have the potential to earn a high salary, often over $150,000 per year and up to $799,563. Environmental law is a growing field, and top lawyers help corporations navigate complex regulations and litigation regarding pollution, sustainability, and climate change issues.

Environmental lawyers also commonly work for non-profits, government agencies, and public interest organizations, though salaries in these sectors tend to be lower. Still, for lawyers passionate about environmental issues, the work can be highly rewarding.

Other legal specialties that often pay very well include tax law, healthcare law, and employment law. Tax lawyers help individuals and corporations minimize their tax burden and comply with tax laws. Healthcare lawyers assist healthcare providers, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical companies with the many legal issues involved in healthcare. And employment lawyers represent both employers and employees in matters like discrimination and harassment cases, wage disputes, and compliance with workplace regulations. Lawyers in these fields typically earn over $150,000 per year.