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2025 Best Law Firms for Compensation
| Firm | 1st year salary | 2nd year salary |
|---|---|---|
| Paul, Weiss | $225,000 | $235,000 |
| Perkins Coie | $155,000-$225,000 | $160,000-$235,000 |
| Pillsbury | $225,000 | $235,000 |
| Polsinelli | $210,000-$225,000 | Undisclosed |
| Top Firm | Mid-tier firm | |
|---|---|---|
| Pay Range | $260,000-$280,000 | $210,000-$240,000 |
Why does Big Law pay so well? Big Law firms pay well in part because of the extremely competitive market, in which firms are raising salaries to keep up with each other and capture top talent. That competition is creating a wider divide between the largest firms and the midlevel and small firms.
Who has the highest position in a law firm? ›The top positions in a law firm are generally senior partner, managing partner, and senior partner, who oversee firm operations, client relations, and strategic decisions.
Which is the most profitable law firm? ›| Rank by PPEP | Firm | 2021/2022 PPEP |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kirkland & Ellis | $7,516,000 |
| 2 | Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz | $7,294,000 |
| 3 | Sullivan & Cromwell | $5,983,000 |
| 4 | Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison | $5,725,000 |
The top 100 highest-paid GCs earned total cash compensation of $2.7 million on average. We don't know how much the 100 best-paid Biglaw partners earned in the comparable period, but as one benchmark, the 91 equity partners at Wachtell enjoyed profits per partner of $8.4 million.
How much do lawyers make at most? ›| Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|
| Top Earners | $129,284 | $62 |
| 75th Percentile | $101,700 | $49 |
| Average | $90,028 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,000 | $38 |
Comparing partner salaries across different law firms
Corporate partners had the highest average total compensation at $1,488,000, while Labor & Employment partners reported the lowest at $653,000. Moreover, the average total compensation for tax & ERISA partners was $1,145,000, and $1,054,000 for litigation partners.
How Much Does a Lawyer Make? Lawyers made a median salary of $135,740 in 2022. The best-paid 25% made $208,980 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $94,440.
What biglaw firms pay the most? ›Hughes Hubbard & Reed pays new associates a top salary of $235,000, which is $10,000 above the going rate at many top law firms, according to a survey by the National Law Journal at Law.com.
Which law firm pays highest salary? ›Some of the highest-paid lawyers include: Patent attorney: $180,000. Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000. Trial lawyer: $134,000.
What is the starting salary at top law firms? ›In actual dollars, firms of 501-700 lawyers saw the largest increase, with the median first-year salary growing from $155,000 in 2021 to $200,000 in 2023 (+$45,000).
Who is the highest person at a law firm? ›The person who sits at the top of the law firm's hierarchy is a senior lawyer or the founding lawyer. The person heads an executive committee of other senior people and is responsible for the main affairs of the company.
What is the highest role in a law firm? ›The majority of law firms operate in a pyramid/hierarchical structure with partners sitting at the very top and paralegals/trainees sitting at the bottom. Each role within a firm has its own important contribution to the overall performance of the firm, but with varied responsibilities and workloads.
What is the highest position in a lawyer? ›Attorney General is the highest law officer in India. Article 76 of the Indian Constitution under its Part-V deals with the position of Attorney General of India. He is the chief legal advisor to the government of India and advises the union government on all legal matters.
Do top lawyers make millions? ›Yes, as shown by the top-earning professionals in the legal field, it's possible to make over $1 million annually. However, you need to explore other ways to generate profits. While a lawyer's income is anything but small, your salary alone — especially if you're a non-partner — won't be enough to hit your target.
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