The Salary of a Civil Lawyer
- Different areas of law may have different requirements before someone can legally practice. However, in general one must obtain a minimum of a four-year college degree, complete at least three years of law school, and of course pass the bar exam for the state they wish to practice law in. Often a field of study or undergraduate degree in an area related to the field of law you wish to practice is important, such as obtaining a bachelor's in finance if you wish to study tax law. Even after possessing all these credentials, many must work as interns at law firms before they can work full time as attorneys.
- The national average salary for attorneys in the United States ranges from $58,199 to $118,173 a year when you include bonuses, profit sharing, and commission, reports PayScale.com as of December 2010. The salary of a civil lawyer, however, will be heavily influenced by the location in which the firm or company is based. In Florida, the average attorney makes between $52,085 and $95,302 a year. In a state with a much higher cost of living, especially regarding rent prices, such as California, lawyers can expect to make an average salary ranging from $68,836 to $122,115 annually.
- One of the most common types of civil lawyers are those who deal with family law. This includes legal aspects of adoption, child custody, domestic violence, marital property, and more. A family lawyer in the U.S. can expect to make an average of $48,416 to $79,267 a year, according to PayScale.com as of December 2010. Those who have a private practice or are a partner rather than an associate will earn higher salaries overall.
- Business lawyers can often be the most well paid in the profession. Common issues dealt with are real estate and land, entertainment, tax law, and business deals. The national average salary for a civil lawyer specializing in business law is $87,936 a year, but many can make much more, states CBSalary.com. For example, attorneys who specialize in business mergers and acquisitions can average up to $120,467 annually, reports PayScale.com as of December 2010.