Lawyer Statistics 2025
Legal Statistics
Despite the fact that the legal profession is often regarded as one of the most loathed in the world owing to its alleged proclivity for corruption, bribery, and dishonesty, it is also one of the most famous sectors in the world, as seen by these detailed lawyer statistics.
In general, these hardworking professionals earn far more enemies than friends in their area of business; this is especially true if they represent corrupt persons, criminals, greedy organizations, and so on. However, when these individuals represent noble causes and civic groups that preserve human (and animal) rights, the contrary is also true.
Overall, regardless of what motivates these well-educated professionals — whether it is greed or a greater sense of justice — what we are most interested in right now is how many attorneys are now working in the legal sector in the United States. Furthermore, we’ll get to the bottom of additional statistics and numbers linked to this issue, such as the average lawyer income in the United States, information about law firms, and data on the demography of this well-known economic sector.
Check out the jaw-dropping facts below to learn everything you need to know about this issue and more.
Most Interesting Lawyer Statistics
- The legal business industry in the United States is projected to be worth $160 billion.
- Medical lawyers have the highest-paying specialization in the legal profession.
- Only 14.4 percent of all attorneys in the United States are ABA-recognized
- Some high-profile attorneys can make up to $2,400 per hour ($5 million per year).
- In the United States, there are about 1.35 million attorneys.
- There are just 300,000 attorneys in China or one for every 4,620 people.
- Male attorneys are twice as likely as their non-lawyer peers to commit suicide.
- The District of Columbia has the highest yearly average wage in the United States, at $189,560.
- Only 4.8 percent of lawyers in the United States are African-American.
- The average yearly salary for a lawyer in the United States is $139,880.
What do lawyers do?
Layers are legal specialists and arbiters who represent and advise clients on a wide variety of legal issues, such as preparing a legal defense in court or assisting company owners in the creation of contracts and leases. In a nutshell, they produce legal paperwork, administrate and advise customers on certain legal transactions, and so forth.
As a result, attorneys in the United States often need not just a bachelor’s degree, but also to pass a state test and obtain a second three-year law degree.
Lawyer Statistics and Facts
Total number of lawyers in the US
- In the United States, there are now over 1.35 million attorneys in practice.
- This is about the same as India, which has slightly more than a billion people than the United States.
- At the moment, the United States has more than 1.35 million attorneys; in fact, this figure exceeds that of any other country in the world.
- Given the lesser population in the United States (relative to India), the current number of attorneys in the United States is one lawyer for every 246 Americans.
Market Share
According to the latest lawyer statistics, the whole legal services industry in the United States is $437 billion, with the legal business sector accounting for at least $160 billion.
Highest-paying niche
Lawyers in the medical area earn more than $110 per hour, with annual salaries averaging roughly $150,881. Lawyers who work for specialist hospitals, for example, generally make significantly more.
Private Practice
About half of all law professionals worldwide have their own private practice. 49% of law practitioners practice privately.
Certified members of ABA
The number of lawyers in the United States is astonishing. However, of the 1.35 million attorneys in the United States, the American Bar Association has just 194,000 members who pay dues to the organization. That’s a paltry 14.4 percent!
Earning of an Attorney
Medical lawyers are by far the highest-paid group of attorneys, earning an average of $150,881 per year. Nonetheless, some high-profile attorneys may make the equivalent of what medical lawyers earn in just less than 61 hours of work!
Law Industry Statistics
If you are still unsure about which professional route to choose, consider becoming a legal representative. However, one must keep in mind that competition in this industry is quite tough. Mostly because there are a myriad of highly skilled professionals in this industry who are striving to reach their customers.
However, this does not imply that there aren’t any chances in this field; on the contrary, there are many.
Still, if you want to study to become a lawyer, you may be curious in how many legal practitioners make in the United States.
Now, in order to answer this issue, we must evaluate a few influencing elements. To begin with, your income will be primarily determined by your legal specialization (and level of skill) as well as the state in which you work. According to these lawyer data, the average annual salary of these professionals in the United States is roughly $141,890 in 2017.
However, we must keep in mind that some US-based lawyers might earn more than $1 million per year. Those at the lowest quarter of the income spectrum, on the other hand, make only $ 75,370 (per year), and those at the very bottom earn roughly $55,000.
Annual Income
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual income of attorneys is $130,490, based on a wage of $62.74 per hour.
Projected Growth
According to Business Insider’s lawyer statistics, the legal sector is the 22nd highest paid industry in the United States. Still, you must have a professional or doctorate degree to enter the field.
Federal attorneys earning
Although the majority of attorneys work for private law firms and provide legal services to customers, some businesses hire their own lawyers to decrease the need for law firms. According to the BLS, attorneys in the legal services business earned an average of $137,170 in May 2011, while lawyers active in organization and company management earned (on average) $161,570.
The median yearly salary
However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many of them work not just full-time but also “overtime,” working more than 40 hours each week.
The lowest (lawyer) wage earners
While the average yearly compensation is believed to be more over $139,000, according to attorney statistics, the lowest workers make less than half of that sum. According to the most recent minimum wage data, this equates to just $4,655 per month.
Best-paying social service job
Legal services were ranked 17th overall for the highest-paid employees in the United States. Furthermore, it was placed 42nd on the list of the top 100 occupations in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be 65,000 new job possibilities in the field by 2026.
Lawyer Depression Statistics
- Lawyers are 3.6 times sadder than other workers.
- According to a 2016 survey, 28% of licensed and practicing attorneys suffer from depression.
- Male attorneys are twice as likely as their non-lawyer peers to commit suicide.
Demographics of Lawyers Facts
Only 4.8 percent of lawyers in the United States are African-American.
Even while The Guardian claims that the United States needs more African American lawyers than it does black police officers, there is still a significant shortage of black lawyers in several counties, including Ferguson, Missouri. White attorneys, on the other hand, make up an astounding 88 percent of the overall legal population in the United States.
Lawyers in Montana earn little more than $35 per hour on average.
- According to lawyer data, many Montana lawyers are paid pitifully little.
- This is a sector where some attorneys may make up to $2,400 per hour; however, this is not the situation in Montana.
Black women account for only 1.73 percent of all legal representatives in the United States.
Black female attorneys are few in an industry where diversity is valued. For black women, the legal profession is a barren wasteland. In reality, according to a diversity survey conducted in US law firms, black women make up only 1.73 percent of the legal workforce. Furthermore, women of color account for just 8.57 percent of all attorneys in the United States.
New York has the most lawyers in the United States, at 182,296.
According to the American Bar Association’s national lawyer survey, New York has the most attorneys of any state in the United States. The following comes after that:
- California — 170,117
- Texas — 91,244
- Florida — 78,448
- Illinois — 62,720
- C. — 56,135
Lawyer Employment Statistics
9 months after graduation, 23% of law graduates are unable to find work.
For fresh graduates and entry-level employees, the legal field may be a dangerous place to work. While 23 percent of new law graduates will struggle to obtain their ideal employment, those who are fortunate will have to settle for a yearly income as low as $55,000.
The District of Columbia now has the highest yearly average wage in the United States, at $189,560.
- The District of Columbia pays the most of any state in the United States. California comes second in terms of yearly income, with an average annual income of $168,200.
- According to these statistics, attorneys in New York make an average of $165,260, while attorneys in Massachusetts earn an average of $157,450.
From 2010 to 2020, job listings for lawyers are expected to increase by 10%.
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, lawyer job listings will increase by 10% between 2010 and 2020.
- This rate of yearly growth is somewhat lower than the national average for all jobs.
- The high incomes given by legal occupations tend to attract a large number of skilled people, increasing employment competitiveness.
Stats related to Law Firms in the US
Total number of law firms
According to an ABA study, there are more than 47,562 law companies in the United States with at least two attorneys. Although this discovery was made in 2005, it still provides us with a reasonable estimate of what the real number may be today, given no significant increase has been seen since then (just a meager 0.3 percent annual growth).
Largest law firms
How many attorneys work in US law firms? While many businesses have less than a hundred attorneys, surveys and research suggest that top US legal firms have thousands of attorneys. Baker McKenzie is the firm with the most attorneys (4,719). Baker McKenzie is followed by the following legal firms in terms of total attorney headcount:
- DLA Piper — 3,609
- Norton Rose Fulbright — 3,339
- Hogan Lovell’s — 2,685
- Jones Day — 2,513
- Latham and Watkins — 2,436
- White and Case — 2,039
- Kirkland & Ellis — 1,997
Law firms earning
Leading US legal firms may make more than $1 million each year, according to Law firm stats. In addition, associates in legal firms might earn up to $190,000 per year (on average).
- Meanwhile, top associates can make up to $330,000 per year; keep in mind that this is the same business where attorneys earn $75,370 to $55,000 per year.
Conclusion: Although the job outlook for attorneys in the United States appears to be improving, competition remains an issue for both aspiring and present lawyers, as law schools produce more lawyers than there is a need for in the labor market.
Nonetheless, we eventually got to the bottom of lawyer statistics and “how many attorneys are there in the United States” when we said that there were at least 1.35 million of them in the country at the time. That figure represents a significant rise (20,000+) above the previous year’s total of 1.33 million.
The vast majority of these specialists are employed in corporate and private offices. Given how many of them work more than 40 hours a week, as well as the enormous pressure exerted by clients, it’s no surprise that some of them are depressed.
However, the prestige and economic benefits surpass all other disadvantages.