Which types of lawyers make the most money (top 5 or even 10 if
possible)?  Where do non-governmental International lawyers rank
comparitively?

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Clarification of Question by rdubia83-ga on 07 Nov 2005 19:46 PST

Thanks for the info 'cynthia and ipfan'... when I ask what "types" of
lawyers make the most money, I am asking more about their area of
practice (eg - tort attorneys, criminal defense, patent attorneys,
international law, appellant lawyers, etc.) than I am their job titles
or their positions in firms.

Class-Action Mass Tort Attorney's, by far, make the most money. For
instance, when an FDA approved drug is found to be harmful to the
human body, and the drug-maker had knowledge beforehand thet they
didn't report, or make public, and a disgruntled employee leaves the
company with documentation, and as a result this information becomes
public, well, attorneys make tens of millions off a case like that,
possibly over 100 million on a large case.

Agreed, but that's sort of like saying that people who make the most
money are lottery winners.  Not every mass tort class action lawyer
makes that kind of income.  Yes, a few strike it rich on cases like
that, but far and away most lawyers are working stiffs like everyone
else.  So if I infer correctly, your question really asks about those
"working stiff" lawyers who do not get a windfall from an MTCA
judgment or a big plaintiff's contingency fee, right?  If so, then in
general the highest paid lawyers are partners in large, prestigious
law firms who can make between $500K and $750K a year.  If you also
happen to be a patent attorney, you can multiply that by 1.5x to
adjust for higher hourly billing rates.  After that, general counsels
of large multinational corporations usually make $500K in salary
alone.  After that, partners in smaller firms can still make between
$250K and $400K per year.  Then come associates in larger firms, who
can make between $180K and $300K per year.  Then come corporate
lawyers, who make between $100K and $250K per year.  Then come judges,
who make between $80K and $180K per year.  Then come governmental
staff lawyers, whom make between $35K and $80K per year, depending on
where you live.

A non-governmental lawyer practicing international law who speaks a
foreign language and lives in a large US city like New York or San
Francisco can expect to make $220K as an senior associate and $400K as
a partner if you've got a good book of business.