How long does it take to be a lawyer? -

I know all the basic stuff. 3 years of law school, 4 year sof a liberal arts college. But after passing the bar exam and getting a job at a law firm or something How long does it take until ou earn an income? I wan to study criminal law. How much would that pay as a career and as a first tiem student? What is the highest paying lawyer out there?

You become a lawyer as soon as you pass the bar. A number of law schools have clinical programs in which students gain legal experience through practice trials and projects under the supervision of practicing lawyers and law school faculty. Law school clinical programs might include work in legal aid clinics, for example, or on the staff of legislative committees. Part-time or summer clerkships in law firms, government agencies, and corporate legal departments also provide valuable experience. Such training can lead directly to a job after graduation and can help students decide what kind of practice best suits them. Law school graduates receive the degree of juris doctor (J.D.) as the first professional degree. Advanced law degrees may be desirable for those planning to specialize, research, or teach. Most beginning lawyers start in salaried positions. Newly hired salaried attorneys usually start as associates and work with more experienced lawyers or judges. After several years of gaining more responsibilities, some lawyers are admitted to partnership in their firm or go into practice for themselves. Lawyers held about 735,000 jobs in 2004. Approximately 3 out of 4 lawyers practiced privately, either as partners in law firms or in solo practices. Most salaried lawyers held positions in government or with corporations or nonprofit organizations. The median annual salary of lawyers nine months after graduation was $55,000. The median annual salary for all lawyers was $95,000. These statistics are as of 2004, which are the last figures published in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, which is published by the U.S. government. Salaries of experienced attorneys vary widely according to the type, size, and location of their employer. Lawyers who own their own practices usually earn less than those who are partners in law firms. Lawyers starting their own practice may need to work part time in other occupations to supplement their income until their practice is well established. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos053.htm#train... s

You start earning money when you accept a position in a law firm, or for a state or government agency. The DA s office hires many lawyers right out of law school. They work on a quantity vs. quality basis, but it is good experience and a salary. Salaries vary across the country. My cousin won a high profile medical malpractice case and became well known thereafter; he does quite well in Kansas. Also, entertainment attorneys are well paid. Best wishes.

The highest paid lawyers, as a group, are corporate lawyers. And the career track for them is becoming a partner in the firm. Public defenders don t make squat. For a good salary breakdown check out the Occupational Outlook Handbook on the BLS site. (Serendipity gave it to you)

Mergers amp; acquisitions lawyers are among the highest paid.