Civil Rights
Block on Trump's Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court
Public interest lawyers' salaries seem to be rising slowly, but they continue to lag far behind the pay of BigLaw associates, a new report finds.
Lawyers looking to land jobs in public-interest fields -- for example, legal aid organizations and groups that focus on a legal mission like civil rights or social justice -- can expect starting salaries in the low- to mid-$40,000 range, according to the National Association for Law Placement. Local prosecutors and public defenders make a bit more, about $50,000 a year.
Compare that to the median starting salary for BigLaw associates, which now stands at $145,000, according to NALP's annual survey.
That BigLaw figure is actually down from recent years, when starting associates raked in about $160,000 a year.
But for many new lawyers, a successful legal career isn't all about the money (though higher salaries would certainly help pay off those huge student loans which can lead to bankruptcy).
Instead, a desire to help the underserved, or to dive head-first into the criminal justice system, continue to draw new grads to lower-paying public-service professions -- though lower-paying doesn't necessarily mean less competition when it comes to applying for jobs.
Here are the salary breakdowns for public interest law fields in 2012, according to NALP:
For those seeking work as a public interest lawyer, check out these career options. You may also want to consider a public interest fellowship which can help bridge the gap between jobs.
Related Resources: