The legal profession is a large and complex one, with many different areas of practice and specialization.
Therefore, it can be difficult to keep track of all the latest statistics and trends.
This article will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the latest lawyer statistics, including information on the number of lawyers in the United States, their salaries, and their areas of practice.
Post Contents
- 1 Key Statistics
- 2 Top Lawyer Statistics and Demographics in 2024
- 2.1 1. There Are Roughly 1.3 Million Lawyers in The United States.
- 2.2 2. California and New York Combined Account for 27% of Lawyers in The United States.
- 2.3 3. 38% of All Lawyers in The U.S. Are Female.
- 2.4 4. 62% of Lawyers in The U.S. Identify as Male.
- 2.5 5. An Overwhelming 81% of Lawyers in The U.S. Are Caucasian/White.
- 3 Lawyer Career Statistics
- 3.1 6. The Job Outlook for Lawyers Is Growing at A Faster than Average Rate of 10%.
- 3.2 7. The Median Annual Income for Lawyers Is Around $127,990.
- 3.3 8. Most Lawyers Work a 40-Hour Work Week.
- 3.4 9. In The District of Columbia, a Lawyer’s Billable Hourly Rate Is $384.
- 3.5 10. In West Virginia, the Hourly Billable Rate Is $163, Which Represents the Lowest Hourly Billable Rate in The Nation.
- 3.6 11. Client Reviews Impact Hiring Practices at Law Firms.
- 4 Consumer Statistics
- 5 Legal Statistics and Technology
- 5.1 14. 59% of Lawyers Use Web-Based Cloud Solutions.
- 5.2 15. 53% of Lawyers Use Laptops for Much of Their Work Every Day.
- 5.3 16. Windows 10 Dominates the Legal Industry While MacOs Expands in The Solo Lawyer Realm.
- 5.4 17. 45% of Legal Professionals Think Technology Will Help Make the Justice System More Equitable.
- 6 FAQs
- 7 Conclusion
- 8 Sources
Key Statistics
- There are roughly 1.3 million lawyers in the United States.
- California and New York combined account for 27% of lawyers in the United States.
- 38% of all lawyers in the U.S. are female.
- 62% of lawyers in the U.S. identify as male.
- An overwhelming 81% of lawyers in the U.S. are Caucasian/White.
- The job outlook for lawyers is growing at a faster than average 10%.
- The median annual income for lawyers is around $127,990.
- Most lawyers work a 40-hour work week.
- In the District of Columbia, a lawyer’s billable hourly rate is $384.
- West Virginia has the lowest national hourly rate at $163 per hour.
Top Lawyer Statistics and Demographics in 2024
1. There Are Roughly 1.3 Million Lawyers in The United States.
The American Bar Association (ABA) says that there are over 1.3 million lawyers in the United States.
That represents about four lawyers for every 1,000 people. This is the most recent data from the 2022 ABA National Lawyer Population Survey.
This is also reported as an increase of 6.6% over 10 years. In 2012, there were over 1.245 lawyers in the United States.
(ABA)
2. California and New York Combined Account for 27% of Lawyers in The United States.
The ABA says that 27% of all lawyers in the United States reside in New York and California combined.
That represents one in four lawyers. North Dakota has the fewest attorneys with 1,685.
Three states have experienced losses of lawyers over the past 10 years. These three states are Alabama at a loss of-15%, Alaska at -12%, and Ohio at -8%.
(ABA)
3. 38% of All Lawyers in The U.S. Are Female.
Just a decade ago, 33% of all attorneys were female. Now that figure is 38%, putting the female demographic more than one-third of all lawyers in the United States.
In fact, women are entering the legal field at around half of a percent each year.
This may show a gender gap that is gradually closing in the legal field. Only 0.2% of lawyers don’t identify as female or male.
(ABA)
4. 62% of Lawyers in The U.S. Identify as Male.
The ABA shows that 62% of all lawyers in the United States identify as male, which is in contrast to the 38% of those who identify as female.
There is quite a gender gap in the attorney field, but as the female demographic keeps growing, that gap is likely to start closing.
(ABA)
5. An Overwhelming 81% of Lawyers in The U.S. Are Caucasian/White.
The ABA says that most lawyers in the United States are white, with 60% of those in this profession are non-Hispanic whites.
The arena of multiracial lawyers is evolving with 2.7% of all lawyers representing the multiracial community.
Native Americans account for 1.3% of lawyers in the United States, while 4.5% are Black/African American.
As for the Hispanic community, about 5.8% of all lawyers are represented in this field.
Moreover, Asian American lawyers account for 5.5% of all lawyers in the United States.
(ABA)
Lawyer Career Statistics
6. The Job Outlook for Lawyers Is Growing at A Faster than Average Rate of 10%.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that jobs for lawyers are growing 10% faster than the average industry. This data covers 2021 to 2031.
As of 2021, there are roughly 833,100 jobs for lawyers.
An interesting fact is that lawyers don’t get what’s considered “on-the-job training”.
Instead, they conduct their internships with law firms or judges by doing research.
(BLS)
7. The Median Annual Income for Lawyers Is Around $127,990.
In May 2021, the BLS revealed that the median yearly salary for lawyers accounted for $127,990.
While we consider lawyers to be high earners, they don’t often start out that way, nor do they all get high-profile cases that pay them the big bucks.
The average lawyer makes less than $150,000 per year. That’s a living wage in America, but not a “rich” wage.
(BLS)
8. Most Lawyers Work a 40-Hour Work Week.
Lawyers usually work in the corporate or private sector in legal offices. There are also some who work for local, state, or federal governments.
Most of the lawyers in the United States work a 40-hour week like the average employee in the nation.
Some get their own law firms and work for themselves, and others work doing pro-bono work (free).
(BLS)
9. In The District of Columbia, a Lawyer’s Billable Hourly Rate Is $384.
Lawyer statistics show that District of Columbia (D.C.) has the highest average billable hourly rate at $384 for lawyers working in law firms.
As for lawyers themselves, they charge an average rate of $424 in New York.
Other states where lawyers charge over $300 in law firms include New York ($355), California ($326), Delaware ($323), Connecticut ($314), and New Jersey ($310).
(Clio)
10. In West Virginia, the Hourly Billable Rate Is $163, Which Represents the Lowest Hourly Billable Rate in The Nation.
We know that D.C. has the overall highest hourly billable rate among law firms in the United States, but in West Virginia, that rate is $163, which marks the lowest of hourly billable rates in the country.
Other states with legal hourly billable rates under $200 include Iowa ($185), Maine ($186), Alabama ($196), and Montana ($197).
(Clio)
11. Client Reviews Impact Hiring Practices at Law Firms.
When a law firm is looking to hire a lawyer, they look at several factors like proximity to the office, remote or office work, availability, billing type, etc.
However, a whopping 52% of the share of making hiring decisions goes to client reviews.
It’s crucial to have and maintain positive client reviews to be hirable.
(Clio)
Consumer Statistics
12. 35% of Consumers Still Want Their Meetings to Be Virtual with Lawyers.
In the Clio survey for 2022 where 1,168 consumers participated, 35% said they prefer virtual meetings with lawyers.
This matches up well with the professional lawyers from this survey who said 36%. Conversely, 28% of respondents said they prefer in-person meetings.
The lawyers’ response to this same survey said that they believed 22% of consumers prefer in-person meetings.
(Clio)
13. A Survey Revealed that 70% of Legal Clients Prefer a Payment Plan.
According to the 2022 Clio Legal Trends Report, 70% of consumers responded that they would prefer to have the option of a payment plan for paying a lawyer for services rendered.
Another 65% said they would like to opt for legal insurance and 53% said they would like to have the option to use crowdfunding to pay their legal expenses.
(Clio)
Legal Statistics and Technology
14. 59% of Lawyers Use Web-Based Cloud Solutions.
The world is going to the cloud for its storage and data management nowadays, so it’s no surprise that 59% of lawyers would use the cloud as well.
Even though lawyers are not using cloud software storage solutions as much as other industries, it’s still a significant part of their office management protocols.
(ABA, Clio Blog)
15. 53% of Lawyers Use Laptops for Much of Their Work Every Day.
Stats from 2021 reveal that 53% of lawyers are using laptops for their daily work.
It’s hard to say if this trend will continue, and whether the desktop will go to the wayside or not is something for future statistics.
For now, it seems that lawyers prefer the stability of a desktop and the flexibility of the laptop to manage their firms.
(ABA 2021)
16. Windows 10 Dominates the Legal Industry While MacOs Expands in The Solo Lawyer Realm.
Among 77% of all lawyers in the United States, Windows is the system of choice, especially in law firms.
However, among solo lawyers who work for themselves, we are seeing growth in MacOS systems since 2020.
It’s a difference of 21% MacOS usage by solo attorneys compared to 16% in 2020.
(ABA 2021)
17. 45% of Legal Professionals Think Technology Will Help Make the Justice System More Equitable.
The decision to adopt certain types of technology in the legal industry requires a lot of thought and measurement of security and privacy protocols.
Lawyers, paralegals, executive assistants, and other staff working at law firms have a fiduciary duty to their clients to ensure their privacy and security.
Therefore, any kind of cyberattack that breaches their data is unacceptable. It’s something that lawyers take seriously.
(Clio 2020)
FAQs
How Many Lawyers Are There in The United States?
As of 2023, there are an estimated 1.3 million lawyers in the United States.
This number has been growing steadily over the past few decades and is expected to continue to grow in the future.
What Do Lawyers Do?
Lawyers are hired to give advice to clients and to represent them as their voice in legal matters across courts and government agencies.
They are trained experts with highly trained staff that can help people seek and get justice. They give you an edge in the justice system.
Outcomes are determined by many factors, but one is the ability of your lawyer to properly represent you, which is also determined by how forthcoming you are with your lawyer.
What Is the Median Salary for A Lawyer?
The median salary for a lawyer in the United States is $126,990.
However, salaries can vary significantly depending on the lawyer’s experience, location, and area of practice.
For example, lawyers who specialize in corporate law or intellectual property law typically earn higher salaries than lawyers who practice in other areas of law.
What Are the Most Common Areas of Practice for Lawyers?
The most common areas of practice for lawyers include:
Civil litigation: This area of law involves representing clients in lawsuits involving personal injury, contract disputes, and other civil matters.
Criminal law: This area of law involves representing clients who have been charged with crimes, such as assault, theft, and drug possession.
Corporate law: Corporate lawyers represent businesses across virtually all types of legal matters like taxes, contracts, mergers, and acquisitions.
Intellectual property law: This area of law involves protecting the rights of inventors, artists, and other creative individuals.
Family law: This area of law involves representing clients in matters related to marriage, divorce, child custody, and adoption.
What Are the Job Prospects for Lawyers?
The job prospects for lawyers are generally good.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of lawyers will grow 8% from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
This growth is expected due to the increasing demand for legal services in a variety of areas, such as business, healthcare, and technology.
What Are the Challenges Facing the Legal Profession?
The legal profession is facing several challenges, including:
The rise of alternative legal service providers: Alternative legal service providers, such as legal clinics and online legal services, are offering lower-cost legal services to consumers.
This is putting pressure on traditional law firms to reduce their fees.
The increasing complexity of the law: The law is becoming increasingly complex, which makes it difficult for lawyers to keep up with the latest changes.
This can lead to errors and missed opportunities for clients.
The declining public trust in lawyers: The public trust in lawyers has been declining in recent years.
This is due to a number of factors, including the high cost of legal services, the perceived arrogance of lawyers, and the high-profile scandals involving lawyers.
Conclusion
The legal profession is a dynamic and ever-changing field.
The latest lawyer statistics provide you with a valuable overview of the current state of the profession.
We learned a lot about lawyers, how much they make, how much they work, and how well they know the consumer base.
Have you ever hired a lawyer?
We also now know how law firms select lawyers to work for them.
Client reviews are vital to that process because consumers are how money is made in the legal business.
It’s likely that reviews also drive new clients to them.
By understanding these lawyer statistics, you can make informed decisions about your career and your legal needs.
