Skip to main content
⚖️

Legal Careers

Lawyers, paralegals, judges, in-house, public-interest — every legal-field role.

The legal field stretches well beyond BigLaw associates. Public-interest lawyers, in-house counsel, paralegals, court staff, mediators, and judges all sit in the same ecosystem with different routes in.

51 careers in this collection

Compare legal career paths by setting (private practice, in-house, government, non-profit), credential requirements, and pay structure. Bar admission gates the lawyer titles; paralegal and adjacent roles open without it.
💼

Antitrust Lawyer

Growing

Advise on mergers, monopolies, and antitrust enforcement

Up to $700k
💼

White Collar Defense Attorney

Growing

Federal criminal defense

Up to $625k
💼

Securities Lawyer

Growing

Advise on securities offerings, regulation, and enforcement

Up to $600k
💼

Constitutional Lawyer Appellate

Growing

SCOTUS + appellate work

Up to $575k
💼

Plaintiffs Class Action Lawyer

Growing

Mass tort + consumer class actions

Up to $575k
💼

Entertainment Lawyer

Growing

Handle deals for film, TV, music, and creators

Up to $500k
💼

M&A Lawyer

Growing

Advise on merger, acquisition, and private equity deals

Up to $500k
💼

Media Rights Lawyer

Growing

Negotiate media rights deals for sports, film, and streaming

Up to $500k
💼

Sports Lawyer

Growing

Advise athletes, teams, leagues, and agencies on sports-related matters

Up to $500k
💼

Maritime Lawyer

Growing

Handle admiralty and maritime law matters

Up to $450k
💼

Trade Lawyer (International)

Growing

Advise on tariffs, sanctions, and cross-border trade

Up to $450k
💼

Energy Regulatory Lawyer

Growing

FERC + state PUC practice

Up to $425k
💼

Entertainment Lawyer Music

Growing

Music industry deals

Up to $425k
💼

International Trade Lawyer

Growing

Tariffs + trade disputes

Up to $425k
💼

Maritime Lawyer Admiralty

Growing

Admiralty and shipping law

Up to $425k
💼

Sports Agent Lawyer

Growing

Athlete representation + contracts

Up to $425k
💼

Sports Broadcasting Rights Lawyer

Growing

Media rights + licensing

Up to $425k
💼

Aviation Lawyer

Growing

Handle aviation disputes, safety cases, and commercial deals

Up to $400k
💼

Cybersecurity Lawyer

Growing

Advise on breach response, regulatory compliance, and cyber risk

Up to $400k
💼

Employment Lawyer

Growing

Handle employment disputes, policies, and investigations

Up to $400k
💼

Privacy Lawyer (GDPR/CCPA)

Growing

Advise on global privacy regulations and enforcement

Up to $400k
💼

Space Lawyer

Growing

Navigate space law, regulation, and commercial contracts

Up to $400k
💼

Art Lawyer Authentication

Growing

Art market + cultural property

Up to $385k
💼

FDA Regulatory Lawyer

Growing

Drug + device approvals

Up to $385k
💼

Cannabis Lawyer

Growing

Advise cannabis businesses navigating federal and state regs

Up to $350k
💼

Environmental Law Attorney

Growing

Clean Air + Clean Water + Superfund

Up to $325k
💼

Immigration Lawyer EB-5

Growing

Investor visa + regional centers

Up to $325k
🏛️

Corporate Lawyer

High demand

Structure complex business transactions and protect corporate interests

Up to $300k
💼

Election Lawyer

Growing

Advise campaigns, parties, and candidates on election law

Up to $300k
💼

Estate Planning Attorney

Growing

Draft wills, trusts, and estate plans

Up to $300k
💼

Family Law Attorney

Growing

Handle divorce, custody, and family disputes

Up to $300k
💼

Judge

Growing

Preside over court proceedings and deliver rulings that shape justice

Up to $280k
📜

Legal Counsel

High demand

Provide expert legal advice that enables business growth while managing risk

Up to $280k
💼

Patent Attorney

Growing

Protect inventions and intellectual property through patent law expertise

Up to $250k
💼

Nonprofit + Tax-Exempt Lawyer

Growing

501(c)(3) + exempt orgs

Up to $245k
💼

Immigration Judge

Growing

EOIR immigration court

Up to $225k
💼

Labor Union Lawyer

Growing

Represent unions + workers

Up to $225k
💼

Tax Attorney

Growing

Advise clients on tax strategy and represent them in disputes with authorities

Up to $220k
💼

Administrative Law Judge

Growing

SSA, NLRB, agency ALJ

Up to $215k
💼

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Growing

Defend individuals accused of crimes and protect their constitutional rights

Up to $200k
💼

Elder Law Attorney

Growing

Medicaid planning + estates

Up to $195k
💼

Real Estate Lawyer

Growing

Handle property transactions, disputes, and development legal matters

Up to $180k
💼

Tribal Law Attorney

Growing

Tribal government + gaming

Up to $175k
💼

Environmental Lawyer

Growing

Protect natural resources through environmental regulation and litigation

Up to $170k
💼

IP Lawyer

Growing

A professional specializing in patents, trademarks, and intellectual property.

Up to $170k
💼

Tax Lawyer

Growing

A professional specializing in tax planning, structuring, and controversy.

Up to $170k
💼

Special Education Lawyer

Growing

IDEA advocacy for families

Up to $165k
💼

Family Lawyer

Growing

Guide families through divorce, custody, and domestic legal matters with care

Up to $160k
💼

Immigration Lawyer

Growing

Help individuals and families navigate complex immigration systems

Up to $160k
💼

Foreclosure Defense Attorney

Growing

Defend homeowners in foreclosure

Up to $145k
📚

Paralegal

Growing

Conduct legal research and prepare documents that support case strategy

Up to $90k🏠 Remote-friendly

Not sure which path fits you?

Take our Career Match quiz — 10 minutes, free, no signup. Get personalized recommendations from 2,536 career paths.

Take the Career Match quiz →