Corporate Lawyers
Overview
Introduction
Corporate lawyers, sometimes known as corporation lawyers or attorneys, corporate counsels, and general counsels, advise corporations concerning their legal rights, obligations, and privileges. They study constitutions, statutes, previous decisions, ordinances, and decisions of quasi-judicial bodies that are applicable to corporations. They advise corporations on the pros and cons of prosecuting or defending a lawsuit. They act as agents of the corporation in various business transactions and seek...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Robert Half Legal, a national staffing firm, reports that first-year lawyers earned salaries that ranged from $77,000 to $122,750 in 2024, depending on the size of their firm. Corporate lawyers with two to three years of experience earned salaries that ranged from $93,250 to $144,500; with four to nine years of experience, $104,500 to $165,500; and with 10 or more years of experience, $137,750 ...
Work Environment
Corporate lawyers typically work in comfortable, well-lit offices. Those employed at large companies typically have the use of top-of-the-line technology and office equipment, as well as the support of a team of paralegals, legal secretaries, and administrative professionals. Work hours are typically 9 to 5, although some evening and weekend work may be required.
Lawyers involved in liti...
Outlook
Employment for lawyers is expected to grow by 5 percent from 2023 to 2033, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Job prospects for corporate lawyers should be even better. Robert Half Legal, a national staffing firm, identifies general business/corporate law as an in-demand practice area. "Increasingly, companies are bringing legal work in-house to control costs, creating mor...