Highest paid kind of law?

Question

I've been thinking about going into law for a while and been doing some research but I can't seem to find anything on the kind of money it brings in. I'd like to find out what part of law is the highest paid so i know what law I can go into and how i can work up to being a successful lawyer.

I'm thinking at the moment about criminal law because it sounds interesting and sounds as if would enjoy it, but does it pay well?

I'd be grateful to here your comments.

Answer 1

Mass tort law, they're the ones that make all other attorneys look bad, but they make the most doing it.  

Answer 2

In criminal law, the vast majority of your clients will be going to prison.  they tend not to pay after that.  There are not very many wealthy criminal defendants to pay up front.  The money is not in the type of law one practices but in the structure of the practice.  The highest paid lawyers do not get paid to practice law at all.  Instead, they start a law firm.  They grow and expand and they ultimately own a firm in which other lawyers are bringing in money and the founder gets a cut of every dollar.  The same is true in any industry.  Those who sell their labor can get paid well, but those who sell other people's labor are the ones who get rich.

Answer 3

As a criminal lawyer, I believe that the satisfaction I receive in helping out a client who was made a life-changing mistake is worth more than representing an insurance company or a big corporation protect their money.  You can make decent money as a criminal defense lawyer, easily 6 figures within 5 years.