Overall Statistics

• The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, as of May 2008, lawyers in the 10th percentile earn $54,460, those in the 25th percentile earn $74,980, and those in the 75th percentile earn $163,320, the median salary being $110,590.
  
  

Industry and Specialization

• Salaries in the legal field also vary significantly by the specialization of the lawyer. For example, the annual average salary for lawyers working in local government is $89,320, while average for lawyers working in the management of companies and enterprises is $151,820.
  
  

Job Location

• The location of the job also plays a factor in the salary that recent graduates can expect when searching for their job. For example, the mean annual salary for lawyers working in New York State is $145,400, while for those working in in New Jersey is $123,210.
  
  

Size of the Firm

• The size of the firm will also play a role in the starting salary. Graduates who get positions in large national firms are bound to have a much higher starting salary than those working for smaller, less known firms, or in local government.
  
  

Other Considerations

• In addition to the above factors, the starting salary of a law school graduate will also largely depend on his or her educational background and academic performance. Those graduating from a top tier law-school with excellent grades are likely to earn much higher starting salaries than those who graduate with a worse academic record from less renown law schools. Many law schools publish the information about the starting salaries that their graduates earn, so it is best to check with the admissions office of each school to get this specific information.