Average Income of Divorce Lawyers
Lawyers who practice family law are the ones who handle divorce cases. Few lawyers, if any, only practice divorce law, but nearly every lawyer who practices family law would handle divorces. Lawyers usually bill their clients by the hour, and most ask for a retainer in advance.
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How Lawyers Are Paid
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Each party in a divorce usually hires a lawyer. Some couples divorce without lawyers and occasionally a divorcing couple will hire a single lawyer between them. However, if one party contests the divorce, or if disputed issues need to be mediated, both parties are better served by retaining their own counsel. Child custody issues or disputes dividing assets also require each party to have a lawyer.
Most lawyers charge between $100 and $450 an hour. Some allow a client to pay as the work is performed. Some, however, require a retainer of of $500 to $10,000. This retainer must be paid up-front. The hourly rate, as well as any expenses, is drawn from this retainer. Once the retainer is depleted, the attorney requests more money to continue.
Median Salary for Divorce Lawyers
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A popular pay scale website, Payscale.com, reports the median salary made by divorce lawyers is $67,000 as of August, 2010. This number was based on the self-report of only 31 individuals. Data on family law is more relevant and broader.
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Median Salary for Family Lawyers
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The median salary for an attorney practicing family law is $60,258 as of August, 2010. This number is based on thousands of respondents so it is more reliable than the number for divorce lawyers.
The range of median salaries for attorneys practicing family law is from $41,748 to $78,611. This varies by city and state, years of experience, years specializing in family law and skill.
Other websites find similar salary data. A popular job search site, Indeed.com, puts the average salary of attorneys who practice family law at $76,000 as of August, 2010.
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