Key takeaways
- “Big Law” is a term used in the legal field when referring to large law firms in major cities.
- A career in Big Law can set you on track for a high-paying salary. However, the field is highly competitive and careers tend to be demanding.
- Big Law and the associated income can be a quick way of offsetting law school student debt. Working between your law school semesters can be one way of earning an income while you study.
Big Law is the term used to describe large law firms in big cities like New York and Chicago. Becoming a lawyer requires a significant investment of time and money, though it might pay off if you get into Big Law: Your starting salary at a big firm could be $245,000 or more.
Big Law, sometimes styled as BigLaw or biglaw, describes work with the biggest and most prestigious law firms in the United States. Generally speaking, these law firms tend to cluster in major cities like New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Chicago. However, it’s not uncommon for Big Law offices to have a major presence overseas.
Big Law firms tend to charge clients incredibly high fees, and lawyers who work with these firms are able to earn higher salaries as a result.
Big Law salary scale
Lawyer salaries can vary widely depending on where you decide to practice and what field of law you choose to pursue. Further, lawyers tend to earn more as they progress in their careers, especially once they have five or more years of experience.
Recent figures from the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) also show that the size of the law firm plays a huge role in how much lawyers earn. Based on salary figures from 2023, here’s how median starting lawyer salaries stack up based on law firm size:
| Law firm size | Median starting lawyer salaries in 2023 |
| 100 or fewer lawyers | $155,000 |
| 101 to 250 lawyers | $160,000 |
| 251 to 500 lawyers | $190,000 |
| 501 to 700 lawyers | $200,000 |
| 701+ lawyers | $215,000 |
Also note that more experienced lawyers tend to earn considerably more. Here’s how law salaries compare for lawyers in their eighth year across law firms of different sizes.
| Law firm size | Median salary in 2023 for eighth-year lawyers |
| 100 or fewer lawyers | $213,950 |
| 101 to 250 lawyers | $217,775 |
| 251 to 500 lawyers | $235,000 |
| 501 to 700 lawyers | $300,000 |
| 701 to 1,000 lawyers | $310,000 |
| 1,000+ lawyers | $395,000 |
Where you live in the country can also dictate your ability to earn a high salary, and because Big Law firms tend to be based out of large cities, the potential earnings are much greater. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that lawyers in the following metropolitan areas earned the highest annual mean wages in May of 2023:
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $268,570.
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT: $252,210.
- Boulder, CO: $251,490
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $235,940.
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: $223,890.
Is it hard to get into Big Law?
Getting into Big Law is difficult, but not impossible. Typically, you will have to attend a prestigious law school, as these are the institutions that Big Law firms most often look to when making employment offers. According to media site Above The Law, Northwestern, Columbia and University of Virginia have the highest percentage of their graduating classes landing in the field.
Even more important is getting into a Big Law summer program. According to the National Association for Law Placement, 96.4 percent of second-year law students in these programs receive offers for full-time employment as associates after graduation.
Why does Big Law pay so well?
Big Law firms pay well in part because of the extremely competitive market, in which firms raise salaries to keep up with each other and capture top talent. That competition creates a wider divide between the largest firms and the mid-level and small firms. Big Law firms also typically represent clients capable of paying higher fees, generating more money for the firm, and allowing salaries to rise.
Paying for law school
Becoming a lawyer requires a significant financial investment; not only do you have to earn an undergraduate degree, but you have to pay for law school, too. You’ll also spend a significant amount of extra time in college instead of in the working world, which can leave you struggling to catch up in terms of your lifetime earnings.
That said, the average lawyer’s salary can more than make up for the extra time and money you spend. The key is making sure that you pay for law school in a responsible manner and that you choose a college option that makes sense for your needs and goals.
When it comes to paying for law school, there are a few ways to find funding:
- Federal loans: Law students can borrow up to $20,500 each academic year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans. From there, Direct PLUS Loans let you borrow up to the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid you receive. With federal loans, lawyers may be able to find student loan forgiveness through Public Service Loan Forgiveness — though Big Law firms are unlikely to count as qualified employers.
- Private law school loans: After you max out federal student loans, you can also apply for private law school loans. These loans can help you fill in the gaps in funding so you can finish law school, and they often come with low rates and flexible repayment plans.
- Scholarships and grants: Scholarships and grants don’t have to be repaid. Law school students may be able to find scholarships through local organizations, schools or scholarship search engines.
Bottom line
If you’re after a Big Law career and a corresponding salary, going to law school is a must. However, you should still put thought into the costs involved in going to law school, as well as the time you’ll need to spend. If you can keep law school debt at a minimum while working your way toward a Big Law career, you’ll have the best shot at getting a return on your investment.
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