How Many Lawyers Are There in the US in 2024? (Statistics)

As of 2022, there are over 1.35 million lawyers licensed to practice law in the United States. This staggering number reflects the size and breadth of the legal profession across the country.

But what‘s behind this figure? And how has the population of US lawyers changed over time?

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll examine the latest data and statistics to spotlight key trends shaping the legal landscape now and in the years ahead. We‘ll look at geographic distribution, lawyer salaries, practice specialties, future outlook and more to unpack the question: just how many lawyers are there in America today?

A Profession of Over 1.35 Million Strong

First, let‘s zoom in on the latest numbers on lawyers across the country.

According to new data from the American Bar Association (ABA), there are currently 1,352,027 lawyers in the US as of 2022. Within this lawyer population:

• 1,156,104 are active lawyers permitted to practice law
• 195,923 are inactive lawyers (retired or not currently practicing).

These statistics demonstrate the sheer size of the legal profession. With over 1.3 million professionals nationwide, the law clearly provides extensive career opportunities and options.

And the ABA data reveals the lawyer population has grown steadily over the long run. Over the past five decades, the number of US lawyers has increased by over 200%:

As shown in the table, the lawyer population has expanded significantly since the 1970s. Growth averaged around 30% each decade between 1972 and 2002. And even in the past 10 years, the total has increased by over 6%.

This sustained growth reflects rising demand for legal services from individuals and businesses over the past half century. As regulations multiply and commerce expands, the expertise of legal professionals becomes ever more crucial.

To put the lawyer count in perspective, there are currently:

• 602,000 medical doctors in the US
• 1.4 million engineers in the US
• 1.7 million high school teachers in the US

So while substantial, the pool of lawyers remains smaller than some other major professions. The stringent educational requirements to become a lawyer limit expansion of the field.

Now, let‘s explore where America‘s lawyers are located and how much they earn.

New York and California Home to Most Lawyers

The approximately 1.35 million lawyers in the US are spread across all 50 states. However, some states contain far greater lawyer populations than others:

New York has by far the highest concentration of legal professionals at 184,662 total lawyers. This equals approximately 96 lawyers for every 10,000 New York residents. The high figure reflects New York City‘s status as a hub for major law firms and financial institutions that employ lawyers.

California comes in second with 168,569 lawyers or 43 lawyers per every 10,000 state residents. Populous states like Texas and Florida have fewer total lawyers but the concentration remains higher than most other states.

Drilling down locally, most lawyers congregate in major metropolitan areas. After New York City, the cities with the most lawyers are:

• Washington D.C. – 77,965 lawyers
• Chicago, IL – 60,835 lawyers
• Los Angeles, CA – 58,672 lawyers
• Houston, TX – 33,809 lawyers
• Dallas, TX – 30,558 lawyers

This distribution aligns closely with cities containing major companies, government agencies, courts and large law firms that drive legal employment.

Now let‘s examine the earning potential of these hundreds of thousands of legal professionals.

Salaries: Well Paid but Disparities Exist

In addition to housing a large volume of lawyers, New York also offers the highest lawyer salaries in the country. According to the ABA, average annual earnings for lawyers in New York state approach $190,000:

However, lawyer pay varies significantly based on several factors:

Experience level – Entry-level lawyers in New York at large firms earn around $190,000, while seasoned partners take home $500,000 or more.

Firm size – Lawyers at top national firms earn upwards of 30% more than those at mid-size regional firms and small local practices.

Practice area – Corporate lawyers make far more than public interest lawyers. The highest pay goes to lawyers practicing securities law or tax law.

Geographic region – Lawyers in New York City or San Francisco earn higher salaries than those in most midwestern or southern cities.

So while the average pay nationwide hovers around $126,000, incomes at the high and low end can differ dramatically based on role, firm and location.

Finding Work: Employment Outlook for New Lawyers

Lawyers enjoy generous pay and robust job opportunities relative to many professions. However, securing that first legal job remains competitive.

Over 200 ABA-approved law schools nationwide graduate around 40,000 new lawyers each year. But within 10 months after graduation, only around 68% of graduates land jobs that require passing the bar exam or are considered "JD-advantage" roles, according to ABA data.

Many prospects take part-time or temporary law clerk positions as they continue their job search. Graduates of highly ranked law schools often land coveted roles at major firms paying $190,000 or more starting.

By contrast, around 15% of graduates are unemployed 10 months after finishing law school. Limited positions and high student debt pose challenges.

That said, projections point to solid continued job growth for lawyers. The Labor Department forecasts 7% total growth for lawyer employment between 2020 and 2030, faster than the 4% average for all occupations. Ongoing business growth and complex regulations will drive legal hiring.

Those who set themselves apart with strong credentials, legal experience and networking have bright prospects within this competitive legal job market.

Now let‘s examine the many different career paths lawyers pursue.

Legal Specialties: Diverse Practice Areas

Beyond gathering basic headcounts, it‘s also useful to understand the major legal practice areas lawyers work within. Major specialties include:

• Criminal Law: Represent defendants or the government in criminal proceedings ranging from white collar crime to capital punishment cases. Growing public defender roles offer opportunities.
• Corporate/Business: Advise companies on corporate structuring, regulatory compliance, contracts, mergers and other complex transactions. In demand at major urban law firms.
• Family: Assist with divorce, child custody and support, domestic abuse and other family legal matters. Ranks among the most common legal focuses.
• Personal Injury: Advocate for plaintiffs who suffered harm in areas like medical malpractice, slip and falls, vehicle accidents and defective products. Often a contingency fee model.
• Estate Planning: Prepare wills and trusts, offer probate services after a death and advise on estate taxes. Retiring baby boomers are driving demand.
• Intellectual Property: Register and litigate patents, trademarks, copyrights and other IP rights for individuals and companies. Crucial in the tech sector.
• Tax: Provide tax preparation and planning advice to individuals and corporations. Represent clients in audits and disputes with the IRS.
• Real Estate: Facilitate residential and commercial real estate transactions like purchases, sales and leases. Fluctuates with the housing market.
• Immigration: Assist with visa applications, deportation defense, and residency and citizenship petitions. Demand tied to immigration policy shifts.
• Environmental: Counsel clients on meeting regulatory standards and defending against environmental legal action. Expanding field.

This overview shows the diversity within the legal profession. Law students gravitate to different specialties based on interests and career aspirations.

Now let‘s look at how technology is impacting these various practice areas going forward.

The Future of Law: Tech, Data and AI

Like most professions today, technology stands to substantially influence the future of a legal career in the coming decade. Key developments include:

• Automating routine tasks – Mundane legal work like document review and due diligence is increasingly handled by AI tools rather than junior lawyers. This may reduce hiring for some entry-level roles.
• Advanced data analysis – Algorithms can now analyze case law and legal documents to uncover patterns, precedents and arguments beyond human capacity. This "legal analytics" aids research and strategy.
• Improved client access – Lawyers utilize secure client portals, videoconferencing and other technology to communicate conveniently with clients. Enables remote and mobile practice.
• Targeted marketing – Data mining helps law firms identify potential clients most likely to need services. Allows tailored marketing approaches.
• Enhanced compliance – Automated tools help firms manage billing, case files and other operational areas. Improves transparency and error reduction.

While AI and data will disrupt aspects of the legal field, human intuition, judgment and relationships will remain the core of quality legal counsel. Lawyers of the future must embrace technology as a tool, while focusing on the critical human element of their work.

Key Challenges Facing the Profession

Despite bright opportunities, the legal profession also faces challenges to address going forward:

• Work-life balance – The long hours and deadline pressures of law practice contribute to high stress. The ABA reports lawyers suffer from depression, anxiety and substance abuse at elevated rates. Younger lawyers increasingly demand flexibility and balance.
• Diversity – While lawyer demographics have diversified substantially, white men still disproportionately occupy leadership roles. Retention and promotion of women, minority and LGBTQ lawyers remains an issue.
• Access to justice – Low-income citizens often lack quality legal representation on basic needs like housing disputes or child custody. Calls exist for more pro bono and low-bono services.
• Evolving education – Critics argue law schools do not adequately prepare graduates for technology‘s impact. Coursework and training programs must adapt.

Proactive investments in lawyer well-being programs, diverse hiring and retention initiatives and legal technology instruction can help the profession overcome these hurdles.

The Importance of Lawyers in Society

Behind the volumes of statistics we‘ve examined exist over 1 million living, breathing lawyers working daily to support clients, enact justice and shape communities.

These professionals include:

• James, a young Houston attorney helping immigrant families navigate visa applications. He works weekends at a neighborhood legal clinic address clients‘ questions.
• Lisa, a seasoned New York litigator excelling in the courtroom defending civil rights issues and workplace discrimination cases. She mentors younger female associates on advancing their careers.
• John, a 2001 law graduate and father of three who made partner at a Los Angeles firm. He manages key corporate accounts but still makes his kids‘ sports games.
• Abdul, a former patrol officer who became a Philadelphia public defender. He forges bonds with his clients thanks to his unique background.

Sarah, one of just a handful of women partners at her Chicago law firm. She persevered through discrimination early on and now proudly pays it forward.

Behind the millions of legal procedures, cases, closings and contracts lawyers handle yearly are real people who care about their clients and communities. While the practice of law changes, this human dedication endures.

Conclusion

As our deep dive has shown, over 1.35 million lawyers currently practice in the US across a spectrum of specialties. Steady growth has expanded lawyer ranks over the decades, concentrated in major urban centers. While competitive and constantly evolving, the legal profession offers diverse career paths and societal impact.

Lawyers serve the irreplaceable role of guiding clients, upholding laws, and enacting justice. Through expertise, ethics and advocacy, they apply the law while advancing social progress. The future legal landscape will inevitably change, but the need for talented, compassionate attorneys committed to their clients and community will remain.

Sources

[1] American Bar Association Legal Profession Statistics
[2] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
[3] Lawyers by the Numbers, Fast Facts
[4] National Association for Legal Career Professionals (NALP)
[5] U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates