It’s no secret that most lawyers earn a modest living. A medical lawyer is an attorney who specializes in legal advice and services in the medical industry or individual/public health. They are one of the highest-paid types of attorneys. How much do medical lawyers make? Let’s find out.
We scouted information from the best salary research sites and experts such as Glassdoor, Juris Education, and Reed & Reed law firm. Here we’ll discuss a medical lawyer’s salary ranges, factors that affect it, and what it takes to be one.
What Do Medical Lawyers Do?
Medical lawyers represent patients who have been victims of medical malpractice or breach of duty by doctors or hospitals while under their care. They advise, represent, and write legal documents for clients, often with the assistance of a medical paralegal.
Reed & Reed law firm enumerates some medical-related legal concerns medical lawyers settle: Improper Use of Anesthetics, Dental Malpractice, Surgical Errors, Prescription Issues, and Childbirth Issues.
What It Takes To Be A Medical Lawyer
Entering the legal profession is arduous and no small task. Those who gravitate toward an interest in public health and the medical business become medical lawyers. David Merson, a former Admissions Counselor at Brown University and Cornell Law School shares what a medical lawyer’s legal journey looks like:
- Obtain a Bachelor's Degree: Law schools prefer undergraduate degree programs that establish a well-rounded education. It is a prerequisite for enrolling.
- Pass the LSAT: The Law School Admission Test is an entrance exam for most law schools. It has these sections: Reading Comprehension, Logical Reasoning (Arguments), Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games), an Unscored Section, and LSAT Writing which is a separate essay. Top law schools require a minimum LSAT score.
- Clear the GRE: More than 50% of law schools accredited by the American Bar Association accept the Graduate Record Examinations scores for admissions. However, only a few applicants get accepted. GRE is the world’s most widely used admissions test for graduate & professional school.
- Finish Law School: You must acquire a law degree, with the remaining two years spent on elective classes on medical malpractice and public health law. Accept internships/fellowships and gain practical experience in areas in the health field, like medical-legal clinics.
- Prepare and Pass the Bar Exam. To prove your legal knowledge and understanding, you must pass the bar exam in your jurisdiction and get licensed. You cannot legally practice law without passing that state's bar examination.
- Get a Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) Earning one might open up new possibilities, like gaining an international career. In addition, you can take clinical experiences and internships in the field to Pimp your CV.
How Long Does It Take To Be A Medical Lawyer?
To be a Medical lawyer, you need four years of an undergraduate degree, three years to finish law school, take internships and pass the bar exam, and it takes one year to get a master’s degree, which is optional. You’ll need 7-8 years in total.
How Much Do Medical Lawyers Make A Year?
In the U.S., medical lawyers are estimated to make $155,748 annually. A medical lawyer’s average salary or median salary is $138,334, which data is based on the proprietary total pay estimate model of glassdoor.com and salaries collected from its users.
The highest annual salary for a Medical lawyer in the U.S. is around $240,000, while the lowest is around $80,000. That’s not all; a medical lawyer’s cash bonuses, commissions, tips, and profit sharing can get about $17,000 per year.
Where Do Medical Lawyers Get Paid The Most?
A medical lawyer is paid differently by the company. Glassdoor lists these high-paying companies for medical lawyers:
- Wachtell Lipton $245,052/yr
- The Home Depot $197,133/yr
- Aaliyah's Towing & Recovery $160,449/yr
- BSA Health System $158,991/yr
- Rockefeller University $141,408/yr
Factors That Impact A Medical Lawyer’s Salary
Here are the salary determinants of a medical lawyer:
- Number of years in the field and seniority: A medical lawyer packed with years of experience has higher pay.
- Area of Expertise: Area of Expertise. Specialist lawyers with unique expertise besides the basics may have a higher salary.
- Law school attended: Certain law schools are hard to get into. The reputation of the school you graduated from affects your salary.
- Location: Businesses in a major metropolitan city tend to offer higher salaries than in rural areas.
- Size of the workplace: More prominent law firms tend to offer more enormous salaries. It also varies in the private/public sector.
Conclusion
Medical lawyers earn one of the highest median wages among other fields of law. Other than them, some of the highest-paid lawyers are in intellectual property, tax law, corporate and securities law, sports, and entertainment.
