Business Attorney Salary

A business attorney is a type of lawyer who is employed by a business or a corporation. They can act as both an advocate and an advisor to that specific company who is responsible for dealing with any type of the legal problems effecting that business. This may include but not be limited to bankruptcy, corporate law or contracts, securities, intellectual properties, acquiring a patent, taxes, pensions and benefits, estates or trusts, labor laws, employment laws, immigration laws, etc.

business attorneys represent their clients by filing briefs with the courts as well as other legal documents that are required. They can also give legal advice and negotiate contracts and other business agreements. All businesses need a business attorney. An urban area is known to be the best area for a business attorney to practice as they are more likely to find higher profile clientele and larger cases in an urban type setting.

Obtaining a career as a business attorney requires a juris doctor, also known as a J.D. business attorneys can specifically concentrate on the Business type of Law during their years at law school, or they can also obtain a post J.D., Master of Laws. A certification that would qualify them to be able to work in the field. A business attorney can find their career in representing a small business, as a corporate attorney; merger or contract specialists, or they can start their own businesses.

A Career as a business attorney

Prospective business attorneys must earn their bachelor’s degree, followed by their J.D. Law school can typically take 3-4 years to complete. business attorneys sometimes choose to further specialize in the field. This is done by earning a post J.D. This will usually add an extra year to their studies.

As with all attorneys, business attorneys must obtain their law degree and pass the bar exam in the state which they plan to become employed. They should have full understanding of the issues related to business organizations, in all the areas of law listed above. Employers look for individuals who have strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills. As technology is playing a greater role, attorneys must be computer literate and familiar with legal databases used for accessing information online.

business attorneys have to be persuasive individuals who possess strong skills in negotiating. They must possess the knowledge to understand extremely complex processes, apply legal principles to business situations, and be able to advise businesses concerning their legal rights and various courses of action for navigating the court system.

Types of Business Law

A specific type of business attorney is as a general counsel for a company (the head of its legal department), particularly in a Fortune 500 company, general counsels can receive huge compensations. According to a very reputable magazine, a 2008 survey of the one hundred highest paid business attorneys serving as general counsel showed an average salary of $567,195. General counsels are also eligible for substantial bonuses, stocks in the company, they might even exceed their salaries particularly if their company they are working for performs well.

Although it tends to be an extremely competitive field, the outlook for business attorneys is good. The increasing level of business activity does create more legal transactions and there is an increasing demand for legal services in business related areas, such as intellectual property, venture capital and antitrust law.

Salary for a business attorney

According to very reputable websites, starting salaries for business attorneys were in the $60,000 range annually. With the latter being over $102,000. Job opportunities for business attorneys are expected to grow at an average rate. However, business attorneys must keep up with changes in law to remain competitive in the field.

business attorneys working as corporate counsels had an average salary of around $108,180 per year. business attorneys working as corporate attorneys made about the same, with an average of around $107,720. According to 2008 figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for all lawyers (that is, not just business attorneys) was $110,590. The highest paid lawyers earned more than $166,000 yearly which breaks down to more than $80 per hour.

So if you’re thinking about a career in the field of law, business attorney might be the right fit for you.