Hiring guide · Business & Office
How to Hire a Lawyer
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring lawyers, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $159,670), recruit through community college business programs and career centers, verify State bar admission where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for lawyers
There are about 863,700 lawyers employed in the U.S., with roughly 28,700 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +4.7% from 2025–35 (about as fast as average). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $78,360–$102,990 | $37.67–$49.51 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $159,670 | $76.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $221,370 | $106.43 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $351,600 | $169.04 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Doctoral or professional degree (typical entry level)
- Licensing or certification required in your state
- Legal research
- Persuasion
Nice-to-haves
- State bar admission
- Board certification
- MPRE
- Experience with westlaw or Lexis
Where to find lawyers
- Community college business programs and career centers
- Professional associations (such as SHRM, PMI and state CPA societies)
- LinkedIn and niche job boards
- Internal promotion from front-line roles
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Attorney, Counsel, Litigator, Corporate Attorney
Screening checklist
- A skills assessment (Excel, writing or role software)
- Credential verification (CPA, PMP, SHRM-CP, paralegal certificate)
- Reference checks focused on reliability and accuracy
- A structured interview with a short work sample
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Why law?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
2. “What practice area interests you?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
3. “Describe your writing experience.”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
4. “How do you handle pressure?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
5. “Describe a case you worked on.”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Research a Legal Question (see the steps)
- Prepare a Witness for a Deposition (see the steps)
- Draft a Clear Business Contract (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as J.D., Bar exam, Litigation
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Lawyer 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Lawyer training. Show them the path forward: Associate → Senior Associate → Partner → General Counsel or Judge.
Hiring lawyers: FAQ
How much should I pay a lawyer?
The U.S. median wage for lawyers is $159,670 per year ($76.76/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($102,990), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($221,370). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a lawyer have?
BLS lists “doctoral or professional degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for State bar admission and Board certification where relevant, plus skills such as legal research, legal writing, and negotiation.
How long does it take to train a new lawyer?
Becoming qualified typically takes 7 years after high school. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”