Lawyers in Virginia
Considering working as a Lawyers in Virginia? Here’s what the data says. Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
What do Lawyers Make in Virginia?
For a lawyers working in Virginia, the typical annual salary is $157,980 per year (or roughly $75.95/hour).
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $77,670 | $37.34 |
| 25th percentile | $101,060 | $48.59 |
| Median (50th) | $157,980 | $75.95 |
| 75th percentile | $203,440 | $97.81 |
| 90th percentile | n/a | n/a |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Virginia compared to the national average — is 0.93.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, lawyers earn a median of $73,181 per year ($35.18/hour), exceeding the Virginia median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 151,396 lawyers nationwide. In Virginia alone, around 18,420 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 7,430 lawyers.
Top Virginia Metros for Lawyers
The largest metro-area employers of lawyers in Virginia.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | 3,710 | $132,860 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 2,600 | $126,250 |
| Roanoke, VA | 480 | $127,270 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 390 | $132,240 |
| Lynchburg, VA | 210 | $118,610 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 160 | $97,240 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | 140 | $106,410 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 140 | $106,150 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | 80 | $99,660 |
Top States for Lawyers Employment
These states have the highest employment of lawyers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 92,580 |
| New York | 91,440 |
| Florida | 59,010 |
| Texas | 54,680 |
| Illinois | 33,430 |
| District of Columbia | 33,430 |
| Pennsylvania | 26,340 |
| New Jersey | 23,360 |
| Georgia | 23,010 |
| Massachusetts | 22,020 |
| Ohio | 19,690 |
| Virginia | 18,420 |
| North Carolina | 17,380 |
| Colorado | 17,160 |
| Maryland | 16,420 |
| Michigan | 16,060 |
| Washington | 13,140 |
| Minnesota | 12,880 |
| Arizona | 12,130 |
| Missouri | 11,950 |
Highest-Paying States for Lawyers
These states pay the most for lawyers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $197,790 |
| District of Columbia | $191,880 |
| Massachusetts | $179,050 |
| New York | $177,210 |
| Delaware | $172,710 |
| Colorado | $167,970 |
| Connecticut | $159,240 |
| New Jersey | $158,470 |
| Virginia | $157,980 |
| Illinois | $157,320 |
Skills
Top lawyers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for lawyers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
- Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case.
- Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
- Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
- Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
- Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit.
- Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts.
- Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies to determine ramifications for cases.
- Negotiate settlements of civil disputes.
- Supervise legal assistants.
- Negotiate contractual agreements.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Processing Information
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Google Analytics In-demand technologies: Microsoft Office software
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Law
- Legal Research
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like lawyers include:
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
- Compliance Officers
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
- Labor Relations Specialists
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts
Also Known As
Admiralty Lawyer, Agency Legal Counsel, Attorney, Attorney General, Attorney at Law, Barrister, Business Lawyer, Chief Counsel, City Attorney, City Solicitor, Civil Lawyer, Civil Litigation Attorney, Civil Rights Attorney, Claim Attorney, Commonwealth Attorney.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 23-1011.00
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