How much does a court-appointed lawyer make?
Question:
How much does a court-appointed lawyer make?
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Answer:
According to PayScale, a court-appointed lawyer (otherwise known as a public defender) can expect to earn between $41,000 and $91,000 a year, with a median annual salary of $60,834, as of October 2020. The reason that this salary can vary so widely is based on the experience of the public defender, along with where they are working in the country, as the pay will fluctuate between cities and states. This also does not include any bonuses, profit sharing, or overtime, which can sometimes make a significant difference in take-home earnings. The level of experience will be one of the biggest determinants in salary though, because public defenders that are just starting out in their careers can earn as much as $20,000 less than those with a decade or more of experience. The geographic location will also impact this figure greatly, and PayScale gives the example of how public defenders in New York City and Los Angeles earn 28% higher than the median wage, closely followed by Las Vegas, where they earn 20% higher.
For more information about becoming a lawyer, check out this article: How Do I Become a Lawyer?
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