there are more lawyers in America than in any other country There are upwards of a million lawyers in the country, and the number is still growing. About 70% are actually practicing law. Some practice by themselves, as sole practitioners. There are also many law firms, consisting of partners (or shareholders), associate lawyers and non-lawyer paralegals, together with secretaries and other staff. Especially in the cities, these firms are often large, sometimes employing hundreds of lawyers in several different cities (and, increasingly in different countries.) Pay is usually quite handsome, running from about two to more than twenty times the national per capita average income. New associates at large urban firms start at over $100,000 per year. The pay scale in smaller firms is considerably lower perhaps less than half as much. Most attorneys bill themselves out to their clients at a rate of about $100 per hour or more; the range of billing rates is from less than $50 to more than $500 per hour.