The number of actively practicing attorneys in the United States is at an all time high, leaping 14.5 percent over what it was 10 years prior. Conducted by the American Bar Association (ABA), the National Lawyer Population Survey calculates that there are presently 1,352,027 individuals practicing law; in 2009, that count was 1,180,386. You must go back 21 years to discover an era when there were less than a million. Not surprisingly, states with the largest general populations carry the highest quantity of attorneys. New York leads the way with 182,296 practicing lawyers living there. The Empire State is followed by California, Texas, Florida and Illinois.
One reason for the upsurge might be the compensation. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that the median annual salary for legal counselors sits at $120,910, working out roughly to over $58 per hour. Such financial potential may partially explain the rise of women entering the profession: 10 years ago the number of male lawyers was more than double that of females; in 2019 the ratio has inched closer, i.e. nine women to every 16 men. Another incentibe could be opportunity. The BLS predicts an eight percent jump in job openings for lawyers by 2026.
With an abundance of legal talent in the U.S., a safe assumption is that the newly minted lawyers represent the full range of competency — from stellar to less than adequate. This leaves prospective clients — particularly those who rarely have need to retain an attorney — with more choices…and question marks. What are the right criteria in selecting a lawyer? Academic success? Years in practice? Associated attorneys? A sophisticated website? Researching backgrounds and reputations — through internet forums or by word of mouth — is a time-consuming and, sometimes, frustrating exercise. An effective way to narrow the options affords clients efficiency and peace of mind.
Attorneys who wish to stand out among this ever-swelling pack do have recourse in better marketing. Through a rigorous and merit-based evaluation, Lawyers of Distinction vets and ranks its applicants according to their notable legal accomplishments and their standing among their colleagues. Using 12 different indices, this organization determines which lawyers are truly outstanding and thereby worthy of promotion. Since it does not direct clients to attorneys, it is not a referral service. Instead, it highlights the work and character of its lawyers in various media outlets, letting the public decide who is worth retaining.
Lawyers of Distinction adopts tight criteria for those who apply or are nominated by peers. At the same time, it casts a wide public relations net for those who make the cut. Influential with media outlets like the New York Times, Fox News, CNN, the ABA Journal, USA Today and other national communications organizations, Lawyers of Distinction helps affiliated attorneys put their names front and center of the public eye, guaranteeing optimal professional exposure. Counselors of notable achievement, strong work ethic and high standards of integrity can benefit from connecting with Lawyers of Distinction.
Source: http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/lawyer-count-in-the-us-increases-14.5-from-a-decade-ago
