Lawyers are experts in the law. They deal with the interpretation and application of laws, advise clients on legal matters and, if necessary, represent them in court. This job requires a deep understanding of the legal system as well as analytical skills to solve legal problems and find the best solutions for their clients.
Salary for Lawyers in Germany
The salary for lawyers in Germany varies depending on the city, work experience, and industry. On average, the salary is about 60,900 € gross per year. In larger cities like Stuttgart, Munich, and Cologne, higher salaries can be expected, while in smaller cities like Essen and Duisburg, the salaries are slightly lower.
The starting salary for fully qualified lawyers ranges between 45,000 and 60,000 € gross per year, but in exceptional cases can reach up to 140,000 €, especially in large law firms. With increasing work experience, the salary increases, with lawyers having more than 9 years of experience earning an average of 82,454 €.
There are further salary differences in various fields within the legal profession. For example, judges earn about 64,598 €, lawyers 77,056 €, and heads of legal departments 108,572 € per year. However, it should be noted that these figures can vary significantly and individual factors such as final grades and company size play a role.
To work as a lawyer, you usually need to have studied law, which is completed with the first state examination. This is often followed by practical training (legal clerkship), which ends with the second state examination. After successfully passing the exams, lawyers can work in various areas of law, such as criminal law, civil law or employment law.
Lawyers have a wide range of career opportunities, from working in a law firm to working in companies to working in the public sector. They can work as lawyers, judges, public prosecutors or in-house counsel. Positions in politics or non-profit organizations are also open to them, allowing them to have a significant impact on society.
