So, who are they? Here is a quick look in the wealthiest lawyers in the entire world, ranked from the lowest net worth to the highest. Please be aware that the individuals on this list are all practicing lawyers or judges. There are loads of additional "lawyers" using a substantially higher net worth, but they just have a law degree and no longer use it, go to
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Harish Salve: $6 million
At 59 years old, Harish Salve has worked hard to develop a reputation among India's best (and most expensive) attorneys, specializing in commercial, constitutional, and taxation law. Salve, that comes from a long line of attorneys and formerly served as the Solicitor General of India, currently charges customers about $45,000 a day. Along with representing several government entities, large company clients, and industrialist Mukesh Ambani, he's represented Bollywood stars in criminal cases. In fact, he's often known as famed actor Salman Khan's "guardian angel" for keeping him out of jail on a hit and run charge. (Indian prisons are renowned for harsh conditions)
Joe Jamail: $1.7 billion
Although he passed away at the age of 90 at December 2015, Joe Jamail makes this record because he had been the wealthiest practicing attorney in the USA at the time of his passing. Often referred to as the "King of Torts," he represented Pennzoil at a 1985 lawsuit against rival Texaco. His contingency fee was $335 following the courts decided in Pennzoil's favor. The 1953 graduate from the University of Texas School of Law was a former marine who had a longstanding reputation in the courtroom to be abrasive, rude, and vulgar. However, outside the courtroom, he was famous for his generous philanthropy.
Jane Wanjiru Michuki: $60 million
Educated at the Kenya School of Law and Warwick University, Jane Wanjiru Michuki is a managing partner at Kimani & Michuki Advocate, a corporate law firm in Nairobi, Kenya that represents Many of the biggest corporations in Kenya, for example Equity Group Holdings Limited. In addition to her law career, she's the biggest female stockholder on the Nairobi Stock Exchange, which is where a good piece of her net worth stems from.
Robert Shapiro: $50 million
Presently a senior partner at Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs, Howard, Avchen, and Shapiro, LLP, Robert Shapiro graduated from Loyola Law School in 1968 and began a career as a criminal attorney. After serving on O.J. Simpson's legal team (and representing several other actors ), he opted to move into civil litigation. Besides his law career, he's written a kids 's book and can be a co-founder of LegalZoom and Shoedazzle.com.
Alan Dershowitz: $25 million
After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1962, Alan Dershowitz went to work. By 1964, he was a member of the Harvard Law School faculty and in 1967, he was made a full professor. (He retired in 2013.) While teaching courses, he was also making a name for himself in the criminal law area. As a result of his reputation as the "top lawyer of last resort," he has a bevy of high-profile clients, such as Mike Tyson, Jim Baker, Leona Helmsley, O.J. Simpson, and Jeffrey Epstein. Additionally, he has written more than a dozen novels. Everything together helped him collect his fortune
Judy Sheindlin: between $150 million and $250 million
Best known for being a no-nonsense TV judge, Judge Judy earns $47 million annually. A 1965 graduate of New York Law School, Judge Sheindlin was originally a corporate lawyer, though she immediately grew tired of it and choose to be a family court prosecutor. Back in 1982, she was appointed as a criminal court judge, where she gained a reputation for a "tough" judge and presided over more than 20,000 cases. This, along with various novels she wrote, caught the attention of TV executives and eventually resulted in her TV series. Additionally, she's the author of seven books and has served as legal counsel on various TV shows.