Top Ten Lawyers In Usa

So, who are they? Here is a quick look at the richest attorneys in the world, ranked from the lowest net value to the highest. Please be aware that the people on this list are all practicing attorneys or judges. There are loads of additional "attorneys " with a substantially higher net worth, but they just have a law degree and no longer use it.

Richard Scruggs: $1.7 billion

A 1976 graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law and also a prominent trial attorney, Richard Scruggs is famous for his love of tobacco and asbestos cases as well as the fact that he won more than $1 billion in judgements against different companies. He was also highly involved in 2000's Ritalin class action suits, in addition to the 2003 case against Lehman Brothers for which he won a $51 million verdict. But in 2007, he was accused of judicial bribery. In 2008, he pled guilty and finally served six years in prison. Now, in the age of 70, he's finished his sentence and has retained his massive fortune.

Thomas Mesereau: $25 million

Also a criminal defense attorney (Are you noticing a trend?) , Thomas Mesereau graduated from Harvard University and The University of California's Hastings College of Law and has was named "Trial Lawyer of the Year for 2015" from the National Trial Lawyers. (He's won lots of other awards such as "Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year. ") He is known for taking high stakes cases with impossible odds and getting extraordinary results. He was Michael Jackson's attorney when he was acquitted of 14 child molestation charges and has won an unprecedented three federal criminal jury trials in a row. While his hourly rate is so high that it's not published, he does pro bono work through the Mesereau Free Legal Clinic.

William Lerach: $900 million

Although he was disbarred in 2009 because of his participation in a kickback scheme, William Lerach had a rewarding career as a corporate attorney with a specialization in private securities class action lawsuits for over 30 decades, which is how he gathered his considerable fortune. Nicknamed the "King of Pain" and often known as the most dreaded attorney in American through his heyday, Lerach, a University of Pittsburg School of Law graduate, holds the record for the largest sum ever regained at a group of securities class action suits for its $7.12 billion decision he received against Enron.

Lynn Toler: $15 million

Better known as the judge by TV's Divorce Court since 2007, Lynn Toler formerly served as the only municipal court judge from Cleveland Heights, OH for at least 8 years. After receiving her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1984, she concentrated on civil law before becoming municipal court judge. In this function, she was famous for enforcing nontraditional sentences, like writing essays. Besides presiding over divorce court, Lynn is the author of three books.

Jose Baez: $8 million

Probably best known for protecting Casey Anthony in 2011', 47-year-old Jose Baez is definitely an American success story. After dropping out of high school, he joined the Navy, got his GED, and finally earned a law degree from St. Thomas University School of Law. He's been involved in several of high profile instances that led in acquittals, including the murder case of Nilton Diaz, that has been known as "the biggest legal mad because O.J., among others [3]. He is considered by many to be the most sought after criminal lawyer in the U.S. and currently reflects former NFL star Aaron Hernandez. He is also the author of the best-selling book, Presumed Guilty: Casey Anthony: The Inside Story.

Judy Sheindlin: between $150 million and $250 million

Best known for being a no-nonsense TV judge, Judge Judy earns $47 million a year. A 1965 graduate of New York Law School, Judge Sheindlin was originally a corporate attorney, though she immediately grew tired of it and choose to be a household court prosecutor. In 1982, she was appointed as a criminal court judge, in which she gained a reputation for a "demanding " judge and presided over more than 20,000 cases. This, together with various novels she wrote, caught the eye of TV executives and finally led to her TV series. Additionally, she's the author of seven books and has served as legal analyst on various TV shows.