Direct answer: The lawyers who typically earn the most are those in corporate/institutional roles (big law corporate practice, mergers and acquisitions, securities), intellectual property (patent) law, and high-stakes trial work with contingency fees. Senior leadership roles like chief legal officer (CLO) or general counsel at large corporations also top the pay scale. Individual earnings can vary widely based on firm size, location, years of experience, and sector, with top lawyers sometimes reaching eight figures in exceptional contingency cases or through equity in a company. Details and nuances:

• Corporate and securities lawyers at large firms or in-house counsel for multinational companies often command high base salaries plus bonuses, especially in large markets like New York, San Francisco, London, or Hong Kong. This path frequently leads to six-figure base salaries with substantial bonuses or equity in private companies, and in some cases seven figures for senior partners or CLOs. [Salary data and ranges commonly cited in credible career guides and industry analyses.]
• Intellectual property (IP) lawyers, particularly patent attorneys working with biotech, pharma, or software, can achieve very high compensation due to the technical specialization and high-stakes nature of patent litigation and prosecution. Senior IP partners and specialized in-house IP leaders may reach top-tier compensation levels.
• Trial lawyers who handle high-profile, class-action, or complex commercial cases can earn substantial sums through contingency fees or large settlements, though this is less predictable and not universally representative of the profession.
• Other high-paying tracks include tax law, securities law, and regulatory/compliance work for large financial institutions or tech firms, where expertise and market demand drive premium compensation.

Important caveats:

• Entry-level salaries in big firms are high relative to many professions, but the path to the top requires many years of experience, demanding workloads, and a high-stress environment.
• Earnings potential is highly location-dependent; mega-centers tend to pay more, but living costs are also higher.
• Public-sector or public-interest paths typically pay less than private practice, though they can offer other forms of fulfillment.

If you’d like, I can tailor this to a specific country or city, or break down typical salary ranges by practice area and career stage (associate, partner, CLO) for a more precise view.