Top Ten Richest Lawyers In America

So, who are they? Here is a fast look at the richest attorneys in the entire world, ranked from the lowest net worth to the highest. Please note that the individuals on this list are all practicing lawyers or judges. There are loads of additional "attorneys " using a substantially higher net worth, but they simply possess a law degree and no more use it.

William Lerach: $900 million

Although he had been disbarred in 2009 because of his participation in a kickback scheme, William Lerach had a lucrative career as a corporate lawyer with a specialization in private securities class actions suits for more than 30 years, which is how he amassed his substantial fortune. Nicknamed the "King of Pain" and frequently known as the most dreaded attorney in American during his heyday, Lerach, a University of Pittsburg School of Law graduate, holds the record for the largest sum ever recovered at a bunch of securities class actions lawsuits for the $7.12 billion judgement he obtained against Enron, criminallawcanada.

Alan Dershowitz: $25 million

After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1962, Alan Dershowitz went right to work. By 1964he was a member of the Harvard Law School faculty and in 1967, he had been made a full professor. (He murdered in 2013.) While teaching classes, he was also making a name for himself in the criminal law field. As a result of his standing as the "top lawyer of last resort," he's a bevy of high-profile clients, including Mike Tyson, Jim Baker, Leona Helmsley, O.J. Simpson, and Jeffrey Epstein. In addition, he has written over a dozen books. Everything collectively 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 a year. A 1965 graduate of New York Law School, Judge Sheindlin was initially a corporate attorney, though she quickly grew tired of it and decide to become a family 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, along with several novels she wrote, caught the attention of TV executives and finally resulted in her TV show. In addition, she's the author of seven novels and has served as legal analyst on various TV shows.

Jose Baez: $8 million

Probably best known for defending 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 engaged in several of high profile instances that led in acquittals, including the murder case of Nilton Diaz, which has been referred to as "the biggest legal upset since 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 bestselling book, Presumed Guilty: Casey Anthony: The Inside Story.

Joe Jamail: $1.7 billion

Although he passed away in the age of 90 in December 2015, Joe Jamail makes this list because he had been the wealthiest practicing lawyer in the United States in the time of his passing. Frequently referred to as the "King of Torts," he represented Pennzoil in a 1985 lawsuit against rival Texaco. His contingency fee was $335 after the courts chose in Pennzoil's favor. The 1953 graduate of 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 of the court, he was known for his generous philanthropy.