Top 10 Lawyers In Usa

So, who are they? Here's a fast look in the wealthiest attorneys in the world, ranked from the lowest net value to the highest. Please note that the people on this list are all practicing attorneys or judges. There are loads of other "attorneys " using a considerably higher net value, but they simply possess a law degree and no more use it.

Thomas Mesereau: $25 million

Also a criminal defense lawyer (Are you noticing a trend?) , Thomas Mesereau graduated from Harvard University and The University of California's Hastings College of Law and has been appointed "Trial Lawyer of the Year for 2015" from the National Trial Lawyers. (He has won plenty of other awards such as "Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year. ") He is notorious for carrying high stakes cases with impossible odds and getting extraordinary results. He had been Michael Jackson's attorney when he had been 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 large it's not printed, he also does pro bono work through the Mesereau Free Legal Clinic, click here.

Willie E. Gary: $100 million

Nicknamed "The Giant Killer," Willie Gary has taken on several of the country 's biggest corporations, including Anheuser-Busch and Disney. He has won a number of the biggest settlements and jury awards at the U.S., including several cases valued at over $30 billion. A graduate of Shaw University, he's now the managing partner at Gary, Williams, Parenti, Watson, and Gary, P.L.L.C., works as a motivational speaker, and has emerged as a legal analyst on "The Early Show. "

Robert Shapiro: $50 million

Currently a senior partner at Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs, Howard, Avchen, and Shapiro, LLP, Robert Shapiro graduated from Loyola Law School in 1968 and started a career as a criminal attorney. After working on O.J. Simpson's legal team (and representing other celebrities), he opted to move into civil litigation. In addition to his law career, he's written a children's book and is a co-founder of LegalZoom and Shoedazzle.com.

Joe Jamail: $1.7 billion

Although he passed away at the age of 90 at December 2015, Joe Jamail makes this list because he had been the wealthiest practicing lawyer in the USA in the time of his passing. Often known as the "King of Torts," he represented Pennzoil at a 1985 lawsuit against rival Texaco. His contingency fee was $335 after the courts decided 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 court for being abrasive, rude, and vulgar. But outside of the court, he was famous for his generous philanthropy.

Harish Salve: $6 million

At 59 years old, Harish Salve has worked tirelessly to develop a reputation among India's top (and most expensive) lawyers, specializing in commercial, constitutional, and tax law. Salve, who comes from a long line of attorneys and formerly served as the Solicitor General of India, currently costs clients about $45,000 per day. Along with representing many government entities, large corporate customers, and industrialist Mukesh Ambani, he has represented Bollywood stars in criminal cases. In reality, he is frequently known as famed actor Salman Khan's "guardian angel" for keeping him out of prison on a hit and run charge. (Indian prisons are notorious for harsh conditions.)

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 cases that led to acquittals, including the murder case of Nilton Diaz, that 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 attorney in the U.S. and now reflects former NFL star Aaron Hernandez. He's also the author of the bestselling publication, Presumed Guilty: Casey Anthony: The Inside Story.