The average annual salary for a criminal defense lawyer is $88,000, with the lowest-paid lawyer earning just under $54,000. Further, the highest annual salary for a criminal defense lawyer averages $156,000 or more. Your criminal defense lawyer may charge a high fee for you as a private client. In contrast, criminal defense lawyers employed by the state earn relatively less and are more affordable.

The amount a criminal defense lawyer in Calgary earns depends on several factors. Here’s a closer look at what determines the amount of money they make.

Level Of Experience

With less than a year of experience, criminal defense lawyers still make a round sum. A criminal defense lawyer new to the legal scene can earn $66,000, including bonuses, profit sharing, and commission. Better yet, criminal defense lawyers’ salaries increase as their careers progress; for instance, one with one to four years of experience earns an average of $76,000.

Salary gets even better as they move up the ranks. A mid-career criminal defense lawyer has at least five to nine years of experience and earns an average of $98,000 annually.

At the top, with ten to nineteen years of experience, they earn an average annual salary of $113,000. It’s a steep uphill climb from here. Beyond that, a criminal defense lawyer with twenty years or more experience can increase their annual salary to an average of $127,000 to $156,000 or even higher.

Location Is Critical

Lawyers who practice criminal defense know how important it is to establish themselves in prime locations. For example, lawyers in Toronto make more money overall. Toronto lawyers in the 95th percentile earned an average of $1.1 million in 2010, according to Canada Revenue, compared with $659,260 in Vancouver, and $607,409 in Ottawa-Gatineau, $668,197 in Montreal, and $907,587 in Calgary.

The Size Of The Law Firm

Interestingly, criminal defense lawyers working in larger firms earn more than those in smaller firms or private lawyers. A large law firm’s highest-paid criminal defense lawyers can earn an average annual salary of $226,000 to $316,000. In contrast, criminal defense lawyers working in smaller firms earn an average of $127,000 to $181,000 per year. The interesting part, however, lies in the unique nuances of criminal law. 

Although the best criminal defense lawyers at large firms make a decent amount of money, small and mid-sized firms have kept up the pace. Experienced criminal defense lawyers at small firms can earn just as much by working with many sophisticated clients.

Take A Leadership Role

A criminal defense lawyer must be able to generate business for their firm if they want to take on a leadership role and earn more. There are several ways to do this. Criminal defense lawyers can use seminars and coaching to grow their client list. 

Your defense lawyer’s ability to attract big clients strengthens their potential to become a partner throughout their careers. Therefore, becoming a leader such as a managing partner is a personal goal for many criminal defense lawyers, as it comes with financial privileges.

The Nature Of The Legal Matter

Criminal defense lawyers typically practice in a variety of areas. Therefore, your criminal defense lawyer’s overall compensation will depend on your legal issue. While no particular subfield of criminal defense is better than another, legal matters involving more severe charges demand a higher fee. For example, a criminal defense lawyer handling a murder charge will ask for a higher fee than one taking a health insurance fraud case. Note that representing clients with difficult issues warrants a high annual salary.

Also, a criminal defense lawyer who has been practicing law for longer has even better earning potential. However, the highest-paid criminal defense lawyers do not necessarily meet these criteria. As much as a criminal defense can get tricky, your lawyer’s unique understanding of the legal case will count in the long run. 

On the contrary, a criminal defense lawyer with less professional experience may be very knowledgeable when handling certain federal criminal cases. Your lawyer may have a lot of professional experience but earn less than a lawyer with little professional experience who is knowledgeable in some areas of law.

It’s worth mentioning that several factors will determine the amount that you pay your lawyer. Thus, it’s best to shop around and discuss your options with defense lawyers who have previously handled similar cases. While at it, ask as many questions as possible, including their fees.