why do cpa's on average earn less than attorneys

<p>TaxGUY,</p>

<p>I love the Accounting field. I would love my son to go into it if he is so inclined. However, unless you were a real estate attorney during the downturn, a total putz, or an attorney that stole money from a client escrow account, I have never seen many attorneys in the Ny metro area starve. I will say it till I go in the grave, never never never. Yes, you always get SOME struggling attorneys. Hell, I bet there are some struggling Dentists, and Internal Medicine physicans but by in large, if you have a little bit on the ball, have some experience, eventually you should do well as an attorney. I am not saying you will earn 500-1mm per year, but yes, you should make 150-200k if you set up shop and practice various areas of law. Negligence, matrimonial, corportate etc. </p>

<p>If you pidgeon hole yourself into one specialty and the real estate market goes bust, yes, you have a problem.</p>

<p>My brother in law is a negligence attorney and he is in private practice. He is doing whiplash cases laughing all the way to the bank. Went to Bridgeport law school. Not exactly Georgetown, and probably makes 300-400k per year. Not the sharpest tack in the draw.</p>

<p>All it takes is cutting your teeth, paying your dues for like 7 -10 years, and networking and believe me you will make a nice living.</p>

<p>Want to be a millionaire. Inherit it, play lotto, or be in that top .00001 percent that makes it to partner in a law firm or accounting firm, or just hit it right in your own business. Be it wholesale retail, etc etc etc.</p>

<p>All I ever said that there are very very very few attorneys who I would throw a benefit for. I never said they will all be wealthy.</p>

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People get paid what the market will bear. The legal profession is coming to resemble the acting profession: a few superstars cleaning up, while the rest are doing poorly-paid bit parts .</p>