International corporate lawyers are highly paid.
The salary of a lawyer can vary widely depending on her place of employment. International corporate lawyers tend to be in the upper pay scales among lawyers, because their clients have a lot of assets and can afford to pay the best lawyers to work for them. Lawyers who work in this field receive a lot of benefits in addition to their pay.
Income
The median salary for a beginning lawyer working in business is $69,100, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As an international corporate lawyer gains experience, his pay will increase. Many lawyers make more than $100,000 a year. Lawyers who work for international businesses make substantially more than lawyers in government or academia, but not as much as lawyers in private practice. Lawyers who are partners in private practice and have international businesses as clients can set very high fees for their work.
Location
Although international corporate lawyers may travel extensively as part of their job, the location where they are based can still have an impact on their income. A lawyer who works for a firm or corporation based in Manhattan is likely to be paid more than one who is based in Ames, Iowa. International lawyers are often based in foreign cities such as London, Tokyo and Sydney, and their income will reflect the cost of living in these places. Because international corporate lawyers, by definition, work for companies with international interests, their jobs can require moving to foreign locations.
Duties
International corporate lawyers may perform a wide range of duties. The common image of a corporate lawyer is someone who defends a huge company against lawsuits and plaintiffs. This is part of what corporate lawyers do, but they also work on acquisitions, mergers, import and export, bankruptcy and environmental law. The bureaucracy involved in the operations of an international corporation can become extremely convoluted, and large corporations may employ dozens or even hundreds of lawyers to keep track of it all.
Benefits
Most corporate lawyers receive benefits in addition to their financial pay. For experienced lawyers in good positions, the benefits can add up to more than their salary. Benefits include paid vacation, medical coverage, profit sharing and annual bonuses. Some lawyers also receive travel allowances, company cars and stock options. Intangible benefits include the opportunity to travel to exotic places and the creation of a network of colleagues in the business and legal fields. For lawyers who are planning to start their own firms, these networks can be extremely valuable for future business prospects.
