Average Lawyer Salary in India [2025]

Law is one of the oldest and most respected professions in India, and it’s growing fast. With over 1.4 million lawyers currently practicing, the legal field is seeing more and more young people join in. Why? One big reason is the attractive salary. According to Glassdoor, the average lawyer salary in India is around ₹6 lakhs per year. Corporate lawyers, especially, are in high demand, and many companies now hire their legal teams, which means more job opportunities and better pay.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about lawyer salaries in India. From how much freshers earn to what experienced lawyers make, which roles pay the best, and how your location or specialization can affect your income—we’ve got it all covered.

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Let’s try to get a broader understanding of the roles that lawyers can take up and their average salary in India. 

Average Lawyer Salary in India (2025)

The average lawyer salary depends on different aspects, like the type of law the person practices and the industry they are a part of. People with an experience in a particular domain, like corporate law, might earn more than people who have studied criminal law.

Before we dive into the salary details, here are some top-rated upGrad law programs that can help you specialize in high-demand fields:

1. LL.M. in Corporate and Financial Law (Blended Learning Program)
2. LL.M. in AI and Emerging Technologies (Blended Learning Program)
3. *LL.M. in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice

These programs are designed to boost your expertise and improve your earning potential.

Let’s look at some popular roles you can take up along with their salaries in India. 

1. Corporate Lawyer

The primary role of a corporate lawyer is to help companies work within the legal framework that exists in India. These lawyers work as consultants within the company and guide the business by giving the right legal advice and keeping all the business activities in check. Corporate lawyers also look after important business events like mergers and acquisitions. 

Apart from providing consultation, corporate lawyers also handle lawsuits, claim liabilities, and other legal obligations of a business. They provide a holistic solution and cover everything that comes under corporate law. 

In India, corporate lawyers typically earn between ₹4 Lakh and ₹13 Lakh annually. However, this can vary based on factors like bonuses, profit-sharing, company size, location, and the lawyer’s experience and skillset.

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2. Litigation Lawyer

The importance of a litigation lawyer has also increased recently. They primarily represent a client by defending them in front of a court of law before a judge. They take care of all the legal proceedings related to a particular case. The primary responsibility of a litigation lawyer includes researching different legal issues, drafting legal documents, and presenting the case before the court so that the decision is in the client’s favor.

The average salary of a litigation lawyer in India typically ranges between ₹4 lakhs to ₹15 lakhs per annum, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of cases handled.

However, in most cases, litigation lawyers are self-employed, and their fees depend on their credibility in the market and the type of services they offer to their clients. In some cases, litigation lawyers can charge as high as INR 25 lakhs for one appearance in court. 

Want to learn more about how court cases work?

3. Civil Lawyers

Civil lawyers care for the non-criminal aspects of a legal dispute. These conflicts generally comprise a party or entity demanding monetary reparations from the other party or organization to cover losses incurred. 

Civil disputes typically centre on individual entities, interpersonal ties, or equity. Attorneys representing civil cases provide their clients with legal counsel and tactics. The role demands them to represent your case in court, speak on your behalf through various proceedings, including depositions, mediation, arbitration, and the actual trial.

As of 2025, civil lawyers in India earn between ₹40,000 to ₹8 lakhs per year, depending on their experience, location, client base, and success rate

4. Criminal Lawyers

Criminal lawyers are quite popular as they are in high demand in a country like India, where the crime rate is comparatively higher. An attorney specializing in knowing the legal implications of crimes and penalties is a criminal lawyer. 

Criminal attorneys hold expertise in advising people who have been charged with a criminal offence. They may be involved in hearings regarding bail bonds, plea agreements, trials, dismissal hearings, appeals, or post-conviction processes.

The average salary of a criminal lawyer in India is between ₹11.4 lakhs to ₹12 lakhs annually.

5. Cyber Lawyers

Lawyers in cyber law deal with instances of crimes committed online against people, businesses, or the government. Careers in cyber law encompass online activities and understanding cutting-edge information technology, including cryptocurrency, cybersecurity, and other topics. Some major areas that cyber lawyers take care of include fraud, copyright, defamation, harassment and stalking, freedom of speech, trade secrets, contracts, and employment laws. 

The average salary of a cyber lawyer in India is between ₹3 lakhs to ₹15 lakhs per annum. 

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6. Intellectual Property Lawyers

An intellectual property lawyer performs litigations based on different intellectual property cases. They mainly prepare documents that the client or the company needs for filing a patent or a trademark. They also represent individuals or organizations held liable for a particular intellectual property’s illegal or wrong usage. The role is fairly technical and revolves around intellectual properties like trademarks, goodwill, patents, copyrights, etc. 

The average salary of an intellectual property lawyer in India is between ₹3 lakhs to ₹15 lakhs per annum.

7. International Lawyers

International law is developed to facilitate trade and foster the idea of a united globe and is applicable between nations. Naturally, your responsibilities as an international lawyer are to arbitrate disputes involving different countries or corporations.

The average salary of an international lawyer is ₹36 lakhs per annum.

Read: Top 10 Career Opportunities in Law in India: Salary, Skills [2025]

Lawyer Salary in India According to Experience

The legal field is entirely an experience-based one. The amount you can earn from the client increases as you develop experience in this profession. Prominent attorneys charge a minimum of ₹5 Lakh and a maximum of ₹1 crore for each appearance.

According to their relevant years of experience, the lawyers in the table below are paid an average annual salary or fees.

Source: Glassdoor

These figures vary from industry to industry. The final pay depends on your credentials and the college where you complete your law degree. Also, the salary changes depending on the city where you practice law. 

Read: Why Legal Studies? Overview, Scope & Salary Details

Lawyer Salary in India: According to Location

Much like experience, the average lawyer salary in India varies according to the city or location you work in. This is due to varying costs of living and expenditure in different Indian cities and towns. 

Listed below are the average salaries of lawyers working in different cities in India.

Source: AmbitionBox

Wondering how to begin your law journey? Read our Step-by-Step Guide on How to Start Studying Law. and gain helpful insights.

Why Pursuing a Law Degree is a Smart Career Move

A law degree isn't just about courtrooms—it's a gateway to diverse, high-paying careers across industries. With rising demand for legal expertise, attractive salary packages, and evolving roles in corporate, criminal, and civil law, studying law today opens doors to a stable, respected, and future-ready profession.

1. High Demand Across Industries
   As companies expand and laws evolve, there's growing demand for legal experts to handle compliance, contracts, and regulations.
2. Lucrative Salary Packages
   Lawyers enjoy competitive pay. For instance, corporate lawyers earn around ₹13 LPA on average, with bonuses of up to ₹2 LPA.
3. Diverse Career Options
   Law graduates can explore multiple roles—litigation, corporate law, legal consultancy, or government services—offering flexibility and growth.
4. Strong Legal Foundation
   Law programs provide a deep understanding of various legal areas, enhancing research, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
5. Future-Proof Career Choice
   With new policies and business laws emerging, legal professionals remain essential across industries—making it a stable, respected career.

Conclusion

The legal industry in India is growing at a fast pace. Due to the increase in the jurisdiction of certain areas and the legal environment becoming more complex, the demand for different types of lawyers has increased to a great extent. 

The increase in demand is also likely to impact the average lawyer's salary in India. Hence, if you want to become a successful lawyer, now is the right time!

upGrad offers a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Golden Gate University, along with free one-on-one career counselling to help you pick the right program and grow your legal career. It's the perfect next step to becoming a confident and capable legal professional!

You can also check out our free courses offered by upGrad in Management, Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, and Technology. All of these courses have top-notch learning resources, weekly live lectures, industry assignments, and a certificate of course completion – all free of cost!

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