With strong grades, 3.8 GPA or better in Law School, is it possible to become a well paid Criminal Lawyer?

[bocley]

I plan to attend University of Connecticut Law School, work hard in school and get TOP grades. I want to earn at least 100 K or better right out of Law School in the Hartford CT area. Criminal Law is my aim. What do you think people? I want to eventually earn 300 K or better after I get my necessary experience in a BIG firm.

[fiynn]

I doubt the BigLaw firms do much recruiting at Connecticut - usually to have a chance at a position like that you need to attend a top 14 school.

Criminal law does not pay well and is not practiced by top firms, with the exception of white collar criminal defense. Most criminal law attorneys at top firms have many years of experience at the US Attorney's office before moving to private practice. They do not hire first-year associates to join those practice groups.

The "big name" criminal defense attorneys started their own firms and can only command large fees after years and years of living on ramen noodles. Government criminal prosecution (and to a limited extent, defense) can pay okay ($30-65,000) but if you're starting out doing criminal defense with a small firm you'll be lucky to break $40,000 a year. You'll be lucky to cover your costs if you open your own firm.

I would highly recommend you do some research into the realities of law school and the legal job market. You don't seem to understand how things work in the real world.