Also called: Maritime Attorney, Admiralty Lawyer
A lawyer specializing in the special laws of the sea: ship collisions, cargo claims, injured sailors, and salvage.
Maritime lawyers might arrest a ship in port over unpaid bills, defend a shipping company after a collision, or represent an injured crew member. Cases can involve multiple countries and centuries-old legal traditions. Big maritime law hubs include New York, New Orleans, Houston, Miami, and Seattle.
Based on BLS lawyers median (~$151k); partners at big maritime firms earn much more.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Professional degree (MD, JD, DVM…), about 7 years after high school. Bachelor's (any major) plus a 3-year law degree; Tulane offers a famous admiralty law certificate. Some lawyers are maritime academy grads who sailed first.
Ways in: 4-year college, Professional school. Training cost: Over $150k.
Majors to look at: Political Science, History, Marine Transportation, Pre-Law.
Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years).
Medium risk for 10 years. AI speeds research, document review and first drafts, trimming junior associate work; arguing in court and client judgment stay human.
Classes: AP English Language, AP Government, Speech and debate.
Official data: O*NET occupation 23-1011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.