💡 Why it matters: Startups, banks and large companies constantly sign deals, raise money and expand into new markets, and they rely on corporate lawyers to make sure every agreement is fair, legal and safe.
🌍 Around the world
- Nigeria: Startups, banks and oil and gas firms sign deals and expand across Africa, and hire corporate lawyers.
- United States: Jobs for lawyers are projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than average (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
💰 What it can pay
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Starting out
- ₦2.5M – ₦7M
- Mid-career
- ₦7M – ₦20M
- Senior
- ₦20M – ₦60M
≈ ₦583k – ₦1.7M a month mid-career. Indicative estimate by Incusim.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Closest UK profile: Solicitor. Typical starter to experienced salary. National Careers Service, 2026
🇺🇸 United States
Median pay; low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
🇨🇦 Canada
Closest Canadian category: Lawyer. Hourly wage low/median/high x 2,080 hours. Job Bank (Government of Canada), 2023-2024
Yearly pay before tax. UK, US and Canada figures come from the official sources named on each card. Nigeria has no official salary survey, so those are our indicative estimates. Real pay depends on the employer, the place, your skills and experience.
🛠️ What you actually do
- Draft and review business contracts
- Help companies start up and raise money
- Advise on mergers and company takeovers
- Make sure companies follow the law
- Work with accountants, bankers and other advisers
⚡ Skills you'll need
- Attention to detail
- Writing
- Business understanding
- Negotiation
- Time management
Get ready at school
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- LLB then the Nigerian Law School, then join a commercial law firm as an associate
- Join the legal department of a bank, oil company or tech firm as in-house counsel after the Bar
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Solicitor degree apprenticeship (Level 7) with a commercial firm
- CILEX route, then qualify as a solicitor
- Join a company legal team as in-house counsel after qualifying
🇺🇸 United States
- Join a law firm as an associate, or a company legal team as in-house counsel
- A few states allow training in a law office instead of law school (varies by state)
🇨🇦 Canada
- Join a business law firm as a student then associate
- In-house counsel roles after articling (varies by province)
🗺️ Your path to this career
- 1Get strong English, Economics and Maths grades
- 2Study Law and take company law courses
- 3Complete the professional training and qualify as a lawyer
- 4Join a corporate law firm or company legal team
- 5Grow to senior associate, partner or general counsel
⏰ A day in the life
You review a 40-page contract for a fintech startup and mark risky clauses. After lunch you join a call with the founders and an investor's lawyer to agree on changes, then update the draft before the deadline.