Practicing Law In 20th Century Wisconsin: Continuity
And Change In Everyday Legal Life, Part 2
Figures
Legislature Occupational Composition
Professional Lawyers Farmers Commercial Other Politicians
1853 26% 44% 24% 6% 0%
1875 10% 43% 38% 9% 0%
1895 14% 20% 58% 7% 0%
1915 20% 28% 47% 5% 0%
1935 13% 24% 51% 12% 0%
1955 26% 17% 52% 6% 0%
1975 18% 13% 33% 26% 10%
1995 12% 14% 30% 30% 14%
Figure 1
Practice Groups 4
1935 1955 1975 1995
Solo practice 53% 49% 30% 26%
Firm 37% 32% 42% 51%
Government 4% 7% 11% 12%
Corporate 1% 8% 13% 9%
Women lawyers 1% 2% 3% 16%
Number of firms 50 127 285 292
Largest firm
(single office) 14 36 100 210
Median firm size 6 5 7 21
Figure 2
Median Income (1994 dollars) 7
| Year |
Solo Practioners |
Partners in Law Firms |
Corporate In-house
Lawyers |
Goverment Lawyers |
All Lawyers |
| 1929 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
$50,700 |
| 1932 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
$40,000 |
| 1962 |
$49,100 |
$74,600 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
| 1969 |
$76,300 |
$103,600 |
$67,200 |
$55,100 |
NA |
| 1974 |
$76,500 |
$112,000 |
$76,200 |
$55,300 |
NA |
| 1983 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
$57,400 |
| 1987 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
$56,700 |
| 1993 |
NA |
$112,500 |
$65,000 |
$56,100 |
$66,500 |
Wisconsin Lawyer
