Percentage of lawyers in Forbes 400 almost doubles in 20 years

The Forbes 400 richest Americans in 1985 who had a law degree numbered 19 (4.75 percent). Twenty years later, that percentage had nearly doubled, rising to 32 (8 percent). That factoid in the New York Times (Sept. 25, 2005 at BU3) piqued my curiosity.

I assume nearly all of this year’s richest lawyers made their way into and fortunes in business. A couple might be Midas-touch plaintiff lawyers, but one or two might have practiced in a law department at some point along their gold-paved road to financial success. Then again, what about Google’s chief legal officer?