[jnbiche]

Of course it's not. Why is it reasonable to pay lawyers $600/hr but to pay a skilled computer engineer the same is interpreted as a joke? That's not a rhetorical question -- I'd really like to know the answer.

Actually, I suspect I know the answer in many cases, but I'm curious what other people think.

[nostrademons]

My understanding of how legal billing works is that you aren't actually buying one person's time for $600/hr, but you're buying a team of junior paralegals, legal secretaries, and young associates and one big-name attorney to supervise them. The big-name attorneys make a lot, but nowhere close to $600/hour; even if they're partners, a lot of money is going to the salaries of the paralegals, legal secretaries, and $160K/year associates under them.

[maineldc]

Is your lawyer an in-house general counsel? Probably no. Do you require this person's services for ~40/hrs per week, every week for years on end? Probably no.

I would certainly pay an amazing engineer $600/hr if I could call on them at any time and get billed at increments of 6 minutes, but that would be an insane way to build software (I know lawyers who think its an insane way to do law, but it is the system).

[matz1]

Because there are less lawyer than engineer. You can't outsource lawyer from different country.

[stonemetal]

You can't outsource lawyer from different country.

Maybe not trial lawyers or other positions where you need a warm body in the courtroom, but entry level lawyers are feeling the outsourcing squeeze as well.

[Kluny]

Source? I'd be willing to bet there are just as many lawyers as engineers.

[matz1]

Different country has different law.