Top lawyers in China are essentially big salespeople.

In China, a top-tier lawyer earning tens of millions annually has one key strength: business development. These elite lawyers typically concentrate in divorce cases and corporate legal services for listed companies.

Chinese lawyers sound impressive, but most earn modest incomes. The average mid-level lawyer works as hard as a doctor and earns about the same. The top lawyers make money through sales ability — specifically, their capacity to attract major clients.

Abroad, lawyers can turn illegal money into something legitimate, making it "safe." This doesn't happen in China. That's why foreign lawyers get a share of profits, while Chinese lawyers don't — because they can't change the illegal nature of the money. The real difference comes down to sales ability.