While there is no definitive answer, it seems that lawyers in the U.S. are generally overcompensated compared to other professionals. This has been observed by researchers and various reports have indicated that attorneys earn an average of 290% more than their counterparts in other industrialized countries.
One possible explanation for this phenomenon could be the fact that litigation plays a bigger role in American society than elsewhere and therefore, lawyer fees can be higher due to increased demand for their services. Additionally, rich people tend to hire lawyers more often, which may lead to higher payouts even if overall revenue growth may be slow or anemic across all occupations.
It's also important to consider whether this high level of compensation is deserved given recent trends regarding lawsuits and legal settlements being filed at unprecedented levels globally. It would appear that there might be some truth behind the saying "you get what you pay for".