Associating with the Law. Salary: $75,000

You graduated from law school and now you're proving yourself (and paying off that debt) as a civil litigation associate. It's invigorating work and you love how much your knowledge of the law grows with each case...but you can't kick the feeling that maybe you haven't found your calling in the field.

Name that Lawyer. Salary: $90,000

You've made a name for yourself as a civil litigator and that debt is almost paid off. However, you're not feeling fulfilled and spend most of your cases envying the man with the gavel. Maybe it's time to move in a new direction.

The Law of Attraction. Salary: $100,000

With your eye on the prize of becoming a justice of the peace, you set out to get noticed. By taking a little more time to rub elbows with the local officials and making a splash in some big cases, you've caught the attention of your governor. You're in.

Opportunity Knocks. Salary: $118,150 

That one incessantly reelected justice of the peace you thought would serve until his life-less hand fell from the gavel has actually retired. You're moving up that ladder. As you take on more cases, your pay increases.

Sweet Justice. Salary: $130,000+

You're finally the one behind the stand and it feels so good. Sure, you're the new justice on the block so you still have a lot to prove, but you're already making strong decisions and proving yourself to be a fair and wise enforcer of the law. You're pretty sure you even saw a gleam of envy in the eye of that young litigator today. Oh, the memories.