The Landscape of Legal Jobs in Boston
The Boston legal job market has, for the past two years, forwarded its stability into areas of growth. More positions have been added to both temporary and permanent employment sectors. According to the New England Legal Support Staffing Association 2017 New England Legal Sector Benchmarking Report, of the 753 surveyed firms, 48% reported growth in their attorney ranks, and an equal 48% reported growth in their business services ranks. Additionally, this year’s survey recorded the increase of 234 new Boston-based legal support businesses, bringing the city’s total to 2,346 . Employment in the City of Boston unemployment rate 3.5% (BLS data) shows that more Boston-based legal businesses continuing to hire legal professionals. However, even with the positive trajectory of the industry, factors such as the U.S. Department of Labor’s plan to add 10,000 additional H-2B visas in the spring, uncertainty concerning the impact of the recent Trump tax reform legislation and a shakeup in the structure of corporate in-house departments make it a period of cautious optimism for legal professionals.
Legal Employers in Boston
When it comes to the most prominent firms in Boston currently looking for lawyers, WilmerHale tops the list. This well-respected firm has been an advocate and partner to Boston, housing many leaders and founders in the greater Boston area. A global business, its most recent job openings include an entry-level Corporate Associate, Senior Corporate Associate, and a Private Investment Funds Associate.
Other prominent firms include Greenberg Traurig, which just recently opened their first office in Boston. It is seeking a mid-level or senior attorney for its growing practice in private equity, mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance.
Brown Rudnick LLP needs a Chair of the M&A Practice, while Nixon Peabody LLP seeks a mid-level Labor & Employment Associate for their Boston office. Speaking of labor & employment, Ogletree Deakins is seeking a Senior Labor & Employment Associate.
Legal Job Function Diversity in Boston
Boston’s legal sector has a multitude of specific career paths. Many attorneys here are corporate and tax lawyers, working in sectors such as finance or technology. Others may serve as litigators, working with private law firms, the state or federal government, or academic institutions.
The Boston area is also home to a large body of paralegals and specialized researchers. Some work for private firms, while others find employment doing research and other important tasks for insurance companies and other business entities. Like other legal roles, paralegals and other researchers play a critical role in the industry.
Paralegal candidates typically possess an undergraduate degree. Some may have also earned a paralegal certificate. In many cases, employers place value on this combination of credentials heavily. For paralegals and other middle-tier roles, industry experience often means everything. Those with two or more years in the field can find work as paralegals just about anywhere in Boston.
While many Boston law firms require J.D.s, others have opportunities for law students. Many of these positions are for law clerks that take on legal work for a firm during law school. There are certain firms that only hire lawyers who already have their J.D.s, but they are not quite as common.
Those who don’t want to work directly in law may wish to consider roles working with courthouse technology or for state or local agencies. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts does employ its own lawyers during the legislative process. Candidates for such roles needs J.D.s, but they also need to meet unique requirements within the legislative process itself.
Legal support roles may also be available for business analysts, records clerks, administrative positions, and other unique areas of law.
Legal Job Average Salaries in Boston
Sitting at the intersection of many of the most prominent law firms and national and global businesses headquartered outside of the Beltway, Boston has a wide range of legal industry SEG jobs to offer aspiring professionals. As with any city, salaries for legal positions vary according to firm needs and individual level of experience, but whistle-blowers at glassdoor.com and payscale.com have come up with some pretty precise figures for what legal staff can expect, on average, in Beantown.
According to recent statistics from glassdoor.com, annual starting salaries are as follows:
• Legal assistant: $47,000
• Paralegal: $81,000
• Trial attorney: $155,500
• Associate attorney: $127,000
• Litigation attorney:$174,600
These numbers fall at or slightly above U.S. averages across the board, which are reported in a separate report from payscale.com. In contrast to those for the major metropolitan areas of Washington, D.C., New York City and Los Angeles, the average legal accountant can expect to start at just $52,248, the average compliance officer enjoys a $65,028 salary, while suits within the area of litigation take home $78,487 and litigation attorneys earn a comparatively high $111,767 per year.
While the base numbers are helpful as they are, they can only teach us so much about the job climate in Boston or anywhere else in the U.S. because the market not only fluctuates between regions and within cities but also from year to year and season to season.
Boston Networking and Professional Development
The vibrant legal community in Boston is an excellent resource to develop and enhance your professional network, not only among attorneys but also law students. For younger attorneys, the Boston Bar Association offers the New Lawyer Initiative, which provides enlightening programming such as networking events, mentoring and pro bono opportunities. The New Lawyer Initiative welcomes attorneys who have been licensed within the past three years (or 2010) and are also Boston Bar Association members. There’s even a New Lawyers’ section on the BBA blog for advice on practice and to find out about upcoming events.
Hugh, a lawyer we placed with a large national firm five years ago, remained active in the Boston Bar Association and joined in its New Lawyer Initiative. At a BBA dinner, Hugh met a partner from a practice group of a major international firm. They discussed Hugh’s practice area. While Hugh began to feel that he was on the road to partnership with his firm, when job openings appeared at the major international firm, Hugh decided to apply. He interviewed well in that firm’s New York office and had a position offer in a few weeks. Hugh subsequently accepted the offer and was transferred from the Boston to the New York office of the firm. He loved it and thanked us for the opportunity at the larger Boston firm .
The Boston Bar Association advocates strongly on behalf of the profession and the general public by stimulating and facilitating discussion of legal and social issues, including programs designed to expose a deeper understanding of the finer qualities of the law. The impact of this active organization is felt throughout all of Massachusetts, whether or not the activities are scattered throughout greater Boston. Another feature is the Boston Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service, which is the oldest in the country.
In addition to the BBA, another big factor in Boston for networking is the Boston Bar Foundation. The BBA’s philanthropy called the Boston Bar Foundation provides grants to legal services organizations through its Boston Bar Foundation Opportunity Fund as well as cash and loaned staff to groups that help people throughout the Commonwealth. The Boston Bar Foundation focuses on civil matters (a family law initiative is with Greater Boston Legal Services) that serve unmet needs for legal representation or deal with pressing social justice matters.
Additional opportunities abound throughout Massachusetts, with some of the finest law schools in the country, including Boston College School of Law, Boston University School of Law, New England Law School and Northeastern University School of Law. These schools offer continuing education courses and programs for lawyers.
How to Land a Legal Position in Boston
Navigating the legal job market can be daunting, but with the right approach and strategies, candidates can enhance their prospects for securing a position in the competitive landscape of Boston’s legal community.
Firstly, networking stands out as one of the most effective tools for job seekers. The legal industry is heavily driven by referrals and personal connections. Attend legal networking events, join professional organizations, and connect with alumni from your law school to find unadvertised positions and gather insider information about potential employers. Engaging with current practitioners can also provide valuable insights into the hiring process and the cultural fit of various firms and organizations.
Secondly, your CV is your calling card. The Boston job market can be competitive, so make sure to have a strong professional résumé that is free of errors or obvious mistakes. If necessary, hire a professional resume writer or work with a recruiter that specializes in legal placements. Also, be sure to tailor your resume to each position you apply for, highlighting the most relevant skills and experiences. Make it easy for potential employers to recognize your value.
Thirdly, the cover letter cannot be overlooked. While many may have become indifferent to this piece of the application, a well-written cover letter can set you apart from the crowd. Tailor your cover letters for each position by referencing the firm’s recent work or reputation, and speak to your specific interest in working for them. Discuss why you are seeking a position, not just why the position is right for you.
Lastly, prepare for the interview as you would present a case before the judge. Research the firm’s practice areas, ethos, and recent developments in depth. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the firm’s culture and vision, as well as inquiries that demonstrate your knowledge of the field and the industry. Approach the interview as a two-way street, showing that you are not only a good fit for the firm but also need to ensure that the firm is a good fit for you.
Boston Legal Job Search Resources
Employment websites: Internet job boards like Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com and JobCentral.com can span a range of positions from paralegals to associates. The Lateral Link job board only lists attorney positions. Mullin International, a prominent Boston legal search firm, lists both attorney and support positions.
Recruiting Agencies: Legal hiring recruiters like Mullin International, Major, Lindsey & Africa, and Cormac Consulting are specialized in their approach and have forums where employers and candidates can view each other’s needs and capabilities.
List Servs: The Boston Lawyer List (BLAW) is a mailing list exclusively for employed Boston lawyers to share information about their specialty. It was founded in 1989 by the Boston Bar Association. Almost 1000 members subscribe to the BLAW List. The SIGMA (Support staff in government , military or academic legal departments) Mailing List promotes professional development for Massachusetts legal administrators and assistant.
Professional Organizations: The Greater Boston Legal Services provides free legal services and help for low income clients. The goal of MA’ Special Legislative Commission on Lawyer Referral Services is to strengthen and promote lawyer referral services in the Commonwealth.
Mailing Lists: The National Lawyer Referral Referral is an email newsletter service of the American Referral Lawyers Association. Members use the online databases to submit and respond to referrals.
Networking Groups: The Boston based Women’s Bar Association’s mission is to advance the role of women in looking after others and themselves. Best Directors America is a pros and cons rating system for the best law directors in America. The list is available for purchase via email or post.