The Legal Job Landscape in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a major legal market, with employment opportunities in private practice at law firms, in the public sector, and in the discovery sector (e.g., e-discovery, document review). Currently, the overall job market for lawyers in Los Angeles remains slow. However, there are numerous law firms of varying sizes and specialties within the city limits and from the greater Los Angeles area that draw lawyers from all over the country. Because of the size of the city, Los Angeles has employment opportunities for attorneys at varying stages of their careers. As of June 2013, LA had approximately 26,000 lawyers, not including in-house counsel or those pursuing alternative career paths, such as legal marketing. The ABA Journal November 2008 story "Los Angeles: A Rare Bird" highlights how, despite the prodigious number of attorneys in the city, skilled talent is still being imported from other parts of the country and world, as evidenced by immigration records showing that 60 percent of recruits from 2007 to 2008 came from outside California. As a testament to the city’s continued ability to attract talent, the article states, "in the Los Angeles office of Morrison & Foerster, where Wade Benedict is the hiring partner, there also was an across-the-board uptick in lateral hiring as demand surged in 2006." The same can be said elsewhere in California, as demonstrated by UCLA Law School’s Class of 2010 Employment Report, which reads, "while California has continuously been home to one of the largest populations of per capita attorneys in the country , the reality is that California continues to import some of the best legal talent from other states and from other countries. The diversity of employers and the variety of legal specialties in California all contribute to the reasons that more lawyers are coming to work in California." Despite the influx of talent from outside the area, the top law firms in LA include Sidley Austin LLP, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP and Latham & Watkins LLP, who all have offices in Los Angeles. At a December 2011 talk given by Patrick McCoy, a former partner with Kirkland & Ellis LLP, he elaborated on his thoughts regarding the personnel challenges at these "top" firms: You’re at a firm that is trying to service Fortune 500 clients. And they want something different in a vote of hours than others. This is the big time; if you’re going to work in an elite firm, this is where you do it. There is no job protection at top firms. You have to prove yourself annually. Moreover, commentary by James C. Strock in his article "The California Lawyer Conundrum" for Forbes magazine establishes the importance of the local clientele: "The California lawyer conundrum is thus an opportunity for the astute observer to catch a glimpse of what may be the leading edge of the shrink-wrapping of America. From Silicon Valley’s venture capital investing to Los Angeles’ world-class talent retention, California companies have shown the value of building businesses around their hometowns. . . . These factors position California as an export hub, facilitating commerce between the states. California can provide ‘high touch’ legal counsel, and other services, to remote markets, while paying down its own crews and retaining the best talent."
Legal Employment Opportunities in Los Angeles
The legal job market in Los Angeles is as diverse and dynamic as the city itself. High-profile entertainment law firms and multinational corporations seeking corporate counsel for their California operations are just some of the employers that are driving a steady demand for qualified legal talent. However, the demand for associates, paralegals and support staff at large and midsize firms is very high as well.
There are two general categories of legal jobs in Los Angeles. The first is in-house legal departments for firms and corporations. These jobs include corporate attorneys, paralegals and assistant attorneys. In-house legal positions tend to have more regular hours, and their duties are more administrative and personnel-based rather than focused on client relations and business development. Because they offer a more stable work environment, in-house legal jobs in Los Angeles are among the most sought-after positions by legal professionals.
The second category encompasses private-practice lawyers who work for top-tier AM LAW 100-200 Los Angeles law firms. Large firms are always looking for junior associates and partners with significant billable hours in specialized areas such as finance law, intellectual property (IP), litigation and regulatory law.
Skills and Qualifications for Legal Positions
Qualifications and Skills Required for Legal Jobs in Los Angeles
While an extensive education may be a prerequisite for many legal positions, there is no guarantee of a particular language skill, but bilingual candidates are an asset to any law firm. Fluency in Mandarin, Spanish, or any second language is also an advantage. An understanding of California civil statutes, including general California code, California business code, California vehicle code, and California insurance code is needed for several other positions. An attorney with experience in civil litigation, business transactions, and/or probate is a plus. Other specialized skills, such as Texas probate and property rights, are also applicable within the right channel.
Both multi-practice and single-practice firms are seeking candidates with diverse areas of specialty. A professional background in real estate is a prerequisite for real estate paralegals, as their responsibilities will often include activities such as recording documents, property tax law, land use, and economic development. The competitive stakes require a firm understanding of all basic legal principles. Legal secretaries, paralegals, and contract administrators are sought for several fields, including corporate insurance, immigration service, and entertainment jobs.
Applying for Legal Jobs in Los Angeles
To secure a legal position in Los Angeles, candidates need to tailor their job applications to meet the competitive landscape of the city. One of the most important components of any application is the resume, which should be succinct, yet comprehensive. When applying for legal positions, it is crucial to highlight all relevant education, experience, and skills. For many legal roles, this means emphasizing admission to the California Bar Association. In some cases, specific coursework and other related information may not make it on an attorney’s resume, but would be important for a legal position.
The cover letter provides another opportunity to market the applicant’s qualifications. It should provide a clear introduction of the candidate, as well as an appeal to the future employer. Candidates should study the job description to determine the most important information available and address any concerns a potential employer may have regarding their resume. If there is a deficiency in education , experience, or skills, the cover letter should briefly explain the reason for this. There will be times when applicants view a job posting in which they are not fully qualified for. In these situations, the cover letter is imperative for addressing any concerns before they are raised by the potential employer.
Finally, in preparation for the interview, an attorney should do as much research on the prospective employer as possible. A quality law firm will appreciate a candidate’s understanding of the company and its legal focus. Indeed, with such a highly competitive job market in Los Angeles, it is not uncommon for even a qualified applicant with strong references to be passed over; this can be especially true when the competition for select jobs is intense. An applicant’s attitude, communication skills, and research into the firm become crucial in these situations. Those who take the time to prepare themselves will often find that the effort pays off.
Legal Industry Salaries and Benefits
Salaries in Los Angeles for legal professionals can vary quite a bit depending on a number of factors including area of law, location of the firm (beachfront properties or other scenic areas? how close to downtown or Beverly Hills?), seniority, etc. For example, the average wage for an LA attorney hovers around $134K per year, although trial lawyers in the area can pull in significantly more.
In some areas, like employment law, business, or torts, LA lawyers make more than their counterparts in other cities. This is not true across the board, however. Consider tort litigation attorneys in Los Angeles, who make an average of just under $124K per year; trial lawyers in other cities, like Seattle, average better than $150K per year.
Attorneys who work at plaintiff’s firms in LA average less in salary than their colleagues in other cities— lawyers whose clients include corporate defendants earn substantially more in New York and Chicago, and even Philadelphia.
While salaries are typically somewhat lower in Los Angeles than in New York City, they are comparable to those in certain Midwestern cities including Minneapolis, Kansas City, and Baltimore. Lawyers who work in Los Angeles earn more than those in Orange County, San Diego, and Pittsburgh.
Los Angeles law firms offer competitive benefits packages, and are more likely to pay more in bonuses than their East Coast counterparts. General business litigation attorneys in Los Angeles average more than $40K more per year than their colleagues in New York City.
Opportunities and Challenges in the Legal Industry
While competition is a hallmark of the legal profession throughout the country, the Los Angeles market in particular poses a distinct challenge for legal professionals. As a sprawling metropolis, the sheer size of the legal community in Los Angeles can make the hunt for legal jobs more difficult than in other parts of the state. In addition to competing with thousands of other candidates in the LA market, many legal professionals must also deal with the burden of relocating to an area with one of the highest costs of living in the state. That said, opportunities abound for those willing to put in the time and effort to find work in this vibrant city.
The legal community in Los Angeles extends across a huge range of specialties and practice areas. Notably, Los Angeles County is the largest county in the United States, making up about 2 percent of the country’s entire population. That immense population , as one of the largest in the world, necessitates a legal community capable of serving a wide range of needs, prompting lawyers to both specialize in niche practice areas and extend their horizons to meet a broad range of legal challenges. As a result, the Los Angeles legal community is filled with opportunities for innovation and leadership, particularly when compared to communities both within California and nationwide.
For those looking to expand their legal careers in the City of Angels, the benefits speak for themselves. Legal professionals who are willing to openly explore new opportunities and network with fellow professionals in a rapidly growing field have plenty of room for professional development and growth within the legal community in Los Angeles. Whether you’re still considering a move to Los Angeles or have recently begun making waves in the legal community, opportunities for advancement abound.