The Landscape of Legal Employment in Philadelphia
The legal job market in Philadelphia is one that has managed to weather the economic ups and downs of the past decade, with employment numbers for lawyers and law clerks remaining fairly steady since 2011. As of 2015, there were nearly 27,000 attorneys in the greater Philadelphia area, which includes Camden and Wilmington. The Legal Services industry made up nearly 18,000 jobs, while almost 5,000 were in corporate legal departments in Philadelphia. The city boasts the second largest number of lawyers in any U.S. city, behind only New York. Despite changes in the way large law firms operate, requiring them to hire more in-house lawyers, openings for in-house lawyers are still far outnumbered by those in large law firms. The Philadelphia business community is expected to continue to grow , creating a strong demand for legal professionals through 2024. Like many large metropolitan areas, Philadelphia is a regional center for healthcare, and the region’s hospitals and pharmaceutical companies will similarly continue to demand effective attorneys to handle a growing number of business transactions and litigation matters. The Philadelphia Bar Association has long been recognized as a pioneer in establishing new programs that assist in the continuing education of practicing attorneys, and is a crucial part of maintaining Philadelphia’s competitiveness in the New York-Washington corridor for attracting and retaining highly skilled attorneys who are needed to help the region keep pace with changing laws, regulations, and industry standards.
Most Sought-After Law Firm Opportunities in Philadelphia
There are several law firms which continue to hire actively for legal professionals in the Greater Philadelphia Area. The top employers for legal professionals include:
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, a $1.65 billion law firm with over 2,000 lawyers, ranked as the 7th largest law firm in the world in 2016. Morgan Lewis is the largest Pennsylvania-based law firm by revenue, and is one of only three Pennsylvania-based law firms with a national presence.
Ballard Spahr LLP, one of Srikumar Rao’s "17 Most Innovative Companies" in the world with more than 500 attorneys in 14 offices nationwide. It is one of the largest law firms based in Philadelphia, and has been recognized by American Lawyer magazine as one of the top 250 U.S. law firms for diversity.
Reed Smith: Firm of over 1800 lawyers in 28 markets, and revenues in excess of $1.3 billion. Recognized by Corporate Responsibility Magazine as "Best Corporate Citizen" and ranked by Law360 among the top 10 Law Firms for women.
Drinker Biddle & Reath: A large national firm with nearly 600 lawyers, ranked #87 in The AmLaw 100 with a revenue of $480 million.
Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP: 150 attorneys nationwide with over $100 million in revenue.
In-Demand Practice Areas in Philadelphia
Emerging practice areas within the Philadelphia legal market are fueled by the City of Brotherly Love’s positioning as a renowned center of education and research. The state has also been rebuffed in its attempts to cut funding for stem cell research, which is why health sciences and law firms specializing in this are also seeing a rise in demand. Public policy and enforcement, energy and financial services are other sectors experiencing growth within the Philadelphia legal market.
Permanent placement and temporary staffing firms are feeling the steady demand for developments in an evolving legal landscape. Attorneys and professionals that have a basic understanding in technology are also in high demand among Pennsylvania’s top-rated firms and commercial organizations. There has been a major shift in hiring practices, favoring clerks and attorneys with prior work experience below the age of 30 years.
Key Skills for Legal Professionals
As job seekers navigate the current hiring landscape, some critical legal skills are in particularly high demand. This can make a difference in a candidate’s ability to find the right position for their specific level of education and experience. A solid legal education is the foundation for success in any area of the legal profession. In addition to this core requirement, candidate must possess other technical and personal skills to secure a position. While there are many different areas of the legal field to choose from, most firms are looking for the same type of support staff. Hard skills such as proficiency with computer software are a necessity for virtually all positions. Common software includes Microsoft Office, Document Management Software, Electronic Case Management Systems and Case Law Research Databases . By investing some time and money in coursework for advanced software skills, legal professionals can expand the range of potential law firms willing to hire them. Soft skills also are essential. Professionalism, reliability, attention to detail, the ability to maintain confidentiality, the ability to work with multiple and competing priorities, a strong work ethic and a good attitude are considered the "soft skills" that law firms consider important. Each of these skills plays a vital role in helping a candidate compete for a position. The right mixture of technical and personal skills is required for success, ensuring the firm hires a well-rounded professional that can provide the support needed for the success of the practice or case. Without these critical skills in place, there is a greater risk of hire failure, which leads to unhappy workers, high turnover rates and disrupted operations.
Networking and Career Development
Engaging with the Philadelphia legal community is a powerful tool to advance your legal profession journey. Working with a recruiter is an excellent way to gain insight into the market and opportunities available, but a personal touch can take these relationships further. Informed research on your industry is always a good place to start in networking. Sites like LinkedIn allow you to link with attorneys in your area and across the country and see their profiles. Do you see them speaking at conferences? Or writing for legal journals? Look at their specific practice areas and firms. Take advantage of your local and state bar associations. Joining legal organizations offers valuable tools to deepen your connections and knowledge of the area. Take advantage of the opportunities to meet directly with those in your field. Stay informed on professional happenings and be active in discussing them with your network. Engaging your audience after a legal event can help you stay on the radar – on social media or otherwise – with your colleagues. When you do meet up with your network, be prepared to speak about current events and your opinions about them. Staying in touch is just as important as making new connections. Make sure you’re following up after meetings, email introductions, or even talking to someone in your office. This can open doors to work opportunities or can even help you refer someone you are in contact with to find that networking connection they need. By getting involved with the Philadelphia legal community and conducting informed research, you are able to expand your network of colleagues and discover what’s available. Networking is all about building long-term relationships with your contacts.
Legal Job Search Resources and Strategies
With a high concentration of law firms, corporate counsel offices, and government agencies, Philadelphia offers a variety of resources for attorneys seeking job opportunities. Online job search platforms such as the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Legal Listings, ABA Career Center, and LinkedIn provide a wide array of listings, networking, and guidance for your job search. Legal recruiters such as Vantage Legal search for opportunities in every area of legal employment – from paralegal and administrative positions to partner and in-house counsel openings. The National Association of Legal Search Consultants (NALSC) is another good resource for investigating legal employment options.
Pennsylvania’s capital features a number of active legal recruiting firms with a solid track record of success in matching job seekers with open positions. A few of the larger agencies include:
Allegis Partners
Axiom
Robert Half Legal
Beacon Hill Staffing Group
Legal Search Solutions
Lucas Group
Pepper Hamilton LLP/Legal Search Group
The Philadelphia area plays host to a number of large and well-established legal job fairs/expos . These events are held at venues across the city and region, and connect job seeking attorneys with employers seeking to hire them. PhillyBar.org lists the following events:
Monthly Legal Career Fairs: If you’re an attorney or recent law school graduate looking for your next big career opportunity or to network with employers, the monthly legal career fair is always a great option for you.
Networking Receptions: The Philadelphia Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Networking Reception is a great way to meet other legal professionals as well as lawyers from other local firms.
The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and various universities and colleges host several legal career fairs throughout the year. Two of the larger events include:
NALS of Southeast Pennsylvania Legal Expo
Mid-Atlantic Legal Recruiting Consortium Career Fair