Assessing the Landscape of the Legal Job Market in Baltimore
The legal job market in Baltimore continues to be relatively stable, with steady demand for attorneys across most major practice areas. While overall, the legal job market in Baltimore is up slightly, some practice areas are on the rise while others have continued to shed attorneys. Strong demand coupled with a lack of available talent has created a competitive hiring market for law firms and other employers in Baltimore.
Corporate and commercial litigation practices have gained strength in recent years, and corporate counsel roles have also expanded. The depth of the Maryland legal market gives corporate employers the option of hiring someone based in Baltimore, where average salaries are significantly lower than in Washington, D.C. While the state-level legal market in Maryland has been extremely slow to recover from the recession, demand for corporate attorneys has steadily risen over the past two years. Strong competition for talent in this space has prompted many firms to offer attractive compensation packages, although those jobs are often located in D.C.
Employee benefits and executive compensation attorneys are in high demand, with employers desperately seeking attorneys fluent in ERISA law . Demand for this practice area has doubled over the last two years while the number of available attorneys has remained flat. However, this practice may once again see a shift as the financial industry begins to rebound and demands outside counsel.
Demand for real estate lawyers remains high, and while there was a slight dip in real estate associates in recent years, demand has been stable for the past 12 months. The real estate market in Baltimore has been strong in recent years, particularly within the commercial sector and for professional services firms and companies that have established roots in the city. In addition to real estate, construction law continues to see strong growth in demand, with employers seeking motivated attorneys with experience in construction litigation and remedies.
Corporate immigration remains in demand as companies seek outside counsel to help with the issues affecting H-1B and various other visa programs. Demand has been steadily rising for nearly four years, particularly for senior associates and partners who can build their own practice, and the services offered by corporate immigration attorneys are increasingly seen as a necessity in this market.
Leading Employers in the Legal Sector in Baltimore
The Baltimore legal market boasts a variety of top employers that range from prominent law firms to corporate legal departments and non-profit organizations.
Leading law firms in Baltimore include Brown, Goldstein & Levy, which specializes in complex litigation and intellectual property practices; Gordon Feinblatt, known for its corporate, real estate, and litigation groups; and Venable, a national firm with a strong presence in Baltimore focusing on litigation, regulatory counseling, and business transactions.
Corporate legal departments are also significant employers, with companies such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Under Armour Housing large in-house legal teams handling a range of business and legal needs. Additionally, the PNC Financial Services Group is another major employer of legal professionals in the Baltimore area.
Government agencies like the Maryland Attorney General’s Office and Baltimore City’s Law Department provide robust opportunities for attorneys as well. They are responsible for representing the State of Maryland and the City of Baltimore, respectively, in a wide array of legal matters, including civil litigation, criminal law, and administrative law.
Non-profit organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland offer another avenue for legal employment in Baltimore. These groups focus on civil liberties issues and often employ staff attorneys to handle litigation and legal research on a variety of important social issues.
In addition, there are numerous other employers in Baltimore’s legal market, including the Johns Hopkins Health System, which employs legal professionals in health law and insurance issues; Morgan Stanley, which has a team of attorneys working in the financial services industry; and the University of Maryland Medical System, which hires lawyers in medical malpractice defense and other legal areas.
These employers, along with a host of others, contribute to a thriving legal job market in Baltimore for job-seeking lawyers.
Common Legal Positions and Their Requirements
The legal field in Baltimore typically has an abundance of opportunities to fill legal roles both in law firms as well as in the private sector. The great need for legal support across a multitude of different branches of the law helps to keep positions in demand. Chosen professionals in the field of law can typically expect to find good job prospects with decent pay. The following is a general overview of some of the most common legal positions available in the Baltimore area.
Attorneys are perhaps the most sought-after legal professionals in Baltimore. These lawyers represent clients in many different types of legal matters, ranging from family law disputes to difficult commercial litigation. The typical lawyer’s job requires a J.D. degree and a license to practice in Maryland. Most attorneys have postgraduate education or prior work experience with a law firm. Some specialize in a particular branch of law, such as tax law, personal injury, or corporate law. Often, lawyers may join a firm or start their own before gradually becoming partners. There are many small and medium-sized law firms in Baltimore, as well as some large firms that may pursue or require new hires with a post-graduate degree.
Paralegals, sometimes called legal assistants, do much of the work that attorneys delegate to them. The job of the paralegal at your Maryland law firm includes researching case law, drafting pleadings, organizing files, and preparing arguments for the attorney. Paralegals are not licensed to practice law, but they enjoy many of the same benefits and must hold office in the firm or organization. They should have an associate’s degree in a related field, and many paralegals also earn a bachelor’s degree. Paralegals who have graduated from an American Bar Association-approved program possess the best chances at job opportunities.
Legal secretaries work for law firms and attorneys in the same manner that they would work for a business executive or manager in a corporation or organization. Duties of the legal secretary include filing documents and managing the paperwork and correspondence of the office. They are typically responsible for scheduling appointments and meetings, and for keeping a schedule for all pertinent activities. A legal secretary at a Baltimore firm or organization is usually required to have graduated with a high school diploma or be a college student. Many firms will require legal secretaries to have an associate’s degree to compete in the local market. These professionals need to have excellent organizational abilities, and they should have a good grasp of legal terminology and legal methods of communication.
Attorneys, paralegals, and legal secretaries comprise the three most popular legal positions in Baltimore. Other opportunities are often available, such as those for court reporters, investigators, records managers, trial assistants, human resources specialists, and more.
Networking and Professional Organizations
Networking is often touted as the most effective way to land a legal position not only in Baltimore, but throughout the world. While you may not believe that networking is right for you, there’s no denying that the majority of lawyer hires are made through networking efforts (incredibly, 85% of legal hires come from networking), proving that the job market is based on who you know more than what you know. Thus, even though the word has been demonized for many years, networking is still the best way to find employment in Baltimore (and everywhere else).
Professional Associations Typically, most legal professionals join professional associations in order to connect with like-minded people and to more fully immerse themselves in their field; however, these groups also present excellent opportunities for lawyers looking for positions .
Here is a list of a few professional associations to consider:
The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
The Baltimore Bar Foundation
The Maryland State Bar Association
The Federal Bar Association, Baltimore Chapter
The Maryland Defense Counsel, Inc.
YR Baltimore
There are literally dozens of area networking events for those seeking legal employment; however below, are just a few to consider:
First Fridays Usually on the first Friday of every month, Baltimore’s new favorite cocktail party offers the perfect opportunity to make important new connections.
The Baltimore Bar Association Summer Picnic A Sunday schmooze.
Lawyer Networking at Loafers Usually on Thursdays, this monthly event is hosted by the American Association of Attorneys at Law-Southern Maryland Bar Association.
Networking is not always comfortable or easy; however, the sooner you begin to network, the sooner you will find the legal position that’s right for you.
How to Approach Applications for Legal Positions in Baltimore
Once you’ve identified the opportunities for employment, you’ll need to plan and submit effective job applications that will maximize your chances of landing an interview.
Crafting the Perfect Resume
Legal resumes should be one page in length and should omit any references to references. In the case of legal resumes, however, it’s preferable to use a heading style with major sections in bold. The bold major section headings are designed to attract the eyes which will be scanning the rest of the resume. Ensure that all contact information (email, phone, and address) is up to date as well as ensuring that you use an appropriate email address. Use a design that helps your resume to stand out, but it’s not necessary to create a fancy design if you don’t already have the skills to do so.
Crafting an Effective Cover Letter
Writing an effective cover letter takes time. Your cover letter should be at least three paragraphs long and should match the format and design of the resume. The strongest components of a cover letter are the opening and closing. The opening should include where you found the job posting. Put the company’s name in bold in the opening paragraph. Allow them to see that you want to work for them specifically for a particular reason. The closing of the cover letter should include a request for follow-up and the next logical step. You may also note the enclosures in the closing paragraph.
Subbing Resume and Cover Letter for Other Formats
When the posting online or through a recruiter does not allow you to submit a resume and cover letter, you could make your cover letter a part of the body of the email. You could also include it in the same file as the resume to ensure that the employer gets both.
Preparing for an Interview
A poorly prepared attorney can make a negative impression during an interview. There are a few specific ways to prepare for a legal interview:
These tips can help you to prepare for the next legal job opportunity in Baltimore.
Resources and Platforms for Your Job Search
As the legal market in Baltimore remains active, job seekers have a plethora of resources available to them in order to facilitate their employment search. The resources at a candidate’s disposable range from job boards and recruitment agencies to social media platforms. The key is knowing where to look for the firms and companies that have open positions and being able to efficiently research those options in early stages of the search process. One of the most useful tools for legal job seekers are job boards. CareerBuilder, for example, is an excellent resource for any and all kinds of job seekers. The legal section provides a comprehensive list of positions in the legal industry in nearly all subsets of law from corporate to intellectual property. Even though finding a particular firm’s job listing may be difficult, CareerBuilder may give some insight into the type of firm or company that is offering a position catering to your area of experience. This gives applicants the opportunity to narrow their search and even develop a more precise search strategy. Once you find the positions that apply, you can apply directly or be directed to the company or another recruitment agency that is filling that position. As always, double check your documents and be sure to tailor your resume and cover letter to the position directly, in addition to trying to determine how to directly contact the hiring manager to obtain names of recruiters or headhunters who have been in contact with you. Additionally, Monster and Indeed are both another great resource for job seekers. While it may be tempting to use Indeed’s "one click" application option, you should try and avoid taking that shortcut if at all possible . Instead, just like you would with any printed resume, take the time to put each application into the firm’s format and tailor it to the job you are applying for. This extra effort could be the difference between landing an interview and getting lost in the shuffle. Just like with CareerBuilder, however, be sure to review your resume, cover letter and research the firm thoroughly. Indeed, Monster and all job boards are just a few more tools job seekers should be taking advantage of in order to maximize their chances of landing an interview. Of course, being tapped into legal recruitment agencies and headhunters is another excellent resource in order to find available legal job opportunities in Baltimore. In many instances, a recruitment agency or headhunter may even have access or knowledge of available job openings before they become public, or even know that they are available and be able to act on your behalf directly with firm or company hiring managers to facilitate an interview. Many firms prefer to go through a recruitment agency for their hiring needs as recruitment agencies will prescreen candidates, interview them and in some cases perform background checks, allowing firms to save money on human resources staff and focus on what they do best… legal work. Unfortunately, recruitment agencies can be hit or miss as far as how effective or efficient they are in both finding your next role and staying in touch with you in regard to your search. Another avenue is simply to use a search engine to look up firms or companies in Baltimore in need of employees, that have openings or that you are interested in working for.