Law Firm Jobs: An Overview
Law firm jobs in Washington, D.C., while often thought of as exclusive to attorneys and paralegals, are available to candidates at almost all levels of experience and from all areas of law. Although the vast majority of these firms specialize in litigation and labor and employment law, firms frequently hire entry-level paralegals to staff both cases and billing (legal secretary) departments. Associates hired into most of these firms can usually expect to work in litigation, but an increasing number of corporate, tax, and IP associates are also being hired into Washington, D . C. office of these firms. Although some firms have weekly billable hour requirements for litigation associates in the range of 175, 185, and even higher, the majority of firms have a minimum of 180-185 hours of billable hours required per month. With regard to starting salaries, firms pay first-year salaries in the range of $120,000 to $160,000, with the majority paying $130,000 to $140,000. Bonuses for first year associates range from $5,000 to $15,000 or higher.
Top DC Law Firms Hiring Now
Washington, D.C., known as the nation’s seat of power, is home to dozens of prominent law firms with D.C. offices, from one of the most prestigious in the nation, Hogan Lovells, to one of the oldest law firms in United States, Covington & Burling.
Here are some of the country’s top law firms with current D.C. openings:
• Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom – One of the largest law firms in the world, Skadden Arps boasts 22 offices and current openings in D.C. for assistant general counsel, litigation practices and corporate practices.
• Sidley Austin – Another prestigious firm with a headquarters in Chicago, Sidley also has offices around the world, including in D.C. Current openings include posts in government and public finance, litigation practice, corporate practices, intellectual property and financial services practices.
• Hogan Lovells – Noted as one of the best places to work in the U.S., the Washington, D.C., location of Hogan Lovells is a great place for lawyers and legal professionals. The firm is currently hiring in litigation, intellectual property, commercial contracts and tax practices.
But it’s not just the big names that are hiring. Mid-sized firms in D.C. are filling up their ranks with a variety of opening in environmental practices, litigation and dispute resolution, IP practices and intellectual property law.
Necessary Attributes
One of the most important qualifications that prospective candidates should have is law school graduation. In a highly competitive legal market such as Washington, DC, a law degree will give you a significant advantage over other applicants who do not have one. Academic success is even more critical and is evidenced by success in law school coursework and internship experiences. Most employers look to recruit students at the premier Washington area law schools such as George Washington University, Georgetown University and American University. The top firms typically recruit only from the upper quartile of the class. A Master’s Degree may be requested for certain employment positions although it is not required.
If a candidate has prior experience there is a large measure of competition amongst them to secure the best positions. However, if an applicant has interests and experience that are different from those of other candidates, and can display interpersonal skills, analytic abilities and intellectual curiosity, he or she will have an advantage over other candidates. Writing skills and attention to detail will continue to be highly prized by all employers. An applicant’s own assessment of his or her skills will also factor into the selection process.
Networking Events and Industry Functions
A must for any job search is to network with people in the industry in which you want to work. Each year, there are a number of big events in the D.C. area that are great opportunities for networking. The Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association (WMACCA) is the largest organization of its kind in the DC area, with over 1,000 in-house attorneys as members. Each year, they host a number of events that cater to a number of different interests , including seminars on legal topics and lunches with prominent speakers. WMACCA also has a great directory of in-house job openings — a useful resource when searching for in-house positions, which is always an option! One of the best ways to find work with WMACCA members is to get to know them through these networking events. They are a very friendly group and, like anyone from the world of corporate America, really respond well to personal contact.
Pay Scales and Other Benefits
As one of the largest legal markets in the country, it should come as no surprise that many international law firms have a presence in Washington, D.C. Not surprisingly, this demand is reflected in salaries, with firms offering competitive pay and benefits. Generally speaking, as a new attorney entering into a firm as an associate, you can expect a salary that runs the gamut from $105,000 to $190,000 per year, depending on your practice area. Of course, the benefits that accompany your salary include all of the typical offerings such as generous amounts of paid leave, subsidized health and dental care and more. Senior-level lawyers at these firms typically make between $200,000 and $700,000, which makes a great deal of sense when you think about the very high cost of living that characterizes the D.C. area.
How to Get a Law Firm Position
Applying for law firm jobs in Washington, D.C. is an involved process that necessitates a primer of its own. First, you will want to compile a letter and resume that present your qualifications and skills in the best light possible. For instance, if you are seeking a position in litigation, you will want to highlight your argument skills, your previous experience in litigation and the cases you have worked. In addition, although legal jobs are competitive, presenting your qualifications in the form of a strong resume will give you an edge over other applicants. To that end, you should compose a resume that calmly states your qualifications in a neutral and informative style. To compose a resume, you will want to include your educational background, your degree, any specialties, any work you have done and all actual legal experiences, such as working in a law firm or as part of an internship program. Once your resume is in order, you should look into all available positions online, specific to Washington, D . C. law firms. Fortunately, with the development of legal job portals such as Legal Authority, this process is now much easier. Legal Authority can be an invaluable resource because it is a database of every Washington, D.C. law firm, along with every job available at each law firm. This setup allows you to view all of the candidates who are competing for the same positions as you, thereby giving you the edge over them. Legal Authority can list thousands of law firm jobs that match your professional profile, and in turn, you can apply to all of these jobs with just one click of a button. Instead of spending weeks drafting cover letters and applying to only a handful of jobs, a service such as Legal Authority can save you literally hundreds of hours of babysitting jobs boards and mailings. Simply enter in your resume information, click on the jobs you are interested in and let the site do the work for you. For once, technology can improve your chances in finding the right law firm job.
