The Landscape of Arizona Legal Jobs
Examining the Arizona legal job market, it becomes apparent that there are some advantages to finding employment in Phoenix. Most of the opportunities in the state are there, with a population of 1.65 million people and 9,000 attorneys, leaving a ratio of 183 people for each attorney. The state overall is home to 35,000 lawyers. There are actually a higher proportion of lawyers with only a few years of experience in more remote areas.
Although there are more restrictions in the state than you’ll find elsewhere, the regulatory approach is not burdensome for employers, according to the State Bar of Arizona. Employers can require a job applicant to provide information about previous employer references, prior criminal convictions and academic records, certification requirements and professional liability claims. Employee confidentiality is protected by the state’s Rules of Professional Responsibility.
Location, too, is important because a job seeker may find that counties bordering Maricopa County, which is home to Phoenix, do not have much legal work beyond what might seem to be a few scattered opportunities. According to State Bar of Arizona’s 2014 study of lawyers, the number of private attorneys in the state has been holding steady at about 25 percent of the total number of lawyers in Arizona for the last decade, remaining relatively constant . Law firms have been redoubling efforts to retain clients, particularly at the mid- and lower-priced levels that they have traditionally ignored. In addition, the Bar’s study notes that specialized firms working in areas of federal law like immigration and tax have seen a surge in business.
Given that the region’s economy is broadening into a more diverse, soundly-based economy, that might be good news for the countercyclical nature of the legal industry in the state.
However, according to attorney recruiter Roger Fishman of Clark & Washington, which services the Phoenix area, local attorneys will find that lawyers are attracting attention on their own but through increasingly sophisticated means. Companies are searching out lawyers’ resumes by using agents who analyze hiring trends and create lists of resumes they upload to the marketplace, Fishman explains. "How you position yourself is key," he says. The problem is that, despite all the technology that is available nowadays, many law firms do not use job search engines to hire new attorneys, Fishman says.
That means that, while the general state of Arizona’s job market is improving, finding a legal position there will require some sharp sleuthing by job seekers who are willing to sell themselves and network.
Arizona’s Leading Legal Employers
Major law firms in the Phoenix area include snell & Wilmer LLP, Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie, Quarles & Brady, Fennemore Craig, Greenberg Traurig, and Sacks Tierney. These employers are fully invested in continuous advancement, from modern technology to professional development opportunities in addition to a competitive salary and benefits, which all make for a prime career location in the legal field.
Employers like Intel and Raytheon in the engineering and technology sector look for legal professionals to assist them in their pursuit of patents and other legal contracts to protect the secrets of their continuing innovation. Raytheon recently had 3,500 legal graduates from top institutions in Texas, California, New York, Virginia, and even Washington, D.C., with many of these savvy graduates possessing multiple degrees.
Arizona is home to several government agencies and organizations that hire legal professionals in a wide variety of positions. The Arizona Supreme Court, Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona State Legislature, City of Scottsdale, City of Phoenix, and County of Maricopa all hire for top legal positions.
The Most Sought-After Legal Positions in Arizona
Among the most in-demand categories of lawyers in Arizona are corporate lawyers and the demand for these legal professionals has been on the rise for several years. For those with corporate experience, opportunities exist with both law firms and corporations. Paralegal positions in Arizona have also seen strong growth over the last several years, both with law firms as well as in-house opportunities. Paralegals must have strong written and communication skills, computer and research proficiency, as well as industry-related knowledge depending on the firm and area of the law. Public defenders are also in high demand in Arizona. Public defenders represent defendants that are unable to afford a defense attorney and take on extraordinarily large caseloads. Due to the demand in this practice area, public defender positions tend to be highly competitive, attracting attorneys with extensive experience as well as the ability to multitask, communicate verbally and in writing, and think on their feet. Criminal lawyers are in high demand throughout Arizona and this demand continues to grow as the state places a high priority on prosecuting criminals. While some private firms also focus criminal law, most criminal lawyers work for the state and have substantial courtroom experience. Litigation lawyers are in demand as Arizona businesses and legal firms continue to grow. This category covers a wide variety of specialties, including business litigation, civil litigation, environmental litigation, employment litigation, product liability, medical malpractice, real estate litigation, intellectual property litigation, and others. As demand increases for firms to handle these cases for businesses, the need for competent litigation lawyers will continue to grow. Family lawyers are another particularly high-demand category in Arizona, with an increased emphasis on family law firms. Besides end-user private firms, family lawyers are also in demand in Berks County, Pennsylvania as there is a growing need to support families suffering from the opioid crisis.
Qualifications and Credentials for Legal Positions in Arizona
The job qualifications for legal professionals in Arizona vary based on the strict licensure requirements from the State Bar of Arizona, and the qualifications and regulations set by the various other professional associations, such as the Arizona Law Enforcement Association (ALEA), Arizona Association of Defense Counsel (AADC), Arizona Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (AACDL), Arizona Family Law Attorneys (AFLA), National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIMJ), and the National Association of Fraud Investigators (NAFI). These professional associations are governed according to state law, and there are specific continuing education requirements across professionals at the state and national level, such as certification and education credits that must be completed within a specified time period. The educational and licensing requirements for legal professionals vary based on their specialty. For lawyers, there is an expansive list of qualifications that must be met to practice law in Arizona. Individuals who wish to practice law in Arizona must possess a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an ABA accredited law school, or a foreign legal education equivalent, and also must pass the bar exam. The Arizona State Bar is an organization for lawyers that is responsible for development of the legal profession that are governed by the state statutes. For lawyers practicing business law, there are additional resources and professional associations offered by organizations that are devoted to the specific field as well, including the Arizona Small Business & Entrepreneurs’ Legal Center. For those practicing criminal law, the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission offers a plethora of resources that can be used to assist your job function in this field, and many lawyers who specifically practice criminal law, whether as defense, prosecuting attorneys, or within the judiciary as judges, are members of criminal law associations for networking and continuing education purposes, such as the Arizona Association of Defense Counsel (AADC) and the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council (APAAC) . Lawyers across all fields are provided free legal publications that are published by the State Bar Association of Arizona, and the resource library for Arizona lawyers is maintained by the bar association in Phoenix. Advocates, mediators, parliamentarians, and other professionals who work in specializations related to the law are highly specialized and afforded advanced opportunities for training and networking opportunities. For example, members of the Arizona Association of Certified Mediators (AACM) are advanced professionals who network across many areas of law, and this trade association provides a comprehensive listing of continuing professional education courses that can be utilized by members to further expand their expertise. For those professionals who work within areas of law enforcement, there are many opportunities for professional advancement through participation in numerous professional associations, and for continuing professional education. Professionals in law enforcement may be required to earn certifications in other state and nationally governed associations such as the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police (AAACOP), Arizona Association of Drug Treatment Specialists (AADTS), Arizona Drug Evaluation and Classification (AZDEC), or the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI), for example. There are countless opportunities for networking and continuing professional education opportunities through other Arizona professional associations such as the National Association of Personal Injury Lawyers; Professional Liability Defense Federation; Federal Bar Association; National Association of Federal Credit Unions; National Association of Federal Defenders; International Association of Automation; National Association of Federal and Enhanced Enforcement Officers; National District Attorneys Association; National Independent Private Fire Investigators Association; the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and many others.
Career Networking and Development in the Arizona Legal Market
A significant key to finding an Arizona legal job, and to advancing in the Arizona legal industry is effective networking with other legal professionals. The Arizona Association of Defense Counsel (AADCLAW) provides excellent networking opportunities in Arizona.
The Arizona State Bar Association (AZBAR) also offers great networking resources for lawyers, including practice-specific discussion groups, and a young lawyers’ division for lawyers 35 and younger or with less than three years in practice.
You can also find great networking opportunities at many legal industry seminars and conferences, including annual meetings, practice group specific seminars, and even on-line seminars (webinars). Our legal staffing agency sponsors many law practice seminars in tech (e.g., cloud computing) and other topics of specific interest to law firms and corporate law departments. The same goes for professional organizations and associations of in-house lawyers such as Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) and the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF).
Below are some additional tips for networking in the Arizona legal field and getting ahead in the Arizona legal industry:
Attend Your State Bar’s Annual Meeting
Every state bar association holds an annual meeting, and the State Bar of Arizona is no exception. The State Bar holds an annual convention where thousands of lawyers and judges meet up for seminars and other events. Attend one or more, and use it to network with other lawyers you’d like to keep in contact with.
Use LinkedIn
If you aren’t currently using LinkedIn for business networking, then you’re missing out. LinkedIn has been around for a while, and most lawyers are already on the network. Those that aren’t likely will be, before the end of the year. Use LinkedIn to connect with others in your professional network, and grow your network exponentially. The service allows you to immediately add the people in your email address book; and once you’ve done that, it will send out a notifications to your contacts, letting them know that you’d like to connect. This will only help grow your network that much faster.
Hire a Recruiter
My legal recruiters are some of the best in the business. They have relationships with leading law firms in Arizona and will be able to connect you with current openings you may not even be aware of. We also do work on retained placements with large, medium and boutique law firms in Arizona and nationwide.
Get Involved
One of the fastest and easiest ways to grow your network is to participate in discussions online, attend networking events for lawyers, or hold a local fundraiser. This not only helps to brand yourself, but it puts you in the same room with other lawyers you need to know.
Get Plugged In
Aside from online legal job boards, we also post available legal jobs and career opportunities on our legal industry employment blog, The Legal Locator and on our Google+ network "Arizona Legal Jobs", which we recommend you join.
The Pros and Cons of Legal Careers in Arizona
As in any profession, the legal field presents its share of challenges. In Arizona, the competitive nature of the legal job market can be daunting for many aspiring lawyers and legal professionals. Despite this, the opportunities to engage with an expanding economy and diverse clientele present an exciting proposition for legal practitioners across the state.
One core challenge for Arizona lawyers relates to the evolving nature of technology. In an age where electronic communication and digital documentation are as common as physical documents, legal professionals must stay up to date with the latest tools and practices to serve their clients. Understanding new technologies and digital filing systems is imperative for lawyers in today’s fast-paced work environment. On top of this, Arizona lawyers are subject to the strict regulation of the Arizona State Bar Association, which requires a high level of ethical and professional conduct. While ethics violations are rare, they can have significant implications for an attorney’s career, making it essential that they maintain a strong understanding of regulatory guidelines, best practice procedures , and potential pitfalls.
The rewarding aspects of being a legal professional in Arizona can also be numerous. From a robust network of peers to a diverse population, one of the most appealing aspects of working in the legal field is having access to a wealth of professional opportunities. Legal professionals in the state can tap into an ever-growing demand for legal services and build relationships with a variety of clients ranging from non-profits to private firms and individuals. Additionally, the continued growth of the state’s population has created a high demand for specialized lawyers in various fields, including personal injury, immigration, intellectual property, worker’s compensation, and beyond.
Another key benefit for legal professionals in Arizona relates to the low cost of living in the state. Compared to other large metropolitan areas in the Southwest—and even the United States overall—the relatively low cost of living in cities like Phoenix and Tucson can play a significant role in a lawyer’s decision to work within the state. When legal careers are not typically known to be highly lucrative, low living costs can make all the difference when it comes to living in the Southwest.