Charlotte’s Legal Industry Overview
Currently, Charlotte is booming with job opportunities for prospective law school graduates, despite a downturn within the last few years. The Charlotte legal job market has been stable and on the rise for the last two years, making it an ideal city for recent graduates to explore during the job search. Charlotte law students have many options for employment because of the diversified metropolitan economy. The job opportunities include positions with law firms, corporations, non-profit organizations, and government positions.
Hopson and Associates (H&A) is a top Charlotte legal recruiter specializing in organizational legal placements and recruiting, and has commented on the Charlotte legal market rebound. H&A highlighted that while the job market is not exactly where it was prior to the 2008 economic recession, it is still improving and growing. The Charlotte legal job market is growing at an impressive 2.3% from 2010 to 2012, which is outpacing the statewide growth of 1.1% from the same period.
The law firm job market in Charlotte has improved tremendously since it was devastated by the economic crisis. As a result, many Charlotte firms are hiring attorneys with complex litigation experience and commercial real estate legal backgrounds. Charlotte firms have also been receptive to first year associates and experienced attorneys with commercial transaction and/or banking expertise who can bring clients to the firm . Some associate start dates have been moved up from September to July and August of 2010, which is a good indicator that this trend will continue over the next few years.
Over the next 24 months, Charlotte’s legal departments will be hiring a significant number of new attorneys for their corporate offices. Charlotte law firms such as King & Spalding and Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice also plan aggressive hiring by the end of 2011. This will encourage many more corporate clients to add to their in-house legal departments, which will eventually result in law firm job openings.
The demand for in-house counsel in Charlotte includes legal professionals with real estate, intellectual property, litigation, and environmental expertise. In addition to the demand for seasoned attorneys, Charlotte will see an influx of demand for legal staff such as paralegals, business professionals, and administrative support. Nonprofit organizations will also start integrating additional experienced legal positions into their staff.
Charlotte is a beautiful, friendly, welcoming community and the legal job market has improved since the recession. Many Charlotte law firms have returned to the hiring levels prior to the economic recession. There are vast opportunities for experienced attorneys, as well as partners and corporate counsel with existing clients.
Top Employers for Legal Professionals in Charlotte
Charlotte boasts a rarity among large metropolitan areas: an urban center whose highest-profile law firms are direct descendants of Southern tradition rather than offshoots of national elites. While these small- to mid-sized firms have experienced their share of consolidation, the format works extremely well for the current legal economy—providing clients with access to responsive counsel whose rates are more manageable than those of giant firms. Among the larger firms with roots in Charlotte, Parker Poe comprises a sprawling team of nearly 200 attorneys across seven offices dedicated to a diverse portfolio of practice areas. As it does on the Atlanta market, Parker Poe represents a wide range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to independent business owners. Its specializations include energy law, economic development, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, and real estate. A much smaller firm by size, Moore & Van Allen focuses on commercial litigation and the representation of financial services interests. Its 150 attorneys maintain a boutique approach while specializing in the kinds of complex matters usually associated with much larger firms. Formerly known as Guilford & Johnstone, Johnston, Allison & Hord incorporates the name of one of its founders into its brand. The firm employs a team of 13 lawyers to handle its core practice areas including contracts & commercial law, corporate law, intellectual property, litigation, personnel issues, product liability, real estate, and investment counsel.
Growing Areas of Legal Practice in Charlotte
Emerging legal fields are also gaining traction in Charlotte, including technology law, environmental law, and health care law. Technology law has become increasingly important due to the rise of data breaches and cybercrime in an increasingly digital world. Charlotte is home to a number of tech startups that require legal services for their intellectual property, privacy policies, and other legal matters. Environmental law is also on the rise in Charlotte as more businesses focus on sustainability and environmental consciousness. As North Carolina becomes ever-more concerned with environmental issues such as pollution, compliance with environmental regulations and the negotiation of environmental agreements will require skilled legal counsel. Health care law has also become more prominent in Charlotte due to North Carolina laws such as the "Pastoral Care, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Consortium Act," which governs how mental health patients’ rights can be transferred to direct care providers. Lawyers who specialize in these fields often work in private practice or for corporations, advising clients on legal matters and representing them in court if necessary.
Networking and Professional Groups
In Charlotte, networking can play a pivotal role in a legal professional’s job search or professional development. Through local professional associations, networking events, and online communities, attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and other legal professionals have the opportunity to expand their connections in the field and enhance their career opportunities.
Professional associations are one way to meet peers in the legal field. Two associations operating in the greater Charlotte area are the North Carolina Bar Association and the Charlotte Claims Association. As one of the largest state bar associations in the country, the North Carolina Bar Association organizes a number of groups and classes to help legal professionals with networking and career development. Meanwhile, the Charlotte Claims Association is a non-profit association for attorneys, claims professionals, and agents who are involved in the insurance industry.
Networking events also provide legal professionals in Charlotte with opportunities to learn about job openings and connect with local employers. Many legal organizations in the area frequently host networking events to bring together staff from local firms as well as lawyers, paralegals, and other legal support staff. Legal professionals can make a strong impression on prospective employers at these events by not only networking with their own peer group, but also by taking the time to meet connect with representatives from local law firms.
Online communities are another way for legal professionals in Charlotte to connect with one another and find job opportunities. Networking platforms such as LinkedIn allow local legal professionals to join groups with peers in the area. Through these groups, legal professionals from the greater Charlotte area can share common job search experiences, recommend open positions, as well as make valuable professional connections.
Networking is an important part of any legal professional’s career. Whether a legal professional is new to the Charlotte area or has decades of experience, effective networking can help them to develop as a professional and identify new opportunities in the legal field.
Advice for Landing Legal Employment in Charlotte
To increase your chances of securing a legal job in Charlotte, it is essential to present yourself as the ideal candidate. One of the most effective ways to do so is to ensure your resume is polished and free from any stylistic or grammatical errors. Demonstrating how your qualifications align with each employer’s specific needs is the most effective way to capture their interest. Before submitting your resume, consider asking a colleague for their opinion on your resume and cover letter, as an outside perspective can often identify areas of improvement. In addition to your resume, resume alternatives like LinkedIn jobs and other resume profiling services can provide more insight into your personality and work identity than a resume alone can provide. Taking advantage of these alternative means of advertising yourself can give you an edge over other potential candidates for the position.
Another way to stand out among career board applications is to network. Understanding the professional landscape in Charlotte is crucial to your job search , and many opportunities could potentially pass you by if you are not familiar with the area. Networking and communicating with others in the professional community can help you secure a job interview and potentially the job itself. Join professional organizations in Charlotte, or reach out to experts in your field who have ties to your desired profession.
In addition to professional networking, you should also search beyond traditional career boards to keep track of open legal positions. For example, you can look at the local bar association’s website for any relevant job alerts. Another option is to become acquainted with Charlotte’s specific employment statistics, so you can search industries that are actually hiring. For example, attorneys with experience in the civil rights and immigration sectors are currently in high demand in Charlotte.
Finally, be sure to check for job openings at a variety of local organizations once you arrive in Charlotte. Candidates who are willing to commute to work will have a much greater chance of securing a position than those who will not. There are also many Christian organizations in Charlotte that accept applications from those who have volunteer or student organization experience.
Compensation and Benefits
Evidence of this shortage is apparent in salary and benefits for legal jobs in Charlotte. Law firms and corporations in Charlotte offer salaries for paralegals and legal assistants that are on the higher end of the scale for the nation. Salaries of $75,000-$100,000 and more are available for experienced litigators and corporate attorneys, whether in the public or private sector.
Other salaries thought through to 2020 include:
Litigation Associates—$120,000+, with top tier firms possibly exceeding $200,000.
Healthcare Associate—$115,000+
Corporate Associate—$115,000+
Insurance Associate—$110,000+
Labor and Employment Associate—$95,000+
Real Estate Associate—$85,000+
Banking Associate—$85,000+
Working "in-house" for a corporation or non-traditional law firm may offer other incentives besides salary. These compensation packages may include stock options and annual bonuses or profit sharing based on the companies’ performance. Equity interest in the company with rights to sit on the Board of Directors is also typical for some closely held companies.
Charlotte paralegal and support staffs earn averages of about $45,000. Large firms pay around $51,000, but $40,000 is a good average for general corporate paralegals, and $70,000 might typically be earned by a senior paralegal in a large healthcare corporation. In-house administrative assistants average around $50,000 in Charlotte. Estimated annual salaries for litigation support staff working for law firms in Charlotte range from a low-end of about $50,000 to the mid-$80,000s.
Future Prospects for the Charlotte Legal Community
The future outlook for Charlotte’s legal sector is relatively positive, as firms and organizations continue to make a concerted effort to enhance into the region’s economic and cultural capital. Recent growth has averaged 2.7 percent annually. While Charlotte still lags behind many larger cities in terms of overall state court filings, the steady growth is a good sign for future job seekers. Charlotte’s legal community should see an increase in hiring as organizations work to assess their current infrastructures to ensure new and predicted growth can continue unabated.
As the largest city in North Carolina, Charlotte has become a go-to spot for legal talent across the Southeast. Standard industry growth is anticipated to increase by 4 percent through 2026, which is good news for legal professionals looking for new opportunities . Those interested in finding a quality positions in Charlotte’s legal sector should develop a diversified list of potential employers. Prior to applying for a position, interested candidates should also ensure they understand the differences between large, traditional firms and smaller boutique and regional practices.
Growing businesses across the region make Charlotte, NC, a great place to start a career in law or grow an existing practice. As the state of North Carolina is hiring more judges in 2019, the demand for administrative assistants, paralegals, and litigators is also on the rise. Of course, rising demand can pave the way for higher salaries and more diverse opportunities for specialization. Job seekers are poised to take advantage of Charlotte’s fertile legal market, especially as the city continues to gain prominence along the East Coast.