The Landscape of Legal Jobs in Denver
The landscape of the legal job market in Denver has evolved over the past several years, with a noted uptick in legal hiring across the board. Denver has seen a particularly large bump in demand for litigation attorneys, as companies across sectors are seeking to bolster their practices and prepare for increased regulatory action. The demand for paralegals in the city also remains strong, as firms in attendance at the recent Colorado Bar Association Paralegal Day fair were looking to fill dozens of vacant paralegal positions. But the current legal hiring needs are not limited to the above areas. The Denver legal job market has been successful in adding jobs in the most-trafficked spheres , including compliance, intellectual property, and real estate, to name a few. Overall, the current practices of Denver law firms have not changed much from those as compared to previous years. Lead and mid-level partners and associates are both being hired, as are candidates possessing background and training in e-discovery. Temporary positions have also been on the rise, including staffing for attorneys, paralegals, legal support, and administrative roles.
Denver’s Top Law Firms and Employers
With a booming legal market and one of the greater metropolitan areas in the United States, the availability of legal job opportunities in Denver is endless. Colorado is home to several prestigious law firms, government agencies, and well-known corporations with in-house legal departments looking for talented attorneys experienced in a variety of practice areas. Law firms in Denver have a good track record for quickly promoting associates to partner. There are also several openings for senior attorneys. With the proper networking and honing in on your specific skills and interests, you may quickly escalate your chances at landing the right job for you. The job opportunities extend well beyond the larger firms as well. The Denver Bar Association, including its Young Lawyers Division, has numerous networking events throughout the year that not only provide access to potential employers but also helps young lawyers meet others in the legal community. The top law firms in Denver include the following: Holland & Hart, Patton Boggs, Davis Graham & Stubbs, Burnham Brown, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Husch Blackwell, Thornton Law Firm, Hogan Lovells, Balcomb & Green, Fieldman Rolapp & Associates, Davis, Graham & Stubbs, WSGR Dunn Law Firm, Morrison & Foerster, Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, and Lewis Roca Rothgerber. The top employers in the private and public sectors include the following: Arrow Electronics, Bering Straits Native Corporation, Great West Healthcare, EnCana Oil & Gas, Raytheon Company, IHS, Halliburton, Northrop Grumman, Rockwell Collins, CH2M Hill, Anadarko Petroleum, and AT&T. As with most cities across the country, the summer is a slower season for legal job opportunities although new positions are still being created all the time. Many firms use this time to not only fill vacancies but to recruit interns for the upcoming fall.
Qualifications and Skills for Legal Positions in Denver
Whether you are interested in becoming a paralegal, legal secretary or practicing lawyer, potential employers in the Denver area will be looking for a specific set of qualifications and skills. The most commonly-required qualifications for legal jobs in Denver include: Educational requirements: Legal Secretary – Legal secretaries typically must possess at least a high school diploma; however, many employers will only consider candidates who hold an associate’s degree in legal studies and paralegal studies and have work experience as a legal secretary. Paralegal – A bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies or a related field is required for employment as a paralegal in Denver. In order to advance in your career to become a paralegal specialist, such as a paralegal in corporate or criminal law, you may benefit from an associate’s or master’s degree, completion of a certificate program or certification through the National Federation of Paralegal Associations. Must have the following skill sets: In addition to the qualifications outlined above, employers in the Denver area will expect all legal professionals to have the following skills: With these skills, you will be able to successfully complete the essential tasks of any legal job in Denver. Don’t forget to prepare for your interview by interviewing other professionals working in the legal industry.
Networking and Career Development in the Denver Legal Scene
A successful legal career is built not only on education and experience but also through the expansion of professional and personal networks. In Denver, networking and career building opportunities are abundant and diverse, spanning all levels of experience.
The Denver Bar Association (DBA) is a cornerstone of the local legal community, offering numerous networking and career building opportunities to members. The association organizes regular networking events such as happy hours, social hours, and seasonal celebrations, bringing together lawyers from all over the city. Active participation in ongoing mentorship programs can also help legal professionals build relationships. The DBA’s Young Lawyers Division (YLD) is an excellent example, matching participants in mentorships that focus on networking, volunteer work, and the development of leadership skills. Numerous opportunities exist to volunteer for community service projects as part of the judiciary’s Volunteer Lawyer Program, while the DBA YLD has more than 40 volunteer committees for those who wish to get more involved.
For law school students , an essential step toward building an effective Denver network is to join the Denver Law Review, which connects law school students to the DBA. In addition, the Colorado and Denver Women’s Bar Associations have active student divisions for those pursuing legal careers in the state.
Legal professionals can also engage directly with potential and current clients by getting directly involved with the business community. The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, for example, helps its members connect with other business leaders through a variety of insurance services, events, and programs. The Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the African Chamber of Commerce also facilitate networking opportunities throughout the year, supporting lawyers in one of the most diverse cities in the country.
Professional associations and chambers of commerce offer numerous opportunities for legal professionals to communicate and build relationships with others in and outside the legal community. The many networking events hosted by these organizations allow them to cultivate relationships with new clients and enhance their reputations.
Salaries for Legal Professionals in Denver
When considering a legal career in Denver, salary is undoubtedly a significant factor that will dictate how far your legal career can progress in the region. As it currently stands, lawyers in the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield area brought home an average annual salary of $109,690 during 2017, which was slightly below the median annual salary of attorneys in Colorado ($113,100). Generally, you can expect the typical starting salary for lawyers at private firms to start in the region of $50,000 – $70,000, while corporate lawyers in this region typically earn salaries ranging from $80,000 – $120,000.
Of course, the cost of living in Denver is higher than the national average (and higher than in many surrounding areas), so it only makes sense that salaries would be reflective of the inflated pricing of goods in and around the city. In addition to this, the income tax rate in Colorado is a little higher than the national average, meaning that there are higher costs associated with working here.
At the same time, if you’re a Latinx, you can also expect to receive a salary that is 30.6% higher than the national average — at least according to Census data gathered in 2011. White Americans, by contrast, earned an average of 12.5% lower than the national average salary in 2011, demonstrating the importance of ethnicity when considering salary in the Denver region.
You should also be aware that, along with ethnicity, your educational and experience levels, as well as the nature of your specializations and areas of expertise, will all affect your salary. For example, corporate lawyers earn a median annual salary of $142,100, while civil lawyers typically take home $116,300 every year. At the same time, lawyers working in family law tend to earn a median annual salary of $88,800. So, while private sector lawyers can expect to earn a median salary between $100,000 – $112,000, corporate professionals can expect to earn much more, with an average salary of $140,000 or higher. For instance, salaries for IP lawyers range from $135,000 – $220,000, while those working in securities may earn from $115,000 – $225,000.
In many cases, lawyers receive bonuses that can add anywhere from $3,000 – $100,000 to their annual salary.
Understanding Denver’s Legal Job Postings and Applications
For many lawyers in the early stages of their careers, or even those in the latter stages who are contemplating making a lateral move, it’s essential to stay abreast of job postings in the Denver area. Leading the way is of course the Colorado Bar Association’s job board, although some other recruitment firms do list positions here as well, so it’s worth keeping an eye on things. Another site, for more experienced professionals, is the Association of Legal Administrators’ career center. This not only lists available jobs in the Denver area, but provides links to valuable resources such as salary surveys and lists of industry events. Employers can post their job ads here as well.
But perhaps the most comprehensive resource for job seekers is Colorado Legal Personnel Association. This organization provides similar resources to the ALA, but with a focus on attorneys. Its website includes a link to the State Court vacancy notice for attorneys, and such notices, providing detailed information on new hires and position openings, also appear in every issue of the State Bar Bulletin . Colorado Legal Personnel Association also provides job-searching and résumé-writing assistance to job seekers, and also a program that pairs mentors with new members of the association, which can be very useful for entry-level job seekers assigning them someone experienced who can advise them in the ways of the industry.
Job boards are critical to your search and should be used along with recruitment firms and personal relationships with attorneys, HR personnel and hiring managers at legal employers. But applying strategy and experience will also add value to your job search – sometimes hinging on factors that are less easily distilled in a résumé or job posting. Not only will such tactics be helpful for jobseekers, they are of even greater value to those employers who will look for a hire who has something to offer beyond technical qualifications. An attorney bringing legal expertise may simply be a better fit for a particular opening than an equally capable applicant.