Overview of NH Legal Job Market
The Legal job market in New Hampshire has long been a solid one, although it is experiencing some of the same pressures as the rest of the economy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, New Hampshire’s unemployment rate was 3.2% in 2013, putting it in a virtual dead heat with Minnesota for the 5th lowest unemployment rate in the country. Nationally, the unemployment rate hovered around 7%.
New Hampshire’s comparatively high literacy rate of 90% is reflected in its legal job market. With more literate people comes more legal work generated by their daily lives. The state’s relatively wealthy population is also a generator of legal work, as approximately 70% of it is classified as middle class or higher. Outside of the capital area, rural areas are seeing a small uptick in the number of cases, driven in large part by population growth and the retirement of baby boomers.
The majority of the state’s legal jobs are located within Manchester and Nashua, the state’s two largest urban centers. Approximately 40% of New Hampshire’s population resides within Manchester, and 23% in Nashua. Going from south to north , Concord, Peterborough, Keene, Lebanon and Littleton are some of the larger cities.
Some of the notable trends affecting the NH legal job market include:
Long-standing occupational outlook projections by the U.S. Department of Labor show consistent, reliable job opportunities in the fields of paralegals and other legal support, with a projected growth rate of 17% over the next decade. This translates to an estimated 51,300 new paralegal and legal assistant jobs on a national scale. Increased demand for paralegals is being driven largely by the legal profession’s need to cut costs by using paralegals as a way to free up lawyers’ time for more complex legal work.
Legal recruiters in NH have seen a slight uptick in legal secretary openings. A decline in the market for secretaries and administrative assistants in other industries may gradually result in an upward trend in vacancies for legal secretaries in the state.
According to USA Today, New Hampshire ranks among the very best states in the country for lawyers. Only Massachusetts, Minnesota and Maine received a higher ranking.
Categories of NH Legal Jobs
Legal jobs in New Hampshire encompass a variety of functions and services and are available to licensed attorneys, law students, paralegals and legal assistants, as well as judges. The state’s court system employs all of these professionals to varying degrees. The New Hampshire State Courts offer law students legal intern positions, paralegals and a small number of administrative positions. Professional roles for attorneys include clerk, law officer and senior court counsel. Administrative roles for support staff include human resources director, budget analyst and litigation support analyst.
Attorney Positions
The Administrative Office of the Courts outlines available non-judicial attorney roles for state agencies as follows:
Administrative Law Unit – Administrative Attorneys manage dockets and coordinate with the Administrative Hearing Officers in the Department of Administrative Services in Concord, New Hampshire to draft decisions and orders.
Civil Litigation Unit – Civil Litigation Attorneys at the Department of Justice represent the State and State agencies in court and administrative proceedings, and provide legal advice and counseling to clients. Positions may be available for attorneys with experience in areas such as public utilities, antitrust, environmental law, labor relations and employment law.
Criminal Justice Unit – Criminal Justice Attorneys conduct criminal investigations and make arrests and handle prosecutorial responsibilities on serious criminal matters. Areas of responsibility include homicides, drug cases, child exploitation, fraud and corruption cases, and sexual assaults.
Chief Counsel and Senior Division Supervisor – As a chief counsel or supervisor, an attorney can manage a division and provide leadership to their colleagues. This role often includes strategic planning, case assignment and development, and the hiring of attorneys and support staff. This position can require extensive trial experience, exceptional judgment and supervisory skill.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Positions
Paralegals and legal assistants in New Hampshire work for a wide variety of attorney, law office and legal department employers. They conduct research, prepare legal documents, draft correspondence, analyze information and perform clerical activities. Necessary skills include knowledge of relevant rules and regulations, record keeping and organizational skills, teamwork and interpersonal skills, and the ability to maintain confidentiality and make independent judgments. The salary range for New Hampshire paralegals according to the BLS is $41,510 to $90,400.
Judicial Positions
Elected and appointed judges of all levels of courts are subject to the jurisdiction of the New Hampshire Commission on Judicial Conduct and the Committee on Applicability of the Code of Judicial Conduct. The NHCC is charged with reviewing and investigating ethical complaints against judges and determining whether rules apply to them. These agencies rely on the expert opinion of both lawyers and judges about the impact of potential violations of law or the Code of Judicial Conduct.
Top Employers of NH Legal Pros
New Hampshire’s legal job market is front-loaded due to the large number of prestigious and established law firms in the state. Below is a partial list of the most notable employers for in-house and law firm attorneys.
Law Firms:
McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, PA
Devine Millimet, Sperling, Metcalf & Brown, P.A.
Hale, DeMeulle, Hofeldt, & Mawkes, Chartered
Preti Flaherty Beliveau & Pachios, LLP
Barton & Loguidice, P.C.
Bernstein Shur
Corporate Law Departments:
Timberland LLC
Northeast Utilities
DEKA Research & Development
Fujifilm Medical Systems USA
Normon, Inc.
Government Offices:
Department of Justice
New Hampshire Supreme Court
U.S. District Courts of New Hampshire
U.S. Bankruptcy Court of New Hampshire
Core Qualifications for NH Legal Jobs
When it comes to legal jobs in New Hampshire, the hiring criteria can vary widely based on the level of the position. With that said, however, most legal jobs require candidates to have at least a high school diploma, and many positions will only consider candidates who have earned at least an associate degree in paralegal studies or a related field. One of the most common credentials accompanied with legal jobs in New Hampshire is those for paralegals, which are awarded by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations. Among the more than 800 state and local associations affiliated with the NFPA are three for New Hampshire: Greater Concord Chapter, Granite State Paralegals, and Lake Sunapee Area Paralegals. To earn the CP and FRP certifications issued by the NFPA, candidates must be active members with at least two years of paralegal experience , and must take and pass an intensive exam covering a wide variety of areas within the field.
Additionally for the large number of legal jobs in the state that require a law degree, the New Hampshire Supreme Court Examining Committee, which oversees licensing, requires candidates to possess either a Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws degree that has been approved under the American Bar Association standards. Taking and passing the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is also compulsory for many legal-related careers in New Hampshire. Candidates for legal compliance positions must possess, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree, while government lawyer and paralegal candidates must have a minimum of a master’s degree; all other legal job titles require at least a high school diploma or GED.
General Application Advice and Tips for NH Legal Jobs
As a legal job seeker in the state of New Hampshire, it’s crucial to manage your search effectively to enhance your chances of landing a position or being noticed by employers. Some proven strategies you can employ when applying for legal positions include:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to focus on your most relevant qualifications.
- Prepare a short "elevator pitch" that describes yourself and your experience in the legal field, closest to relationships with lawyers to obtain the desired results.
- Network with legal professionals across New Hampshire, including attending events and utilizing social media platforms like LinkedIn.
- Apply directly to law firms using their website application forms.
- Follow up after submitting a legal job application with a polite email or phone call. Let the employer know you are interested in the position and politely inquire whether or not they have hired anyone yet.
- Always send a thank you letter to the interviewer to show them that you appreciate their time and the opportunity to interview for a legal position.
Career Advancement Trends in NH Legal Industry
Both established attorneys and law students can find gratifying opportunities for advancement to higher positions within various legal organizations in New Hampshire. These include opportunities with prominent firms, state and federal courts, and leading corporate employers. With a labor force of over four thousand attorneys, many large firms have plenty of opportunities for highly qualified younger attorneys to achieve lucrative and responsible positions. For example, legal recruiters in NH typically offer compelling prospects for recent law school graduates as associates, often with substantial signing bonuses. In turn, new hires are usually groomed for advancement to partnership or equity partner.
With their strong criminal and civil dockets, the NH and US District Courts also provide excellent job opportunities to lawyers and recent law graduates . Recent openings for clerks of the Court, staff attorneys and judgeships provide potential career paths for outstanding candidates. The steady growth of litigation also means potential opportunities for experienced lawyers in the sizeable legal support staff sector, as well.
Corporate and in-house counsel positions for lawyers and graduates of local law schools are also very popular with applicants, who benefit from the combination of a civically-engaged corporate environment and the high quality of life provided in New Hampshire. Litigation support positions and opportunities for real estate, labor, intellectual property and other legal specialists are also often available through these employers. As a result, these positions are also very competitive.