The Boston Law Firm Hiring Landscape: Opportunities and Insights

Hiring Trends at Boston Law Firms

The hiring landscape among Boston law firms has experienced a recent uptick in demand for lateral hiring, with many areas of practice seeing a surge in openings. In the last two months, more than 300 positions have come across our desks at Lateral Link. Like several previous years, this intense acceleration in hiring appears to extend across all levels from junior associates (class years 2015-2018) to senior attorneys.
While many firms are looking to augment their junior attorney ranks, perceived increased demand is by no means the only factor driving late-stage hiring . A number of Boston firms are paying special attention to the finance and real estate sectors, having identified the two as areas of strategic focus for the near future. Firms in both sectors are looking for seasoned attorneys with portable books and regional contacts.
The focus on finance, in particular, appears to be part of a concerted effort by Boston firms to bolster their countrywide and global practices in this field. It will be important for interested parties to monitor this space closely in the coming months as this sector appears to have the highest season-to-season variability.

Boston Law Firms That Are Hiring Now

While the number of job openings and the rate of hiring in the Boston area continues to improve, the amount of movement on lawyers into and even across firms remains below the historical levels enjoyed by the legal community in the years prior to the recession. The number of firms looking to hire remains high as a result, with many of the top firms in the city currently hiring. Firms identifying the need for increased capacity are placing "open to hire" ads or specifically posting their needs on recruiting websites. Some firms are even creating specific target lists for area recruiting efforts.
Firms like Edwards, Wildman, Palmer, where most of the lateral movement occurred last year as well, and Palmer and Dodge are continuing to hire. The firm has recently brought in both a new corporate partner and a new corporate associate. The firm is also actively seeking to hire new IP associates.
Rubin and Rudman, a long standing and respected firm in Boston, has just placed ads for partners to assist them in their real estate, land use and finance departments and to assist them in their litigation department. Mintz Levin is continuing to hire in Boston as well.
Some firms, like The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, have specifically posted ads for lawyers and laterals in specific areas of practice on their websites, including showing a strong interest in hiring an attorney with extensive experience in criminal law. Other firms are more likely to be found using the standard "open to hire" sign up offered by major on-line recruiting networks.
Many firms posted ads looking for New York Associates—these include some of the largest and most high profile firms. Winston and Strawn, Paul Hastings and Arnold and Porter are all positions that are now openly accepting applicants in the area.

What You Need to Get Hired

Boston law firms often look for candidates that have received their JD from an ABA-approved law school, as well as an undergraduate degree. Candidates with an LLM degree or additional legal education are also looked upon favorably. A strong academic record, including grades in the 3.0 and higher range as well as graduating in the top 10-25% of one’s class, is given special consideration by such firms. Bar membership or at least eligibility to sit for a bar exam is expected of most candidates. Experience is a plus; candidates with prior legal internships or who have completed a judicial clerkship will be given extra consideration. The ideal candidate for employment with a Boston law firm possesses various skills besides those directly related to legal training. Analytical skills are a must, and candidates should demonstrate analytical writing experience or capabilities. They may also possess legal research experience or skills as well, in addition to the highest professional and ethical standards. Finally, candidates with computer skills are favored by many firms.

How and Where to Apply

Applying for a position as an attorney at a Boston law firm is no small task. Unfortunately, we’ve learned from experience that many applicants do not get it right the first time. We will start here with the obvious – don’t just rely on online job postings at your target firms. If you are only relying on online postings, the odds are that you are looking at all the same opportunities as everyone else. Here’s what we suggest – Utilize your contacts (those at your current and past firms, your professors, advisors, and colleagues) to learn when your target firms typically have their busy times. We always suggest NOT sending out resumes during the summer and December holidays. From our perspective, attorneys are less busy and more likely to review resumes in January. On the other hand, firm personnel are out of the office in droves during August. So if you haven’t heard back from a firm in a week or so after you have sent your resume in the summer, chances are the firm hasn’t done much work on it because no one is around.
We also recommend that if you have attended law school in Boston – you should already know that summer clerking opportunities are just as competitive as 3rd year associate openings. We suggest that you come to Boston prior to the start of the 2nd year to meet with the firms personally to introduce yourself and resume dropping. In addition , we would contact the firms who did not give you summer opportunities to express our interest in applying for an entry-level position come the fall.
We have found that the BEST way to get a firm’s attention is to submit a resume that is tailored to the specific firm. Make sure that if you are applying to a large/big firm that you explain your desire to work for a large firm. If you’re interviewing with an IP group and the job description requires a technical degree – then make sure that is placed at the top of the resume.
Also, we strongly recommend getting out there and networking with attorneys. We have made friends for life through networking and believe that this is the best way to find a job. Not only can your contacts help you find a position but your network stands a better chance of getting you that interview you so desperately want. Of course we suggest an attorney contact a personal friend of his/her legal network as their references.
Finally, remember that from our perspective it is the quality of the resume, not the quantity. If you send out 5 targeted resumes – you will greatly increase your chance of obtaining a job than if you had sent out 25 resumes with generic boiler plate cover letters.

Why Boston is an Appealing Market to Work In

The next logical question is: what makes Boston an attractive legal market for law firms? First and foremost it is the city’s legal community. With strong, mid-sized law firms comprising a significant portion of the firms here, there is a lot of natural cooperation and interaction between firms. Partners and associates move from firm to firm fairly freely. This high level of interaction helps to round out the opportunity for Boston lawyers. It allows Boston lawyers to: 1) learn best practices, 2) gain exposure to diverse experiences and perspectives, and 3) create vital connections throughout the community. This canvas of connectivity is unique to Boston and results in lawyers that are capable of doing the very best work. A slow but consistent stream of new arrivals are helping to keep up the number of attorneys here. At the same time, some lawyers are naturally going to leave law firms, often for reasons that vary greatly. Unpredictable departures are to be expected, and as a result, firms are wisely prepared to add lawyers. Even the most optimistic lawyer can’t ignore the fact that the economic climate in and around Boston hasn’t been a bed of roses. But there are no signs that show this will continue. And in general, job security at law firms in Boston doesn’t seem like it will become a real issue. A big part of this conclusion is the sheer numbers; 41 offices in Boston would require a massive amount of development to be created for companies to staff them with attorneys who have the experience to take advantage of quality work. This isn’t to say that jobs will be plentiful in a city with 41 offices at risk of falling, just that new opportunities and experience are there to be seized when they come. So what about the city? Does it have the lifestyle comfort and benefits for people who love to spend their weekends playing in the outdoors? As it turns out, there are roughly 12,000 acres of open space around Boston, many of which are very well kept. On the ecological friendly side, Boston is a city within a city, where subways, buses, streetcars, ferries and commuter rail provide excellent service. As a Boston lawyer will tell you, the demanding lifestyle that many of us choose requires a great deal of flexibility. You will need to meet clients at their offices across town or prepare a closing late at night, and the last thing you want to do after working a 14 hour day is deal with a complicated commute home.

Preparing for Interviews with Boston Law Firms

Interviewing with law firms in Boston is a process. You need to have done your homework on each firm and be able to articulate why you are meeting with them and what interests you about the position and the firm. Your research on the firm should have helped you accomplish two things: (1) figure out what you think the firm is really looking for and (2) gain enough information to ask thoughtful questions during the interview. Interviews are not just a chance to answer your potential employers questions. The interview is a chance for you to sell yourself by identifying why you would be a good match for the firm as well as a chance for you to see if the firm and its culture are a good match for you.
In Boston, firm associates conduct all attorney interviews. Firm partners only interview top candidates at the end of the process. Associates are also involved in the decision about whether to bring on a candidate. You will meet with associate attorneys in most firms in Boston.
It is important to answer questions clearly and directly in interviews. No hedging or ranting. Law firms are looking for associates who can think on their feet and collaborate. So make your answers thoughtful and compelling without being too long. Try to avoid giving Interviewer #1 the same exact answer as Interviewer #2. Do not give off-the-cuff answers. Speak professionally and clearly, like you are talking to a client. Keep it at a high level and don’t get caught up in the weeds – you may be asked if you are watching the Red Sox World Series games , etc. – keep returning to the interview and your background. No one wants to hear about who sat next to you on the T this morning.
Law firms are used to form letter (and form interview) answers. It is critical that you use the opportunity to follow-up with your interviewers (anyone you met with) and to talk about your interviews/interviews at other firms when you do. Highlight anything you learned about that firm and how it appealed to you/answers the questions you had about it coming into the interview. In your thank you note(s), never complain about not getting along with any interviewers, ever. Some people just don’t get along and that is ok. Just focus on what you learned from each interview and why you hope to still be considered for a second and/or third interview. Anything else will look like whining and they will always remember you for it. Be humble and up front about your interest in continuing with the process. Even if you have already accepted another offer, let them know that you appreciate the time they took and still have an interest in the firm in case something changes with your current situation. Having a good reputation is very important in Boston.
Characters and recognitions are typically important for Boston firms. Work history, school connections, etc. are less so. Try to find out how each firm cultivates character and recognitions. Compare the information to what you have found in your own experience and then devise some compelling questions (or several) to ask that particular firm about their interview process, their associates, or what makes the firm a good place to work in general. Be ready to answer questions about your experiences at school, such as: who was the biggest influence you had as a law school professor? Do you have public speaking experience? Do you like working in teams or on your own? These types of questions help you and the firm determine if there is a cultural fit.