An Overview of Detroit’s Legal Sector
Currently, the Detroit legal market is relatively stable. According to LinkedIn, there are 41,000 lawyers currently working in Michigan and this is only a slight increase from previous years. However, Motor City is still one of the best cities for attorneys to land jobs in terms of eCommerce. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the industry with the best outlook for employment within the Detroit metropolitan area in 2016 was Legal; the city’s legal job pool grew by more than 20% in the past year.
There are several large law firms in and around Detroit. The largest is Miller Canfield. Miller Canfield has over 300 attorneys, adding 23 attorneys over the last year. Their total revenue was $80 million last year. The second largest firm in Detroit by revenue was Bodman, which also added 23 attorneys to their already sizable roster. Bodman’s total revenue was $62 million last year. Dykema , Detroit’s third largest firm actually dropped three attorneys, but their revenue was $61 million in 2016. Other regional players include Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, Butzel Long, and Collins Einhorn Farrow. It should also be noted that Detroit does not house any AMLAW 100 firms.
Notably, while there are not many opportunities for entry-level associate positions in Detroit, the opportunities currently available are excellent. According to the 2016 Robert Half Legal Hiring Index, Detroit stands as one of the cities with the most anticipated demand for legal talent in 2016. These security posts have been bolstered through corporate growth and expansion across the city. So while scarcity abounds when it comes to solos and small firms, the high number of openings at larger firms ensures that Detroit’s job market is continuing to thrive.
Employers: Detroit’s Law Firms
The competitive landscape of Detroit’s legal job market offers a wide range of opportunities. The premier law firms in this region, known for their prestige and influence, are often scrutinized by a majority of the applicants who seek to gain employment from them. The following is a brief look at the law firms that most often land on the radar of job seekers:
Miller, Canfield, Paddock, and Stone, P.L.C.: As a leader in Michigan-based law firms, Miller Canfield is a practice group specializing in business and commercial law, finance, intellectual property, labor and employment, litigation, tax, and environment and energy. In addition to its main office in downtown Detroit, it has smaller offices across Michigan, as well as Boston, Chicago, Hong Kong, New York, Toronto, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Austria.
Butzel Long P.C.: With its headquarters in Detroit, Butzel Long takes pride in its testing of the "Butzel way," which emphasizes the firm’s devotion to personal service and the application of creative problem solving. Its small- to mid-sized practice focuses on litigations, corporate law, labor and employment, health law, real estate, antitrust, intellectual property, environmental, and individual and family services.
Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn LLP: A leader in business representation for more than 65 years, Honigman is internationally recognized as one of the largest Michigan-based law firms. It employs over 200 attorneys in its Detroit and Bloomfield Hills offices. The firm specializes in antitrust, corporate and securities, employment and labor, environmental, government, immigration, intellectual property, international, private equity & venture capital, real estate, and tax.
Dykema Gossett P.L.C.: Founded in 1914, the 600-plus lawyer firm is one of the largest Michigan-based law firms that provide a wide range of services to its sizable group of clients. Well-known practice groups include corporate finance, intellectual property, healthcare, labor and employment, litigation, and real estate. Dykema’s offices are located in Michigan, Texas, Illinois, and Washington, D.C.
Different Forms of Legal Work
Detroit has an array of legal job opportunities across its commercial, non-profit, and governmental sectors. For those seeking traditional corporate law positions, large law firms comprise a major portion of the private sector hiring demand. Opportunities in this sector range from general corporate work to employment law and regulation. A Juris Doctor (JD) degree and a license to practice law in Michigan are required. A recent increase in corporate consolidation has led to reduced direct law firm hires; however, corporations retain outside law firms for discrete legal issues, such as transactions, employment disputes, or intellectual property concerns.
Another substantial private sector employer is the legal department of any municipal or city government, with the City of Detroit being the largest. Lawyers practicing municipal law are often required to have extensive expertise in local, state, and federal laws as well as experience navigating the legal and political systems within the city structure. These positions require a JD, a law license in Michigan, and demonstrated public law experience or specialty knowledge relevant to the jurisdiction.
Criminal law is substantially in demand in the private sector, particularly as a public defender, or as a domestic relations attorney. Private criminal defense attorneys perform work for clients who wish to defend against criminal charges. Domestic relations lawyers typically represent clients in matters such as divorce, child custody, and support. Both types of law require a bar license and experience in criminal law or family law practice. In the public sector, the prosecutor position for the County of Wayne is significant. Additional statutory authorities, such as the Michigan Attorney General or the Department of Human Services, participate in the selection of candidates for jobs as prosecutors in various jurisdictions across the state.
Legal aid offices of several types provide legal services to certain vulnerable populations. Legal aid non-profits provide legal advice and representation for free or at a reduced cost to low-income individuals or those who otherwise qualify. Depending on the type of job a lawyer wishes to hold in a legal aid office, they may be required to obtain clinical experience and satisfy other requirements such as a one-year clerkship, fellowship, or term of public service. Legal aid offices may have their own hiring requirements. The Office of the Public Defender has similar requirements and may be precluded from full-time employment while serving as a public defender; thus, they seek full-time law students, recently licensed attorneys, and interns.
Federal government legal jobs are varied and require more experience in a particular area of the law or administrative procedure. The attorneys in the U.S. Attorney’s Office are required to have recently completed a term of judicial clerkship, while others may need 5 to 7 years’ specialized legal experience. U.S. Senate Legal Counsel and the majority and minority pointed these legal officers tend to be highly sought after and require impeccable experience and references.
Attributes for Legal Positions
Critical to the interview process is being able to show potential employers that your skills and qualifications make you the right person for the job. This involves emphasizing not only your general capabilities, but also your specialized legal knowledge. Each potential employer will look for a different combination of these attributes according to their specific requirements.
Performing legal research, reading over contracts and preparing legal documents all require proficiency with standard office software and other relevant tools. Although you may find that you are repeating this for every job application you prepare, you will need to be specific about the programs and applications you excel at. All prospective employers will expect you to have a strong foundation in Microsoft Office applications, but if you’re looking for a position as a paralegal, for example, then you also need to demonstrate proficiency or experience with specialized software related to this field. If you are applying for a specialized position, such as criminal law or immigration, then you will also need to show that you are knowledgeable about relevant legislation and procedures in these areas.
Lawyers must also develop a distinctive set of hard and soft skills during their studies to practice. While many of these skills are acquired while studying on-campus , or through mock trial experiences, extracurricular organizations, group meetings and so on, you should seek out opportunities to develop them further. These include:
Understanding that the needs of clients are constantly evolving, many law firms in Detroit are willing to allow their employees to work remotely as the nature of working life becomes more fluid. The most important factor here is that you can be productive wherever you are. If you are looking at a position where working from home is possible, you will need to demonstrate that you have strong time management skills and can perform well under pressure, regardless of your setting.
In the past decade or so, it’s become essential for any employee in any industry to be competent with digital tools and electronics. Research shows that over 90 per cent of companies now use cloud computing tools, and around 25 per cent have completely eliminated paper filing systems. It’s essential for job seekers to demonstrate that they are comfortable with current technology, and can learn new tools quickly.
While available openings in the legal sector are competitive, with the right skills and determination, you will be able to secure an entry-level position in one of Detroit’s well-respected law firms in no time.
Networking & Obtaining Your Credentials
The significance of networking cannot be overstated in the context of a search for Detroit legal jobs. Through networking, lawyers can build strong relationships within the legal community, which can turn into partnerships, mentorships, and ultimately, career opportunities. It can help you stay informed about the latest trends and former legal secretary staffing changes in the industry, while offering valuable insights into potential opportunities for professional or personal advancement from mentors who have been in your shoes.
A number of organizations exist in the Detroit area that are dedicated to professional growth and offer various opportunities to connect with peers and build rapport with other legal professionals, while also providing the necessary resources and events to further enhance professional development. Detroit alone is home to many bar associations that your legal staff recruitment agency may be able to recommend. Bar associations are a diverse group of individuals that are committed to preserving a high standard for the practice of law throughout their specific areas of interest and location.
The best place to start is the State Bar of Michigan, which was established in 1935 and allows lawyers from both the private and public sectors to connect by engaging in a wide variety of activities ranging from bar committees that make recommendations to the Supreme Court of Michigan, to committees that focus on a variety of practice areas and interests, to groups focused on issues such as alternative dispute resolution or youthful lawyers. Also, the Michigan Association of Justice brings together more than 1,500 plaintiffs’ lawyers to enhance their networking and promotional opportunities, along with providing access to a variety of resources.
Work with your legal staffing agency to identify those that are most appealing to your practice area.
Managing the Job Search
Navigating the job search process can be daunting even in promising local markets like Detroit. But when it comes to legal jobs, there is plenty of opportunity for qualified, driven candidates. However, it pays to make your application stand out from the rest of the large crowd that you’ll be competing with. Your resume should reflect an understanding of the firm in question, as well as a solid knowledge of Detroit. Go the extra mile to tailor your CV for a specific position and you’ll immediately separate yourself from the general herd.
One useful tool is to remain attuned to emerging opportunities with Detroit legal firms. Use technology to your advantage and you’ll have one up on the pack. The internet now offers countless databases of the job market and while compiling your search results may take some time, your commitment will be rewarded by a better understanding of what’s available in your area and greater success in finding the specific job you want . You can gather the relevant details on everything from salary range to experience level required in advance and better understand how your CV stacks up against the competition.
Another key factor in your success will be your ability to interview convincingly. While the documents and applications you’ve submitted are important, ultimately you are competing against dozens if not hundreds of similar candidates until the moment arrives when you can break the mold and dazzle your interviewers with confidence and poise. It is important to anticipate the kinds of questions they might ask and further to rehearse your answers so you can be certain to project confidence and competence. Make use of legal databases to refine your resume and present your work history as a seamless thread of rich and relevant experience.
In short, don’t skimp on the background work. Legal jobs are out there, and investing the time to polish your resume and presentation for specific opportunities is the best possible path to landing exactly the job you deserve.