Minneapolis Law Industry Overview
Minneapolis boasts a robust and dynamic legal community, with nearly 550 practicing attorneys in 2018. These attorneys support almost 850 non-attorney staff members, who keep the legal machine humming. Accountants, IT specialists, receptionists, paralegals and legal assistants make up the bulk of the staff in the more than 100 law firms that have established a presence in the City of Lakes. Other professionals who support the legal industry include a vast network of contract attorneys. These attorneys are employed by firms on a temporary basis, supporting an innovated method of practice known as managed document review. A select number of firms also rely on contract attorneys for e-discovery support.
On any given day, attorneys in Minneapolis ("the city") are working hard to bring in new business, provide quality legal counsel to their clients, and diversify their offerings to clients. These are all vital to large and small firms’ efforts to capture more market share and secure lucrative business deals.
Familiar names dominate the Minneapolise landscape, including venerable firms like Helton & Williams, Most & Flannery, Dorsey & Whitney, Greene Espel and Galuschak & Galuschak. Yet, there is a vigorous industry of up-and-coming "disruptors," like the Cohen Law Firm, the Latimer Law Firm , MJobst Corporation and Eric Mott, LTD. These firms are undeterred by the competition and are often rewarded by their unorthodox approaches to the field—they have earned a reputation for integrity and innovation.
Both large and small firms are also accepting the challenge to attract top talent through proactive recruitment strategies, vigorous hiring practices, and the attractive compensation packages offered to new associates.
Large firms offer salaries that put their young lawyers on a par with first-years in New York City. Depending on the size of the firm, hourly rates for senior associates can go upwards of $400. Due to congestion, larger firms tend to apply a higher markup to their services. However, some firms, do prefer to specialize in excellent counsel, rather than the bigger hourly rates that come with more prestigious firms. These firms also do less jury work, and their practices lean heavily towards international law.
The large differences in scope and size of Minneapolis’ law firms are likely to continue. The market is primed for innovation and even more firms as the population of the city continues to grow. Bright prospects continue to fall into the lap of Minneapolis’ leading firms, as they work to secure a bigger piece of the expanding marketplace pie.
Law Careers in Demand in Minneapolis
The legal industry in Minneapolis is a robust and diverse legal community. There are lawyers working in all areas of law, but some areas are more in demand than others. There are many jobs in law and they range from lawyers to paralegals to legal assistants and beyond. Minneapolis also has federal, state, and local government lawyers, which presents another opportunity for those looking to pursue a career in the legal field. Some of the most common and in demand legal careers in Minneapolis include corporate lawyer, litigation attorney, public defender, patent lawyer, real estate attorney, and intellectual property lawyer.
A corporate lawyer is an attorney specializing in corporate law. A corporate lawyer will work for either a corporation or a private law firm that represents corporations. Corporate lawyers are responsible for the legal concerns of the corporation and provide valuable legal advice and services to guide the corporation through any issues. The litigation attorney takes on litigation cases and prosecutes or defends a legal proceeding in court. Individuals who want to be a litigation attorney, must complete the bar exam after graduating law school.
A public defender is a government lawyer who represents criminal defendants who are unable to afford counsel. Public defenders handle many serious cases such as rape, and gun and drug-related charges. A new public defender should expect to navigate some of the most complicated and unique cases out there. A patent lawyer is an intellectual property attorney who can guide individuals in acquiring the exclusive rights to intellectual property. Intellectual property attorneys work with individuals who may have patents for inventions such as jewelry, gadgets, furniture, and golf clubs.
A real estate attorney advises on the sale, lease, purchase, or use of real estate. All real estate transactions (selling, buying, or leasing) are governed by a complicated system of state and federal rules and regulations, making it difficult to be an effective negotiator (without the help of an experienced Minnesota real estate lawyer on your side). An intellectual property lawyer handles the property claims for inventions. An intellectual property lawyer may also represent clients in court if disputes arise.
Major Minneapolis Employers of Legal Talent
Employers of legal professionals in Minneapolis include law firms, government agencies, and top corporations with legal departments. The following is a list and overview of Minneapolis area employers of legal professionals.
Law Firms
Best & Flanagan LLP is a 70-year-old, 150-attorney firm that offers clients access an office in London, a relationship with a law firm in China and a member of the Mackrell International network of 80 law firms. Best & Flanagan focuses their practice on corporate, litigation and intellectual property.
Gray Plant Mooty is a full-service law firm and one of the largest firms in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Gray Plant Mooty offers services in more than 20 areas of practice, including corporate, litigation, intellectual property, immigration and estates, wills & trusts. With more than 170 attorneys and a staff of 300, Gray Plant Mooty strives to meet a client’s requirements in any area of law.
Henningson & Snoxell, Ltd is a law firm with attorney practicing solely in the area of family law, which includes divorce, legal separation, custody, child support, spousal maintenance, property division, grandparent visitation, adoption, name changes and domestic abuse. They are located in the heart of the Twin Cities, only minutes from all of the local courts.
Norton Rose Fulbright is a truly global law firm, able to represent clients across five continents in multiple international markets. Norton Rose Fulbright is a key player in the energy, infrastructure and power sectors.
Government Agencies
The City of Minneapolis employs the majority of the operational functions in Minneapolis. The city’s legal department advises and represents the city in all legal matters. All legal services relating to property development, land use, public finance, purchasing and contractual matters are managed by the City Attorney’s Office, along with additional transactional and litigation matters.
The Criminal Division of the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of adult criminal cases that are filed through St. Paul City Court and Ramsey County District Court. The division’s criminal prosecutors have experience with a broad range of misdemeanor and felony cases, focusing primarily on burglaries, robberies, violent crimes, sexual assaults, narcotics cases, and firearm offenses. The division also handles appellate work for cases prosecuted.
Corporations
General Mills Inc. is the owner of some of the world’s best-known food brands, including: Betty Crocker, Cheerios, Green Giant, Gold Medal, Yoplait, Pillsbury and Haagen-Dazs. The company employs approximately 35,000 people, and does business throughout 100 countries. Minnesota residents have the opportunity to work for General Mills at their Minneapolis headquarters.
UnitedHealth Group is a diversified health and well-being company. It offers services through several divisions such as UnitedHealthcare, Optum, and Ingenix. UnitedHealth Group current employs 85,000 people around the world.
Job Prospects for Lawyers in Minneapolis
Minneapolis, like many parts of the country, is seeing a trend away from traditional legal staffing. Law firms and corporations are looking to trim their teams as a means to cut costs and find efficiencies. Some firms are even folding altogether, while others remain intact but operate within smaller buildings in reduced square footage. This has led to an increased focus on technology, particularly in the way that technology can be leveraged to streamline operations. The use of technology not only simplifies administrative tasks but also gives firms the ability to significantly reduce the amount of office seating required. Technology can also potentially eliminate the need for secretarial staff entirely, as digital dictation can be used in the place of physical copy editing.
Trimming traditional staff is a trend that is likely to continue indefinitely. Firms that did not adapt to this trend before may soon find themselves lagging behind the competition. On the other end of the spectrum, firms that are creating new functional positions, even with the economic challenges, appear to be thriving. This speaks to the idea that a perfect mix of talents is most in demand.
Naturally, there are still openings at higher levels of management, though these are often seen in the corporate legal world. Indeed General Counsel and other such executive-level positions for corporations appear to have the most consistent opportunities, having grown at a higher percentage than attorneys in private practice law firms. While these firms are extending their reach further into the boundaries of large-midsize law firms, aggressive lateral hiring has stunted their growth and greatly reduced the opportunities for solo practitioners.
Minneapolis remains a strong market for national and municipal government entities as well. In fact, government jobs actually account for roughly 13% of the total legal job market. But on the other side of the coin, it is also the nonprofit sector that typically produces the smallest number of openings.
Networking Strategies for Legal Job Seekers
For those just stepping into the Minneapolis legal scene or looking to take their career to the next level, networking effectively is essential. Building relationships in and outside of your current firm will help you stay ahead of industry trends and make valuable connections.
Founded in 1906, the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) is the largest of its kind in the state. The MSBA’s primary mission is to preserve and promote the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law while also educating Minnesotans about their civil and legal rights.
A number of events are held throughout the year, such as seminars, conferences, and public forums, so you can easily find one that suits your schedule and interests. You can also find several special interest groups such as the Diversity Committee, Young Lawyers Section, and Public Law Section to connect with like-minded people. The Hennepin County Bar Association is another local organization worth looking into that offers opportunities for volunteer work, committees, and events. If you’re looking to engage with others around the country, the American Bar Association is the largest association of lawyers in the U.S . and has several entities focused on specific areas of the law and interests of legal professionals.
In addition to formal organizations, networking events are held regularly by different Minneapolis organizations. Events range from happy hours to social gatherings to lectures and other educational events. Whether you want to expand your network locally or nationally, there’s an event for you:
In addition to in-person networking, having a strong online presence is important for aspiring legal professionals. This includes a professional website and active presence on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter.
Social media is a great way to stay current with what’s going on in the industry and engage with potential contacts in your field. You can also join social network groups, such as the LinkedIn -based "Minnesota Legal Community" that posts job offerings and legal-related events and news from the area.
Finally, if you are currently looking for an opportunity in the local legal scene, let us assist you! We know the Minneapolis legal scene inside and out, and will work with you to land a position that will help you work toward achieving your professional goals.
Legal Salaries in Minneapolis
Minneapolis legal salaries are largely comparable to those of most other mid-size cities, with salaries varying based on area of specialization and practice. As of this writing, average salaries for Minneapolis lawyers stand at around $159,000. Corporate lawyers typically earn $188,000, with trial lawyers and criminal defense attorneys averaging $92,000 per year. First-year associates in Minneapolis make around $90,000 annually.
Even entry-level legal positions in Minneapolis pay well above the U.S. annual wage of $39,810. According to PayScale, the average entry-level salary for a paralegal is $39,529. Receptionists earn around $28,000 per year, while legal secretaries make an average of $39,858 per year.
For entry-level attorneys in Minneapolis, corporate law is the most lucrative field by far. The median base salary for new corporate law associates is $145,000 per year; first-year associates specializing in commercial litigation make $95,000; those practicing criminal law earn $70,000; and labor and employment attorneys earn $108,000.
Education levels also play a role in legal compensation rates. As of this writing, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the following mean annual wages for different categories of lawyers, by education level:
The demand for lawyers has remained strong as always, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of May 2017, there were 112,430 attorneys employed across Minnesota, accounting for an annual salary of $90,230. For those seeking to join the ranks of Minneapolis lawyers, the relatively high salaries are tempered by particularly strong competition.
Lawyers in Minneapolis make considerably more than those employed in St. Paul. However, the cities are sometimes treated as one single metropolitan area. Thus, many municipal statistics apply to both major cities.
According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area supports some 31,470 employees working in the legal sector. The top employers are law firms and corporate legal departments, followed by government agencies and courts, and finally by accountants and CPAs who practice in the public sector.
The Minneapolis government offers competitive salaries and benefits to attorneys, particularly those seeking employment in the public sector. The starting salary for legal clerks is $64,237 per year, while entry-level prosecutors make $64,171 annually. Those who begin their careers as assistant city attorneys in Minneapolis earn a base salary of $88,870 per year. Minneapolis attorneys enjoy generous benefits as well, including an average of 96 days of paid vacation and leave time, 11 paid holidays, and a pension that allows for retirement at age 55 after 10 years of service.
Educational Background of Legal Professionals
The legal requirements to practice law in Minneapolis are the same as those anywhere else in the United States. Individuals must earn a bachelor’s degree, then earn a graduate degree from an accredited law school. However, prospective law students in Minneapolis may have an easier time on the admission exam than in other areas of the country. Typically, the passing rates for the Michigan Bar Exam ranks the state in the top 25 and very often within the top 10. Law firms in Minneapolis are known for hiring well prepared candidates who pass the licensing exam the first time. Out-of-state students are also eligible to work in Minnesota after completing their law studies with any other state’s accreditation . To become a practicing attorney in Minneapolis, candidates are required to take either the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) or Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE). Specific study groups, which meet for a short schedule of classes, prepare students for either exam. Practice tests and refresher incentives are offered through the law schools and are arguably responsible for the persons who pass on the first try. Three law schools are available to residents of Minneapolis. Attaining a Juris Doctorate Degree from either University of Minnesota School of Law, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, or William Mitchell College of Law will satisfy educational requirements for entrance into the local workforce.