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Job outlook for trial lawyers in the United States
Trial lawyer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected trial lawyer job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 80,200 new jobs for trial lawyers are projected over the next decade.
Trial lawyer salaries have increased 7% for trial lawyers in the last 5 years.
There are over 7,030 trial lawyers currently employed in the United States.
There are 2,954 active trial lawyer job openings in the US.
The average trial lawyer salary is $95,483.
Are trial lawyer jobs in demand?
Trial lawyer job and salary trends over time
Trial lawyer jobs over time
Trial lawyer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,030 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 6,793 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 6,784 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 6,635 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 6,486 | 0.00% |
Average trial lawyer salary over time
Trial lawyer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $95,483 | $45.91 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $92,496 | $44.47 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $90,954 | $43.73 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $89,706 | $43.13 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $88,886 | $42.73 | +2.0% |
Trial lawyer jobs by state
Most common states for trial lawyers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 42 | 6% |
| 2 | California | 39,536,653 | 243 | 1% |
| 3 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 118 | 1% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 98 | 1% |
| 5 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 63 | 1% |
| 6 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 34 | 1% |
| 7 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 22 | 1% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 7 | 1% |
| 9 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 7 | 1% |
| 10 | New York | 19,849,399 | 74 | 0% |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 53 | 0% |
| 12 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 52 | 0% |
| 13 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 41 | 0% |
| 14 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 32 | 0% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 24 | 0% |
| 16 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 22 | 0% |
| 17 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 21 | 0% |
| 18 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 9 | 0% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 5 | 0% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 2 | 0% |
Most common cities for trial lawyers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ocala | 1 | 2% | $92,481 |
Trial Lawyer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of trial lawyer experts
Suffolk University
Cornell University
University of North Dakota
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Georgia
Oakland University
Pepperdine University
Texas Tech University
Rollins College
University of Houston
Seton Hall University School of Law
Pace University
Arizona State University
University of Iowa
University of Mississippi
University of Miami and Affiliated Faculty, Harvard Law School Executive Education
What general advice would you give to a Trial Lawyer?
Andrele St. Val: You can maximize your salary potential by learning how to negotiate and then being sure you do it. Know that employers will try to pay you the minimum. Know your worth, even when starting out, and ask for it. Also, take the time to harness your skills. This can be in the form of becoming an expert in your area of the law or sharpening your 'soft skills' like negotiations.
What Trial Lawyer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Andrele St. Val: The skill that will become more important and prevalent in the next 3 to 5 years is knowing how to ethically leverage the use of technology to practice law more efficiently. For example, knowing how to engineer prompts to get results when using AI while also adhering to the rules of professional responsibility is going to be very useful in practice.
What will help Trial Lawyers increase their earning potential?
Andrele St. Val: Take this opportunity to learn how to practice and be a lawyer. You learned how to think like a lawyer in law school, now it is time for you to learn how to be a lawyer. You do this by getting a mentor to help you navigate the first couple of years of practice. Be open to advice and guidance.
Michael Bolden Former First Justice/Boston Municipal Court/Retired
Suffolk University
Law
What Trial Lawyer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Michael Bolden Former First Justice/Boston Municipal Court/Retired: It is hard to predict what areas of law will become prevalent in the next few years, my advice to young attorneys is to train to become a quick study and nimble so you can pivot to new areas of law going forward. Also, make this willingness to learn new things known to your supervisor so they can support you in your willingness to stay current.
What Trial Lawyer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mohamed Arafa SJD: I will be more than happy to respond to your questions on the job legal market (law majors/fields) after graduating w/the JD/law degree from the law school.
What will help Trial Lawyers increase their earning potential?
Mohamed Arafa SJD: LMK when it’s good for you and we can proceed for a Zoom call or so! Just make sure that there is 7 hours ahead between NY and Riyadh.
What general advice would you give to a Trial Lawyer?
Kimberly Dasse: The concept of a legal career encompasses a wide array of roles, extending beyond the traditional associate-partner trajectory. I therefore recommend that law students plan early. While still in school, seek out internships or externships that afford opportunities to explore diverse roles, such as placements at non-profits, district attorney’s offices, public defender’s offices, and law firms. This type of exposure will help students to determine what roles align best with their personal circumstances, identity, and aspirations. Once a course is set, pursue that path with determination. As practitioners, they should strive to excel by applying their academic knowledge and life experiences to their work. Pose thoughtful questions that reflect genuine engagement and consideration for the work. Cultivate mentoring relationships with seasoned professionals who can offer guidance in navigating legal practice and office dynamics. The above steps are particularly important for first-generation professionals. As new entrants to the profession, one may not have a built-in or pre-existing network, so building connections early in law school can yield significant benefits later when transitioning into the profession.
What Trial Lawyer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kimberly Dasse: By taking the steps I have outlined above, new entrants will set themselves up for success by finding the right roles for themselves and developing valued skills.
What will help Trial Lawyers increase their earning potential?
Kimberly Dasse: Lawyers must adeptly navigate a diverse array of roles, ranging from advisors to counselors to planners, writers, researchers, supervisors, and more. Aside from producing quality legal work, reflect on your other strengths and dedicate time to developing yourself further. A skilled lawyer who is also an excellent manager of people offers a unique set of skills that may appeal to upper legal management in your organization. As the legal landscape evolves, I believe two key skills will emerge: technology and teamwork. The integration of AI into legal services is reshaping the profession with more innovation on the horizon. For our clients, blockchain technology, data analytics, and digitized workplaces are becoming standard. Thus, technology will become more embedded into an array of fields, not just “techie” industries. Those who follow and understand technological developments will engage the worlds our clients live in, enhance their own efficiency within their firms and deliver cost-effective services. Consequently, I urge new entrants to deepen their technological understanding and remain abreast of advancements. Additionally, collaboration lies at the heart of legal work, but its dynamics are transforming. While a solid grasp of technology is pivotal for future legal careers, honing interpersonal skills is equally vital. The future legal team may encompass a wide range of professionals in virtual settings. Thus, lawyers with high emotional intelligence who are adept at motivating individuals, building teams, and integrating the work of diverse professionals will become a valued skill. Accordingly, as lawyers consider ways to develop their skills, they should consider refining their skills as managers, supervisors, or coaches.
What general advice would you give to a Trial Lawyer?
Ms. Debbie Snyder: Lawyers find fulfillment and satisfaction in their chosen path for a variety of reasons. First, is the intellectual challenge - lawyers are constantly thinking critically, analyzing and problem-solving in their daily work. Second, lawyers are motivated by making a positive impact on the lives of others or their community. Lawyers have the opportunity to advocate for justice and uphold the rule of law. Since lawyers are problem solvers, the work can be particularly satisfying for those who enjoy finding innovative solutions and making strategic decisions. As stated previously, a legal career can be financially stable and lucrative, depending on the setting. The legal profession can also be demanding and stressful, with lawyers working long hours in high-pressure environments. Billable hour requirements can lead to burnout. Managing client expectations can be challenging. However, despite these challenges, many lawyers find ways to manage these aspects and derive satisfaction from their careers through a combination of their passion for the law and a desire to help others.
What Trial Lawyer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ms. Debbie Snyder: There is always a need for lawyers. Legal needs persist regardless of economic conditions, ensuring a consistent demand for lawyers. Lawyers can work in a variety of settings, including private practice (law firms), government, business and industry, non-profit organizations and academia, offering a wide range of experiences. In addition, the work can be intellectually stimulating and personally fulfilling by making a positive impact on society. Finally, a career in law tends to have financial stability.
What will help Trial Lawyers increase their earning potential?
Ms. Debbie Snyder: New lawyers are primarily responsible for research and writing. If working in a law firm setting, new lawyers are known as associates and conduct legal research, draft legal documents such as motions, briefs, memos or contracts and collaborate with partners and/or senior associates to assist clients with their legal needs. Associates may help in preparing cases for trial by reviewing and analyzing documents, organizing evidence, and attending hearings and depositions. New attorneys working in-house (i.e. for a corporation) will assist the company with their legal needs, whether it involves litigation or transactional work. Assistant District Attorneys represent the government in prosecuting criminal cases. This work involves legal research and writing, evaluating cases and evidence and appearing in court. Public Defenders represent individuals who cannot afford to hire an attorney. They also perform legal research and writing, as well as counsel their clients and represent them in the courtroom.
What general advice would you give to a Trial Lawyer?
Dustin Marlan: This is an exciting time to be a lawyer given advances in technology. Unlike some other fields, law does not appear to be a field that will be “taken over” by generative AI, but rather AI will hopefully make some of the more monotonous work that a lawyer needs to handle less tedious and time-consuming. There should always be a need for the human element in law given the inherent subjectivities in comprehending and interpreting the law. I’m not sure that’s the case with every professional discipline, though, unfortunately.
What Trial Lawyer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dustin Marlan: In terms of positives, my students and I enjoy working on intellectually stimulating work, law is often a lucrative way of making a living, and the pursuit of achieving justice is incredibly rewarding. Law does often involve long hours, can be mentally or emotionally taxing and, while intellectual creativity abounds, the artistic creativity found in some other humanities-centered vocations is lacking.
What will help Trial Lawyers increase their earning potential?
Dustin Marlan: The daily responsibilities of a lawyer vary greatly based on what type of law they practice. Some lawyers are litigators, meaning they work to resolve disputes in their client’s favor. Other lawyers are transactional lawyers, and work to either prevent disputes from occurring, or put their clients in the best possible future position should one be inevitable. For those entering the field, junior lawyers will likely serve in research support roles and may have less client interaction than more senior lawyers, although this will vary depending on the sector, employer, or practice group. In any case, lawyers need to use both analytical skills in research, writing and solving difficult legal problems, as well as emotional intelligence and intuition in interacting with and counseling their clients.
What general advice would you give to a Trial Lawyer?
Charity Rohlfs J.D.: Find a mentor and be involved with your local legal associations. Porter Gale said, “your network is your net worth.” And, I couldn’t agree more! As a new paralegal, legal operations specialist, or attorney, growing your network helps in all aspects of your career. You will gain new skills, increase your business development ability, engage in meaningful volunteering opportunities, and truly find an area of law you want to specialize in.
What Trial Lawyer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Charity Rohlfs J.D.: GenAI! Which means highlights the importance of skills like organization, communication, and consensus building. The legal field has historically been technology hesitant, but the pandemic and AI have forced the use and adaptation of technology. AI’s exponential growth will require new skills at a lightning fast pace. A bellwether in the legal field is eDiscovery as it requires the ability to organize massive amounts of information as well as clearly and concisely communicate the information. AI is helping paralegals and attorneys do just this! Finally, in a world that often hides behind screens, having the ability to build consensus and connect with others will be invaluable.
What will help Trial Lawyers increase their earning potential?
Charity Rohlfs J.D.: Do your research and clearly communicate your ask with supporting evidence. A simple internet search will provide you actual salary ranges. An applicant then needs to take this information and explain why X is the amount based on individual specifics. Also, never negotiated against yourself—meaning sometimes you need to be silent and wait.
What general advice would you give to a Trial Lawyer?
Brian Mink: Lean into emerging trends and areas of interest, read about them daily, volunteer for related assignments, seek opportunities to publish articles or teach CLEs. Building expertise in a specific area can open up new opportunities and increase salary potential.
What Trial Lawyer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Brian Mink: Graduates entering the legal profession will need to be highly adaptable and willing to learn new skills in addition to their legal expertise.
What will help Trial Lawyers increase their earning potential?
Brian Mink: Attorneys will spend less time on repetitive work product like contract drafting and research. It will be more important for attorneys to develop skills like understanding clients' businesses, project management, team management, vendor interaction, and effectively using AI.
What general advice would you give to a Trial Lawyer?
Jennifer Thor: There are many ways to maximize your salary in this career field. First and foremost, is to keep your GPA up. GPA is a huge factor that law schools consider when making admissions decisions. Second, try and get some experience. Intern in an HR department; shadow a lawyer who practices in an area of law you are interested in; see if the local court takes on interns or maybe the local prosecutor's office; or volunteer with a civil rights organization that is fighting for principles that you care about. Lastly, improve your leadership skills. Join a campus group and help them achieve their goals. You do not have to become the president of the group, but you could maybe take on the chair of a committee.
What Trial Lawyer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jennifer Thor: The most important skill they can learn is effective communication. Legal Studies students need to be able to communicate both in writing and verbally. This is a skill that has always been an important one for legal studies students and it will be necessary in the future as well. Although AI can help with the drafting of certain documents and emails, it will not be able to help with client meetings, board presentations, arguing before a jury, and writing legal briefs. Taking advantage of courses offered at their university that improve their writing and speaking skills will make them a valuable asset to any organization they join.
What will help Trial Lawyers increase their earning potential?
Jennifer Thor: First, Oakland University does not have a legal studies degree; however, through our Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies, students have been able to create their own legal studies program combining legal courses across multiple disciplines. The majority of legal studies students tend to go to law school after graduation. They typically want to continue learning about the law in order to become a lawyer. So for those graduates, I highly recommend speaking with a pre-law adviser as they begin their junior year. That adviser will give them information about taking the LSAT and what that student will need to do to make sure their application to law school is in perfect order. For those students who do not want to go to law school, but who want to work in a law firm, I recommend that they obtain a paralegal certificate. The combination of the law courses in their bachelor's degree and the procedural courses offered in a paralegal program will make that individual very attractive to law firms. Lastly, for those students who don't want to go to law school or work in a law firm, their legal studies degree is still very valuable. Many jobs require at least some understanding of the law. For example, working in HR requires knowledge about the various federal and state employment laws that impact wages and benefits. It also requires a general understanding of contract law and the law regarding workplace discrimination. Individuals working in a purchasing department need to understand contract law and depending on the type of items being purchased an understanding of the Uniform Commercial Code as well. I recommend that these students investigate different career paths and meet with their Career and Life Coaches on campus.
What general advice would you give to a Trial Lawyer?
Joel Fetzer: The ability to analyze large quantitative datasets using software such as SPSS, STATA, or R should be increasingly valued in the political and legal world as well as in survey-research and campaign firms and in Silicon Valley. Oral and written communication skills, the ability to persuade people to do what you or your client would like, remain crucial in this field, ChatGPT notwithstanding. And workers in this area will even more frequently need to combat disinformation campaigns using social and traditional media.
What will help Trial Lawyers increase their earning potential?
Joel Fetzer: With a political science degree, one can enter pretty much any career field, including medicine and business. Several of my students have gone on to M.D. programs after majoring in political science and, of course, doing exceptionally well in the regular pre-med prerequisite classes such as calculus, organic chemistry, and biology. Another political-science graduate is now a movie producer in Hollywood. But typical occupations include law, campaigns and elections, lobbying, diplomacy, journalism, data analysis, the civil service, academia, and the military. Students should try to get internships in areas where they would consider working and then leverage the contacts made and skills learned there into full-time positions. Of my own former students, two or three are now at the State Department and one is a producer at CNN following related internships.
What general advice would you give to a Trial Lawyer?
Leah Won: Law is a terrific profession to enter if you are interested in the ability to make an impact for your clients and your community.
What Trial Lawyer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Leah Won: Lawyers enjoy the opportunity to help people and organizations solve problems and achieve their goals. Lawyers enjoy thinking creatively and advocating for a position or for a person. Practicing law can become an all-encompassing endeavor that leaves little space for the parts of life that make us a whole person-setting boundaries and protecting one's mental health are crucial for a long career in the law.
What will help Trial Lawyers increase their earning potential?
Leah Won: There are so many practice areas and settings! Lawyers may use their oral advocacy skills in court in the morning and rely upon their research and writing skills in the afternoon. Perhaps a new client is visiting the office and the lawyer must build rapport and issue spot simultaneously. The law is an ever-evolving landscape and keeping up-to-date with changes in the law and policy is important to practice.
Kayla Wimberley J.D. TTU Law 2011
Assistant Dean for Career and Professional DevelopmentTexas Tech University
Law
What general advice would you give to a Trial Lawyer?
Kayla Wimberley J.D. TTU Law 2011: Do well in school. Get good grades. The big law firms are the ones that pay, and they are the ones that are grade sensitive. And be prepared to put in the work. The more you are willing to hustle the more you can make in your practice.
What Trial Lawyer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kayla Wimberley J.D. TTU Law 2011: Legal research and writing continue to be the hallmark skills for attorneys. I don't see this changing any time soon. I do think AI will continue to make its way into our practice, so having some knowledge of the use of AI would be helpful. However, this is a people/humanity centered field. You can't fake humanity.
What will help Trial Lawyers increase their earning potential?
Kayla Wimberley J.D. TTU Law 2011: Enjoy this time. Learn everything you can and be grateful for each piece of feedback you receive from an employer. This is your chance to learn how to be a lawyer, and to improve with each project you work on. This will not be your last legal job, but it will probably be the place you learn the most (both what to do and what not to do).
Mike Gunter Ph.D.
Director, Holt International AffairsRollins College
International Relations Faculty
What soft skills should all Trial Lawyers possess?
Mike Gunter Ph.D.: Critical thinking is what we emphasize most and what studies show employers value most. This applies to both oral presentations and the written word. The truth is, today's graduates will hold well over a dozen different jobs in their careers. Oftentimes, you will have little to no training for those jobs. You will need to learn on the job. Solid critical thinking skills are a huge asset in negotiating this process.
What soft skills should all Trial Lawyers possess?
Katherine Butler Brem: Whether trial or transactional, a lawyer's ability to spot issues and think critically about those issues is crucial to success. The world moves fast, and I think that has encouraged all of us to look for the "quick" answer. We're conditioned to think if we need to know something, we can just look it up. But the law doesn't work that way. First, lawyers have to have a sufficient knowledge base to spot not just the obvious issues but those that are not so obvious. And then the lawyer has to be willing to spend the time and intellectual capital to think hard about the issues, do some research, and then think even harder about them. In a world where "action" represents the typical coin of the realm, it can be difficult for lawyers to exercise the discipline required to slow down and think before they act. But those who do develop a reputation as excellent strategists, and this is a very marketable skill.
June Forrest
Assistant Dean of Career ServicesSeton Hall University School of Law
Office of Career Services
What skills stand out on Trial Lawyer resumes?
June Forrest: Experiential skills stand out---reading, research, and writing skills that have been honed through judicial and other externships or summer positions stand out on the resumes of students seeking first jobs. In the trenches, litigation skills and other practice skills stand out on the resumes of lawyers seeking new gigs. Everyone wants an experienced lawyer who can present their case and win!
What soft skills should all Trial Lawyers possess?
June Forrest: Communication is the most important skill for a lawyer---being able to communicate clearly, concisely, and understanding a client is a great skill to develop and have. Being able to think quickly on your feet and creatively to fashion an argument is important. And, of course, having good judgment is important! So too, lawyers work hard, so having determination is important too---and understanding people--both clients, adversaries, judges, juries. Good people skills are the mark of any great lawyer---and so is a good sense of humor! Lawyers are people, and clients are people. Likable lawyers do best out there----do you want to work around someone grumpy or a team player? Do you want a lawyer who is annoyed to take your call or who welcomes your questions? Being “likable” goes a long way in terms of success in the workplace.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Trial Lawyers?
June Forrest: Lawyers need to be able to read, research, write. Those are both hard and soft skills. Being familiar with new technology used in discovery and in the courtroom is important too---law schools are devoting whole classes to that kind of technology now.
What skills will help Trial Lawyers earn the most?
June Forrest: Skills alone will not help you “earn the most.” Starting out, big law pays the most, and to get there, you have to have great grades and great research and writing skills. You have to have demonstrated excellence in law school by being on a journal and having things like moot court on your resume. Once you get out, you make your own destiny, and the sky can be the limit. Great litigation skills will take you a long way if you can develop them.
Leslie Garfield Tenzer
Professor of Law, Luk-Cummings Family Faculty ScholarPace University
Elisabeth Haub School of Law
What skills stand out on Trial Lawyer resumes?
Leslie Garfield Tenzer: Research and writing. I would encourage every student eligible to participate in their school's law review or law journals. Participation communicates to employers that you are committed to taking on extra work and demonstrates that you have developed your legal research and writing skills beyond the core curriculum.
What soft skills should all Trial Lawyers possess?
Leslie Garfield Tenzer: Eye contact, clarity of expression, willingness to work hard, ability to accept criticism, and strong networking skills.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Trial Lawyers?
Leslie Garfield Tenzer: Legal research, editing skills, and most importantly, an ability to analyze the law.
What skills will help Trial Lawyers earn the most?
Leslie Garfield Tenzer: In the short run, the skill of providing the partners with quality work. In the long run, cultivating clients.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Trial Lawyers?
Adam Chodorow: When the pandemic first hit, just about everything ground to a halt. However, after an initial adjustment, legal work came roaring back. The pandemic does not appear to have affected our students' job prospects because there is plenty of work to be done. ASU Law rallied around its students to create paid employment opportunities when their summer jobs were canceled or postponed due to the pandemic. The students gained a meaningful, practical experience, in addition to much-needed financial support.
And now we face a more interesting question and one we won't know the answer to for many years: Where and how our graduates will be working. The pandemic has proven that lawyers can work from home for long periods. It is too soon to tell whether this will be a temporary aberration or the new normal. Firms may relinquish or significantly reduce their office space to save money and time, but doing so could also affect firm culture, the ability to train young lawyers, and a host of other important factors we have yet to consider.
For years, futurists have told us that big changes were coming to the way lawyers practiced, whether because of flexible work arrangements, increased use of technology, or globalization. The pandemic forced us all to go down that path sooner than many expected. The jury is still out on what of this new way to work we will keep and what of the old we will discard.
What type of skills will young Trial Lawyers need?
Adam Chodorow: Most students come to law school, thinking that they are there to learn the law. However, being an effective lawyer requires far more than simply knowing the rules. Lawyers need to be creative problem solvers who can understand their clients' needs and advise them on minimizing risk best while achieving their goals. Perhaps the most important skill lawyers need is the ability to communicate clearly, whether in writing or orally. Other skills include gathering information, spot issues, and analyzing what the law prohibits, requires, or permits. This involves more specific skills, such as the ability to:
Listen to and work with clients.
Find, absorb, and understand vast amounts of information in a short time frame.
Find ways to advance client interests within the existing legal environment.
In addition to these basic lawyering skills, young lawyers will need to be technically proficient with various computer programs, databases, and other electronic resources that are fast becoming indispensable to the practice of law.
What experience really stands out on Trial Lawyer resumes?
Adam Chodorow: Law firms often say that they are looking for practice-ready attorneys - that is, attorneys who can come in and contribute on day one. The fact is - no matter how much experience law students get, there will always be a steep learning curve once they graduate. With that said, externships and summer positions in the field the students want to practice in will help students along that curve and signal to employers that they truly are interested in the type of work an employer does. Thus, those interested in criminal law should try to get externships and summer positions as prosecutors or with the public defenders' office or defense firms; those interested in family law might try to get an externship with a judge working on family law.
What type of skills will young Trial Lawyers need?
Christina Bohannan: Graduates will need to have excellent analytical and communication skills. They will need to understand how the law intersects with their clients' business or other interests. They will also need to have cultural proficiency to work with diverse clients and coworkers with different ideas, cultures, and backgrounds.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Trial Lawyers to find work opportunities?
Christina Bohannan: Legal studies allow graduates to find work anywhere in the United States. For example, although our law school is in Iowa, we send many students all over the country.
How do you envision technology impacting Trial Lawyers in the next 5 years?
Christina Bohannan: Technology will continue to play a role in legal practice. Over the last several years, it has allowed more people to work remotely from the firms or other organizations where they practice. The pandemic has made online meetings and court arguments more common than ever. But I believe that when the epidemic is lifted, we will likely return to mostly in-person court appearances.
What are the best companies to work for a Trial Lawyer?
Ronald Rychlak: Legal support is needed in numerous areas, from small law firms to large multinational corporations. More and more, you see colleges and universities with a need in this field. The goal should be to find a welcoming office, a stable environment, and a geographic location that fits your needs and desires. Fortunately, with this background, there are many options to choose from.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Trial Lawyers in the next 5 years?
Ronald Rychlak: Regardless of the business climate, legal issues will remain. Moreover, in the legal profession, more and more is turning to legal support services to meet clients' needs. I expect the demand for graduates in the field only to grow.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Trial Lawyers to find work opportunities?
Ronald Rychlak: Opportunities in this field exist almost everywhere. There is a particular need in rural areas, but legal support services are needed anywhere people live and do business. That's nice, because you need not limit your options due to geographic restrictions.
Michele DeStefano
Professor of LawUniversity of Miami and Affiliated Faculty, Harvard Law School Executive Education
Department of Law
What type of skills will young Trial Lawyers need?
Michele DeStefano: The top four skills that students need when they enter the workforce in the coming years are 1) creativity 2) business acumen 3) change inspiration (the ability to inspire and lead change efforts which include a whole host of skills like communication, marketing, persuasion, open-mindedness, etc.); and 4) digital transformation skills (understanding what is digital transformation and how to help enable it).
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Trial Lawyers to find work opportunities?
Michele DeStefano: I think a ripe place for graduates to learn these four skills is with the companies that are now often called "new" or "alternative" law companies (which is a misnomer undoubtedly). These companies, called initially legal process organizations, have gotten a bad rap, yet (client by client) they are transforming what we think of as legal services. They provide holistic legal services that are client-centric and the big picture and include the law's business side. These new law companies like Elevate Services and UnitedLex are making considerable strides in our marketplace. And they are an excellent place for young graduates to work to hone the skills that (unfortunately) law schools aren't joining and that is essential to success.
How do you envision technology impacting Trial Lawyers in the next 5 years?
Michele DeStefano: I recently helped create a new non-profit called the Digital Legal Exchange (in collaboration with Mark Cohen, Bill Deckelman, Dan Reed, and Reen SenGupta). As its name indicates, it is all about going digital-helping in-house legal departments accelerate their digital transformation. But unlike it sounds, digital transformation is not only about tech. True, tech is part of digital transformation. And as research by the Leading Edge Forum shows, tech modernization is the first step towards digital transformation. But tech is not the hardest or the most significant part of digital transformation. Instead, the hardest and biggest parts are people, culture, mindset, and purpose.
So, ironically, I do not think that technology will change the way we work as rapidly as people think it is going to - at least not the fancy technology that everyone is talking about, like AI. Although, I believe that AI and blockchain's potential to move us forward and enable lawyers to predict better what clients need and add value that creates revenue is outstanding, I don't believe that we'll see the true potential come to fruition within the next five years. Yes, we will see it in bits and pieces, and some places/companies/industries, but it won't be as fast and as disruptive as everyone seems to think it will be.
That said, I believe that the legal professionals who understand what it means to transform digitally, how to track and analyze data and metrics, how to change culture and mindset, and who understand how the technology works, and, therefore, how it can be leveraged, are the professionals who will succeed. They will be the ones who provide a more client-centric experience and who help generate revenue for and with their internal and external clients.