Overview of Minnesota’s Legal Employment Landscape
In recent years, the legal job market in Minnesota has shown signs of positive movement, reflecting broader national trends. The state’s job growth has been buoyed by a number of factors, including a robust economy, a diverse business landscape, and strategic investments in innovation and infrastructure. The state’s legal sector has similarly benefitted from the overall economic climate, experiencing steady employment and demanding a broad range of legal services.
Minnesota boasts a number of key industries that drive the demand for legal professionals. Healthcare and medical device manufacturing are among the top sectors in the state, fueled by the presence of numerous healthcare facilities and research institutions. With major companies like Medtronic, U.S. Bancorp, and Ameriprise Financial headquartered in the state, the finance and insurance industry is also a major player in the job market . Manufacturing remains an important sector in Minnesota, particularly in areas such as food processing and advanced manufacturing.
In terms of job growth, the state has seen a steady demand for legal professionals in various practice areas. Corporate law, intellectual property, and healthcare law have all experienced significant growth in recent years, as companies navigate complex regulatory environments and seek legal guidance on a range of issues. The demand for legal services is also driven by litigation, real estate transactions, and estate planning, among others.
Overall, the legal job market in Minnesota presents a positive outlook for job seekers, with opportunities to contribute to the state’s continued growth and economic success. As the state continues to expand in key industries, this growth is expected to bring further opportunities for legal professionals to advance their careers.
Best Cities for Attorney Jobs in Minnesota
A robust job market makes Minnesota one of the most popular states for law graduates, and the Minneapolis-St. Paul area is especially strong for legal professionals. The Twin Cities are home to about 33% of the population of Minnesota and 33% of its lawyers. In fact, more than one-quarter of lawyers in the state are specialized in personal injury law. The largest employers of lawyers in Minneapolis and Saint Paul are grouped in the top four fields: private practice; for-profit businesses; finance; and insurance. While the highest salaries are in private practice, nonprofit and government lawyers enjoy the best job security, thanks to their employers’ lack of profit-driven motives.
Other major cities and areas with significant legal employment statistics include the North Star Suburbs, Northwest Metro, Central Minnesota, Southeast Minnesota and Southwest Minnesota. Astoundingly, Minneapolis has a lower unemployment rate than nearby suburban cities such as Eden Prairie, Edina and Minneapolis, keeping Minnesota a hotbed of opportunity for the legal profession.
Popular Legal Job Positions
Among the most in demand legal professions are trial lawyers. This is generally the most known and desired profession, and encompasses a wide variety of fields. A basic requirement for trial lawyers is a Juris Doctorate, or law degree. Some employers may prefer trial lawyers with specialty certifications in their area of focus. This typically involves taking a specialty certification test. Additional hourly filing work is typically required to maintain certifications.
Corporate attorneys are also in demand. These attorneys tend to work fewer hours with a wider variety of clientele than trial lawyers. Corporate attorneys also don’t tend to deal with major criminal cases. Practice areas for corporate attorneys are often environmental law, mergers and acquisitions, and contracts.
Criminal defense attorneys are in high demand as well, hiring staff to defend high profile criminal offenses. This continues to be the most coveted and competitive field for trial lawyers to enter.
It is generally expected for trial lawyers to continue to learn about the law. This usually means that a trial lawyer will be expected to pursue professional development.
Paralegals are also highly sought after. They typically assist with the preparation of documents, case files and other clerical tasks. In comparison, legal secretaries organize records. Legal assistants tend to perform the filing and clerical functions of paralegals.
Overview of the Minnesota Bar Association
As one of the most widely recognized legal communities in the state, the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) provides not only a valuable network for potential employers and clients, but a range of career-related resources for members of the legal community. The MSBA can assist you with an impressive array of services that will help you gain visibility while simultaneously making essential connections through the calendar of events, job boards, and continuing education offered by the organization.
Browsing the MSBA events calendar is an essential first step in any aspiring legal professional’s path to success in the state. Each year, the MSBA holds a robust schedule of seminars, conferences, training programs, and social events that are constantly updated on the organization’s website. Simply browse by category or date to see what is coming up, or log in to the member center to view all events available specifically to members.
Networking is one of the most invaluable skills to develop in your career, and the MSBA offers numerous opportunities to create and maintain relationships with clients, peers, and advisors. In addition to events, there are also dozens of committees, sections, and divisions formed within the MSBA that allow you to connect with similarly minded professionals. Find the right fit for you and leverage these networks to advance your career.
Becoming an MSBA member offers you the chance to utilize the organization’s job board to find a wide array of employment possibilities throughout the state. The job board contains valuable listings not only for those looking for opportunities to work as a legal professional, but for paid and unpaid positions that can provide valuable experience throughout your career.
Beyond simply helping you to find employment, the MSBA also allows you to find new clients through the member center’s "find a lawyer" tool. You can also increase potential avenues of communication with potential clients by adding dynamic features to your attorney profile, such as a biography, information on your specific practice areas, and means of contact.
Staying up-to-date with relevant advances in the law is essential to your professional development and can provide you with valuable tools and insights to offer to clients. Take advantage of the wide variety of continuing education programs offered throughout the year by the MSBA. Programs focus on a range of topics, so you can ensure that you are devoting time to the areas that are most important to your practice.
Minnesota Legal Education Options and Internships
Minnesota is home to a diverse and robust legal market, which includes large corporate firms, smaller boutique firms, and practices that work directly with non-profits. Law schools located within the state have various channels for students to explore the different types of legal practices available in Minnesota.
First on the list of the state’s law schools is Hamline University School of Law, located in St. Paul. Aside from a full-time J.D. program, Hamline’s law school also offers a part-time evening program for those who wish to pursue their legal education while they continue working. Hamline’s faculty is made up of practice-oriented professors who have dedicated themselves to mentoring law students, and is coupled with a strong legal writing program. Students at Hamline also act as peer counselors for the Minnesota State Bar Association, helping to offer legal assistance to clients of low income.
Mitchell Hamline School of Law is located in Minneapolis and offers a day program, a part-time evening program, and options for students who begin their studies as J.D. candidates but decide to switch to LL.M. programs after their first year. About 36 percent of Mitchell Hamline students go on to work in the public service sector right out of law school. The school also offers several specializations, including Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, and Health Law. The law school also offers a range of clinic opportunities that allow students to advocate for real clients, ranging from corporations to individuals . Students can also participate in an externship, which can be tailored, if desired, to closely match each student’s career interests.
The third law school in Minnesota is the University of St. Thomas School of Law, also located in Minneapolis. UST Law lowers the cost of law school for students by offering extensive financial aid. The school offers the opportunity for J.D. candidates to earn an LL.M. by completing an extra semester of study. Students also have access to networking opportunities with alumni in addition to clinics and externships. Students who choose to attend UST are also able to access graduate coursework, as the law school partners with the university’s graduate programs.
Any student interested in pursuing a legal career in the state of Minnesota should also look into internship opportunities in and around the following cities: St. Paul, Minneapolis, Rochester, Eden Prairie, Bloomington, Maple Grove, Duluth, Brooklyn Park, Burnsville, and Plymouth. Aside from internship opportunities, there are also several law firms who offer jobs or internships to law school students and graduates. Among some of the largest and most well-known law firms in Minnesota include: Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, Winthrop & Weinstine PA, Robins Kaplan LLP, Bassford Remele PA, Lind Jensen Sullivan PC, and Maslon LLP. Of course, there are many more opportunities for Minnesota-based legal professionals, so make sure to take a look at local job boards for exactly what you are looking for in a legal career.
Advice for Finding a Legal Job in Minnesota
A number of resources are available for those looking for legal work in Minnesota. The online job board, MNJobs, is a good place to look at what is available. There are positions available in both the government and private sectors. The State of Minnesota also has a jobs website that lists positions.
Recruitment agencies also can be a great source for job leads. Recruiters are often paid based on whether a job seeker accepts a position. Since recruiting fees frequently are paid by the hiring company rather than the candidate, there generally is no cost associated with seeking employment through these agencies.
Professional networks also are important. The Minnesota State Bar Association publishes a Member Directory that is searchable by name or by practice area, among other categories, making it easy to find contacts within the state. The Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers Committee directory is available for Minnesota attorneys.
In today’s job market, many applicants turn to social media sites such as LinkedIn to create professional profiles. Using programs such as this for networking with others in the legal community helps generate potential leads for job openings. For those who maintain Facebook accounts, these sites also can be beneficial.
Another great source of information is LinkedIn, which provides instant messaging tools and job listings, among other resources. Some employers even accept resumes through their company pages.
Attorneys’ Salaries in Minnesota
Salary ranges for legal jobs in Minnesota can vary greatly depending on several factors, including level of education, years of experience and the industry of the employing company. The following is a breakdown of some legal jobs in Minnesota, listed in order of average salary. We’ve included sources for further reading at the end of this section.
Attorney: $51,000 to $233,000. As with most states, attorneys in Minnesota are at the top of the legal profession’s pay scale, garnering impressive salaries and receiving over 200 job openings each year. Though the median annual salary for attorneys in Minnesota is an impressive $125,000, many attorneys make upwards of $200,000 yearly. Those with a postgraduate degree, such as a JD, earn a minimum annual salary of $59,000 and a maximum of over $100,000. An extensive employment outlook project 7.5 percent growth for law-related businesses in the state, including private practice. (Source – Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Law Clerks: $17,000 to $55,000. Law clerks in Minnesota enjoy a relatively high salary for their education level. The roles tend to be filled by coming law students or graduating law students taking up internships to get practical legal experience . The vast majority of law clerks are employed by law firms, earning annual salaries between $27,000 and $41,000, which is about the same as what the highest-paid law clerks earn in other industries. Lawyers and judges in the state pay law clerks a minimum of $33,000 per year. (Source – Payscale)
Paralegal: $34,000 to $120,000. One of the biggest cram courses in my career level law professions, paralegals are expected to be shooting stars out of law school and most employers expect them to possess advanced skills and knowledge. Offers for paralegals in Minnesota range from the low end of the scale at $23,000 to high-end offers nearing $40,000. (Source – CareerBuilder)
Judge: $107,000 to $167,000. State and local judges are appointed and are paid more than 80 percent of the attorneys working at firms throughout the state. In fact, a judge in Minnesota makes a base salary of more than $113,000, and the highest-paid judges in the state earn over $160,000 a year. Judges in Minnesota earn about 25 percent more than the national average and enjoy some of the best health care plans and significantly lower taxes. (Source – SalaryExpert)