Opportunities abound in the legal field, which is wonderful news for recent law school grads, current law students, and anybody else interested in a career in law. Staffing levels at both law firms and in-house legal divisions of corporations are rising. Robert Half Legal Consulting Solutions found that in 2019, the majority of law firms intended to increase the size of their legal departments. An initial drop in demand for attorneys in the wake of the pandemic due to economic instability did not prevent a rise in demand for lawyers overall in 2021. In 2022, we may anticipate this pattern carrying on, but at slower rates of expansion. During this time of expansion, attracting and retaining top people will be the primary issue for law firms. In a market where associate burnout is common and where people’s attitudes about work and life balance have shifted, law firms are finding it harder than ever to recruit and keep talented lawyers on staff. In this article, we’ll examine the job market for attorneys in 2022.
In the legal profession, what specialisations are in the highest demand?
As in-house legal departments and law firms shift their focus from crisis management to sustainable growth, 2022 promises to be a competitive employment market for attorneys. The lack of qualified candidates is the main obstacle for human resource professionals. Now, therefore, let’s find out what kinds of legal expertise are in demand.
Finance and business
This field, sometimes abbreviated as “M&A,” guides clients through the process of acquiring and merging with another business. The majority of these companies are looking for attorneys with 3–5 years of experience. The intricacy of such agreements frequently necessitates the involvement of those skilled in contract formulation and administration.
Occupational Activity and Employment
There are a large number of attorneys and other professionals who focus on labour and employment law. This subject covers a wide range of topics, including unions, contracts, pay, safety, benefits, and workers’ rights. Expertise in areas like the Family and Medical Leave Act, parental leave, and salaries and classification are in high demand right now. As a result of the potential for litigation in such circumstances, the field of law is expanding.
Compliance
The field of compliance is another that spans several economic sectors and industries, so it’s likely that you’ll be able to find some kind of compliance-related employment that interests you. Managers that specialise in compliance work with businesses to ensure that they don’t break any laws related to their field of work. There is always a need for attorneys to assist with policy and compliance programmes due to the increasing complexity of the legislation.
Management of Agreements
Managers of contracts are needed in a wide variety of industries and businesses to supervise the drafting, signing, enforcing, and revoking of agreements between parties. As a result of the flexibility it affords, this field is increasingly attractive to attorneys who value work-life balance.
Property law
To put it simply, real estate attorneys aid individuals and businesses in all matters pertaining to the acquisition, development, leasing, and sale of real estate. Many new opportunities in transactional and urban planning law have arisen in recent years as a result of the ebb and flow of the property market and rising urban development.
Legal aspects of immigration and citizenship
Immigration law encompasses all activities that are undertaken to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals into the United States for the purposes of permanent residence and employment. These people can become citizens of the United States by going through the naturalisation procedure. Lawyers that specialise in immigration law have been in high demand for some time since policy changes at the federal and state levels have far-reaching effects on individuals, communities, and the legal system.
Human rights in the context of families
Marriage, divorce, adoption, juvenile delinquency, and child protection are all concerns that require attention at all times, particularly so when circumstances are rough. As a result, these cases frequently intersect with those involving immigration and naturalisation law.
Protection of Creative Works
As new technologies, such as music and film streaming services, arise, there is a greater demand for safeguarding the copyrights and trademarks of artists, authors, designers, and inventors. The need for litigation and compliance work in this area of expertise is also on the rise.
Business law
From contracts to collections, commercial attorneys provide a wide range of services to businesses. New company innovations and marketing disagreements are driving this expansion. Experts in virtual currency law are also in high demand. This area of law is focused on the taxation, laws, and sales of virtual currencies and online gaming businesses. More attorneys are required to handle compliance with new regulations and individual cases due to the volatility of bitcoin prices.
Litigation
Litigation preparation, management, and presentation remain crucial components of legal work. Intellectual property law and labour and employment law both have a high demand for litigation attorneys.