The Legal Job Market Landscape in St. Louis
St. Louis has long been known as a regional hub for legal work. With a diverse economy encompassing law firms, corporations, and government entities, the market is rich with opportunities for legal professionals. The demand for legal expertise remains strong in all major sectors of the economy, with particularly robust growth in healthcare, technology, and intellectual property law.
In recent years, large and mid-sized law firms have expanded their presence in St. Louis, recruiting top talent in various practice areas. These firms range from regional powerhouses to nationally ranked firms with large corporate client bases. In addition, the growth of in-house legal teams within major corporations has fueled the demand for attorneys with specialized expertise in a range of industries.
The demand for legal professionals extends well beyond traditional law firms . Large healthcare systems, financial institutions, and insurance companies have robust legal departments that seek to hire the best qualified candidates. Additionally, government agencies like the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Health and Senior Services, and the Department of Social Services also have in-house counsel to provide guidance on complex legal matters.
St. Louis also has a healthy startup scene, with a growing number of new legal technology companies. As the legal technology industry grows, there are more opportunities for those with a legal education who want to work outside of the traditional practice of law. These opportunities include roles in legal tech product development, project management, and marketing and sales.
Overall, the legal employment landscape in St. Louis is very positive with opportunities across all realms for everyone, from fresh law school graduates to experienced attorneys.
Leading Legal Employers in St. Louis
St. Louis has a number of law firms, corporations, and governmental agencies that employ lawyers, paralegals and other legal professionals. Law firms range from large international firms that employ thousands of legal professionals in offices around the world to small boutique firms that focus their practice in particular areas or industries and employ a handful of lawyers. Publicly traded corporations in St. Louis are also major employers in the region. In addition, several governmental agencies employ hundreds of legal professionals in St. Louis.
The largest law firms in St. Louis include Thompson Coburn, Bryan Cave, Greensfelder, Polsinelli PC, Lewis, Rice, Herzog, & O’Brien L.C., and Jane Doe Plaintiffs v. The City of St. Louis. Other large firms in St. Louis include Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC, 14 West, Lathrop Gage, Lewis Rice, Hoffman, Burnstein & Milman LLC, Summers Compton Wells LLC, and Kulakowski, Garvin, Walter, & Accon. Of course, there are hundreds of additional law firms in St. Louis. Some are large national firms this have an office in St. Louis, but most are local or regional firms.
A number of large corporations in St. Louis also employ lawyers. The legal departments of local corporations employ in-house counsel that handle a variety of legal matters for the company. For example, Viasystems Group Holdings, Clark Enterprises, Eden Foods Inc, Reinsurance Group of America Inc, Cardinal Health, Amdocs Management Ltd, Express Scripts Inc, and Centene Corporation. But there are many more corporations in St. Louis that employ lawyers.
Some other large employers of legal professionals in St. Louis are public utilities such as Ameren Corporation, Great Plains Energy Inc, Arch Coal, The Liberty Companies Inc, Peabody Energy Corporation, Pinnacle Entertainment Inc, Madison County Illinois, Barings Real Estate Advisers, Republic Services of Missouri, and Spire Inc.
Variety of Positions in the Legal Industry in St. Louis
In the legal realm, the roles and responsibilities have evolved with time, opening up a wider array of opportunities beyond the traditional practice of law. Today’s St. Louis legal community is rich with a spectrum of professionals dedicated to serving the sector, from attorneys to paralegals, legal assistants, and administrative support staff. Each group plays a vital role, whether it’s managing the nuts and bolts of case preparation and trial support, or simply keeping the office running smoothly and efficiently.
Attorneys in St. Louis, regardless of their specialization, find themselves part of a vibrant legal ecosystem that not only meets the needs of local clients but also caters to national clients through their local offices. In addition to Missouri-based firms, companies such as Bryan Cave, Thompson Coburn, Greensfelder, and Polsinelli also boast substantial offices in the city. Boutique firms are making their presence known as well, handling niche practices like family law and business immigration. Attorneys in St. Louis can earn upwards of $300,000 annually, according to the Robert Half 2021 Salary Guide for Accounting and Finance Professionals.
However, the life of an attorney spans well beyond billable hours and client meetings. Research projects, legal writing, depositions, and representing clients in negotiations or trials are just some of the daily tasks attorneys have on their plates. They are responsible for ensuring all pages in a case are numbered and organized according to the filing procedures of each court. Depending on their firm’s size, they may support other team members or contractors who will assist in fulfilling secretarial and filing duties. Of course, networking, relationship building, and upselling existing services are key components of the attorney’s job description.
Paralegals, while not authorized to practice law, carry a résumé packed with specialized skills from years of higher education and on-the-job training. From preparing pleadings and maintaining contact with clients and witnesses to assisting with discovery and researching relevant legal issues, strong communication skills are a must. Recognizing that paralegals are becoming cheaper and more accessible to clients, many law firms are shifting lower-rung responsibilities to paralegals. The Robert Half 2021 Salary Guide for Accounting and Finance Professionals estimates that paralegals in St. Louis make upwards of $65,750 annually.
Legal assistants perform essential support operations for attorneys and require extensive knowledge of court proceedings, administrative responsibilities, and legal jargon. Duties can range from sorting, filing and organizing documents, to reviewing and evaluating each case being handled by an attorney. They help draft letters, pleadings, motions, and courtroom statements and ensure all paperwork makes its way to the proper location at the right time. Legal assistants also have a hand in issuing summons, subpoenas, and writs and maintaining and expediting the flow of communication between witnesses, exhibiting counsel, the judge and jury. Salaries for legal assistants and administrative support staff often range from $25,000-$65,000 a year.
With such vast opportunities in the region, it’s no wonder that the legal and financial services industries are among the top five private sector growth industries in St. Louis. When it comes to hiring talent in these fields, many firms are turning to experienced recruiters with deep industry roots and knowledge.
Skills and Credentials in Legal Job Positions
Demonstrating professional licensure is a strong requirement for effective lawyers, even in entry-level positions. The first qualification that applicants will require is a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school in the United States. Applicants must also pass the Licensed Lawyer Examination (the "Bar Exam") in the state of practice for admission to the Bar. In Missouri, an applicant must attend a "live" bar review prior to the administration of the Bar Exam, which takes place in July in Missouri. A comprehensive study schedule is recommended because the Missouri Bar Exam is known to be particularly difficult and stringent. A professional application and a criminal background check are also required. Applicants lacking admission to the Bar who apply as The Missouri Bar explains the procedure for "for practice only" will have greater responsibilities and require other qualifications as outlined in their guidelines.
For many entry-level lawyers, an internship and/or externship experience is incredibly valuable. On-page 3, the American Bar Association ("ABA") provides a list of benefits of externships:
Internships and externships are essential ways to receive first-hand observation and experience in the workplace and from this, develop greater insight. Externs, especially those without legal experience, are encouraged to take advantage of mentoring relationships, try a variety of tasks to get a full picture of the work, and ask questions to benefit from this invaluable experience. Externs and interns will gain a better understanding of job descriptions and expectations in their field, whether it is a firm, a nonprofit organization, or in another area. Externships will also help applicants develop physical skills and gain even greater confidence.
The ABA also lists the following skills that will be helpful in a legal career:
A legal career is particularly demanding, and with so many different types of occupations in the legal professional, the required skills vary from position to position. Some will require advanced paralegal training while others may require experience as a law clerk to be considered. Other skills that are required for specific positions include:
Paralegal position_require two to four-year degrees and paralegals will require training in software such as Intuit ProLaw. Addtionally, paralegals will need to develop practical knowledge, legal skills, task planning, and time management. Ideal candidates should possess strong social perceptiveness and interpersonal skills.
Judges’ clerk, like paralegals, need practical knowledge, legal skills, task planning, and time management. They should have the ability to look for information and have analytical thinking skills. Integrity, dependability, and service orientation are also needed. Applicants should consider clerking for a judge to gain experience and increase their chances of finding employment.
Legal Assistant positions require minimal educational requirements, but some firms are finding legal assistants to be an excellent way to find strong candidates who will fit into the culture of their company. Applicants for legal assistant positions should be detail-oriented and able to communicate effectively. Experience with Microsoft Office is an important qualification for some positions.
Opportunities for Networking and Career Advancement in the Legal Field
Lawyers in St. Louis have access to a robust landscape of networking and professional growth opportunities to hone their skills and expand their circles. The Archway ArchiNetwork and the St. Louis Bar Association provide a variety of options to cultivate social and professional networks. The Archway ArchiNetwork is a premier member-benefit community that connects legal professionals within the St. Louis area through exclusive networking events, special trainings, and unique professional benefits. Opportunities to connect encompass many areas and include co-sponsored events with the St. Louis Bar Association such as the monthly breakfast meeting with a featured topic and speaker, discuss trends in the law at their monthly lunch ‘n learn, meet other lawyers when networking the app or sign up for a big brother or big sister program. Significant networking opportunities are also available through various organizations and professional associations that host regular events open to the public. The St. Louis Bar Association groups together over 7,200 legal professionals and has over 80 sections and committees. Their professional development programs highlight current trends in the law governing St. Louis and Missouri. Seminars are free for members and cover a broad range of topics ranging from family law to tax practice to criminal law to litigation – choosing to focus on what’s trending in an area of the law or revisiting classic concepts and issues. Registered members receive special notices on legal education events through eMail blasts that are distributed weekly to more than 1,900 individuals . Other organizations for legal professionals generally include a combination of networking events, educational seminars, and other activities. The Lawyers Association of St. Louis, another pro-active professional organization, focuses on the professional development benefits for its members. Members attend a variety of seminars, luncheons, conferences, and networking events each month. They also offer fellowship opportunities, and plenty of employment options through the Member Referral Service. St. Louis Young Lawyers’ Association is a networking group aimed at recent law school graduates. The Association sponsors over 15 events each year, including professional development programs and networking opportunities at luncheons and social events. Legal professionals also enjoy a variety of professional development programs offered by the Missouri Bar. Conducted live on location at local venues, all programs are available on video after the live program to enable members to view them at their convenience. Continuing Legal Education credits are available for viewing these programs. The Missouri Bar also launched the Virtual Law Firm which uses web conferencing technology to provide CLE programs and emphasizes emerging issues in health law, bankruptcy, antitrust, consumer protection, and small firm practice. These self-study programs are available for CLE credit and available at any time for viewing through the use of a computer. Legal professionals glean valuable insights into new developments in the law, court procedures, and scholarly analysis. Networking and personal connections with peers are also available at many of these events and through practicing lawyers in the St. Louis area.
Compensation and Perks for Legal Professionals
Individuals charged with the significant and demanding responsibilities of representing clients need to make a living that provides for their and their family’s needs. The general landscape of St. Louis’ legal community shows that salaries for both associate and senior level positions tend to be on par with larger cities of comparable size, when considering overall market conditions.
Typical salary ranges for partner-level positions in major St. Louis law firms are between $300,000 and $650,000 per year. Senior associate-level attorneys can earn between $80,000 and $120,000 annually. General counsels and other in-house attorneys working for regional firms, companies, or non-profits may earn between $145,000 and $400,000 per year. Those representing clients in arbitration and mediation services can earn an average of $175,000 annually. Compensation for lawyers working on litigation cases in St. Louis averages $135,000 per year.
Other indirect benefits include opportunities for flexible schedules, work-life balance, professional development, briefcase allowances, professional licenses, bar association dues, membership in local clubs and organizations, and relocation assistance.
Statistics compiled by Law Crossing show that benefits packages for attorneys include: retirement plans, pensions, profit sharing, stock options, disability assistance, legal services, retirement planning, life insurance, buy-sell options, group health, dental and vision insurance, equity, paid vacations, bar dues, paid legal education, flexible spending accounts and subsidized child care.
Guidelines to Landing a Legal Position in St. Louis
When preparing to secure a legal job in St. Louis, there are specific strategies to keep in mind that can boost your chances of landing the position. In your CV, be sure to highlight the essential skills that legal firms and businesses are looking for. Strong analytical and research skills, verbal and written communication skills and problem-solving abilities are important. If you have collaborated on various cases and aided in drafting critical documents, mention these experiences. Make sure to specify the types of legal services you are familiar with, and put a search engine optimization (SEO) focus on your CV by using keywords that appear in the job description. Even if you are not familiar with a certain term or technology, using it in your CV will give you more of an opportunity to surface in the search results for that job. When you are interviewing for law positions in St. Louis, it is also a good idea to study the interviewers . If they have experience with law firms, find out where they worked previously and try to determine their workplace culture and how they would describe themselves. Do they appear to be highly driven and focused? Are they more laid back and casual or strict? If you can adjust your style to match theirs, the interviewer might be more inclined to hire you. Do not overlook the importance of diversity and inclusion hiring. Today, the best law firms and businesses recognize that fresh perspectives from people of various backgrounds make for a superior practice. When you interview with a firm that is committed to diversity and inclusion, be sure to ask about its commitment to hiring diverse candidates. Be prepared to discuss how you have gone above and beyond when it comes to diversity at your own law school or business, and how you feel you can continue to make a positive impact at the new firm.