Industry-Specific Legal Experience is More Valuable Than Ever
In California — and elsewhere — the legal industry has undergone substantial change over the past decade, as demand has waned and shifted, and widely-held assumptions have increasingly been challenged. In addition to the inevitable shift towards technology-oriented workplaces, the legal industry has seen In-house departments expand their teams, and law firms merge and consolidate. Interestingly, industry observers have discovered another significant trend: that of specialization.
Attorneys who pursue and obtain specialized expertise are not only much more likely to secure high-end positions at prestigious and boutique law firms, but may be paid more at the same level (compared to general practitioners). Simply put, specialization is the future of high-end practice.
Whether you’re a general practitioner interested in moving into a more specialized position, or you already have specialized expertise, it’s worth consulting with a legal recruiter who can help develop your application and identify law firms and in-house departments that will make a good fit for your talents. At Garb Jaffe & Associates, our legal recruiters have worked with a range of attorney-candidates, including those who have specialized expertise (or who are looking to pursue such expertise).
Many attorneys are “locked in” to their work and are somewhat removed from the various changes taking place in the industry. Usually, it isn’t until an attorney begins looking for a new position that they realize just how much the industry has changed, and how their candidacy may be affected by such changes.
Attorney specialization is a rather hot topic these days, so let’s take a look at how candidates may be affected (and how they might want to take advantage of the trend).
Specialization Has Advantages and Disadvantages
Obtaining specialized expertise is not absolutely beneficial in every case. One must be careful to balance the advantages and disadvantages — actively pursuing a specialty can have significant ramifications for your career.
Advantages
- Specialist pay tends to be higher at the same level of experience.
- Specialization can allow an attorney to “reach” for openings where they might not otherwise be considered.
- Biglaw firms, boutique firms, and prestigious in-house departments tend to value specialized expertise more.
- Specialization can give you a competitive advantage vis-a-vis general practitioner candidates.
- If you “ride a trend” early, you can spike your market value as an attorney with unique expertise in a niche area.
Disadvantages
- Some specialized attorneys may find themselves too limited when it comes to the projects they can take on — if they don’t love the work, it can eventually lead to burnout.
- Exit opportunities may be more limited.
- Market value is necessarily linked to industry health. If the economic health of the specialized industry suffers, then your opportunities may stagnate.
Trending Areas of Specialization
Not all specialized attorneys benefit equally. This can be a negative and a positive — attorneys who choose their specialization wisely are more likely to reap disproportionate benefits, while those who choose poorly may be losing out on opportunities that they would have had as a general practitioner.
There are a number of industry specialties that are trending up. Consider the following.
- Immigration law (due to political instability)
- Artificial intelligence and machine regulation (i.e., drones)
- Healthcare law
- Digital media law (copyright, privacy, etc.)
- Energy law
- Startup law
- And more
Emphasizing Specialty Interest
When developing your application for the hiring process, it’s important to emphasize whatever expertise you have in the requisite specialty, even if you have limited experience. For example, if you have experience working on projects involving copyright issues in digital media, then you can emphasize those experiences in your application (and in your interview), even if your title does not formally acknowledge your specialized knowledge.
If you’re a generalist in the beginning stages of the hiring process (and you’re looking to transition to a specialized position), then it’s important that you seek out clients and assignments internally that will give you an opportunity to speak more about your interest in the specialization.
Speak to an Experienced San Diego Legal Recruiter for Further Assistance
Interested in moving to a new law firm, or taking a chance on a promising in-house career? If so, make sure that you get in touch with an experienced legal recruiter. Here at Garb Jaffe & Associates, our team of experienced San Diego legal recruiters have decades of combined experience helping attorneys secure positions with prestigious law firms and corporations throughout the state of California.
Every client is unique, and as such, we are committed to the provision of personalized legal recruitment services. From beginning-to-end of the client engagement process, we work with candidates on a number of issues: identifying best-fit positions, developing a stronger application, interview guidance, networking, and more.
Call (310) 207-0727 today to schedule a consultation with one of the experienced San Diego legal recruiters here at Garb Jaffe & Associates. We look forward to helping you make positive career moves!