Litigation Attorney Jobs Overview
If you love the idea of arguing cases in court, being a litigation lawyer is an excellent choice. Those in litigation attorney jobs focus on representing clients in court, so they're a great test of your communication and preparation skills. You get to do things like research information, prepare speeches, and cross-examine witnesses.
Litigation attorneys are among the most in-demand lawyers. This career is likely to have a faster-than-average growth rate of at least 8%. With so many new jobs opening up, it's easy to find the perfect one for your needs.
Most litigation attorney jobs deal with either civil litigation or criminal litigation. In addition to these two basic categories, the field can be further divided into specializations like property law, estate law, or labor law. Choosing to specialize in one area lets you prioritize a field that you find particularly engaging.
Litigation Attorney Salaries
As a litigation attorney, you usually learn more than the average lawyer. The median salary is $132,828, within a range of $103,577 to $170,370. The higher salaries reflect the additional skills you need to succeed in trying cases in court.
If you're interested in earning at the higher end of the scale as a litigation lawyer, choose your location wisely. States like California, New York, Florida, and Texas pay higher-than-average wages for litigation attorney jobs.
Your employer and area of specialization also make a big difference. Litigation lawyers typically earn more when they work for big corporations or the federal government, and those who work in in-demand fields like real estate or intellectual property get a larger salary. Also, experienced attorneys who have their own firms typically make more than new attorneys just starting their careers.
Interested in getting a customized estimate for your chosen types of litigation attorney jobs? Use the Monster salary calculator to see how much you can earn.
How to Find Litigation Attorney Jobs
As a litigation attorney, the job you choose has a huge impact on your career direction and your overall satisfaction. To pick a job that's the perfect fit for you, you'll need to consider various factors.
Workplace Size
Businesses posting litigation attorney jobs can range from small, independent offices to huge corporations. You could work at dedicated law firms or provide in-house counsel for another type of business.
Carefully consider what size of workplace feels right for you. If you like clear rules and high salaries, a big, corporate law firm might be right for you. If you prefer unusual cases and close office relationships, you might prefer a small, private practice.
Workplace Goals
Don't forget to think about where you want to be in the future and whether the job will suit your goals. Think about things like networking opportunities and potential chances to earn experience.
If you hope to slowly work up the ranks and build a reputation for excellence, it's worth looking at bigger firms that may tackle notorious cases. Meanwhile, smaller firms tend to have fewer mid-range promotions, but they may offer more chances to help the practice flourish and become a partner in the future.
Types of Law Cases
Check to see what sorts of cases the firm usually specializes in before applying for any job. If you have a background in the company's area of specialty, it can often be easier to apply for a job there.
Most litigation lawyers also like to consider whether the firm's clientele appeals to them. If you enjoy fighting for small, personal cases, working in personal injury or immigration might be right for you. However, if you prefer intricate cases that incorporate a lot of different laws, something like labor or corporate mergers might pique your interest.
Schedule and Hours
Litigation lawyers often work long hours. Most attorneys will work more than 40 hours a week, and their work hours can occur during unconventional times, so check the job listing to see whether the timing works for you.
Some litigation attorney jobs might ask you to work on weekends or evenings while others might allow you to choose your own schedule. Picking a job with the right level of flexibility will make your life much less stressful.
Applying for Litigation Attorney Jobs
After you find a promising job listing that suits your skills and career plans, it's important to craft a quality application. Here are some tips for ensuring the application process goes as smoothly as possible.
Design Your Resume Carefully
For most litigation attorney jobs, the resume is the most important part of the application. This document lets you quickly summarize why the company should hire you. Follow our tips to help you write an effective resume:
- Keep your resume to a single page and only mention aspects of your experience that are relevant to the job. For example, avoid mentioning achievements like high school awards.
- Include clear, quantifiable metrics such as "won 33 cases during my tenure at XYZ Firm."
- Don't be afraid to work with the experts and hire a professional resume writer from Monster. This can give your document some extra polish that helps it stand out.
- Add targeted keywords to ensure your resume stands out. Popular keywords for litigation lawyers include litigation, depositions, drafting, communication skills, defense counsel, and commercial litigation.
- Check out sample attorney resumes if you need help getting ideas for your resume.
Include a Cover Letter
Not only is the legal field a conservative profession that still appreciates cover letters, but a letter also gives you the perfect chance to showcase your verbal skills. You can use it to highlight your ability to use persuasive communication, proving that you're right for the job.
To draft a good cover letter for a legal job, check out this sample lawyer cover letter for help. Just like the sample shows, you should always use the letter to highlight your career achievements. Describe some of your past successful cases or academic awards while also mentioning a few reasons you're interested in that particular employer.
Submit Your Application on Monster
Applying through Monster makes your job hunt a lot easier. Go ahead and sign up for a Monster account to access perks like free professional resume reviews and tailored job recommendations. We also save your career details, so you can apply to multiple litigation attorney jobs as quickly as possible.
When submitting your application, the most important thing is simply to be cautious and double-check the application for errors. It's easier for your skills to shine when your application is clear and accurate. By carefully following instructions and providing all the information the employer requests, you improve your chances of getting the job.
Following Up on Your Application
Many people assume that they just have to sit around waiting to hear back from an employer after they apply for a job. However, being proactive is useful. If you haven't heard back from the employer within five days of submitting your application, reach out and follow up.
A follow-up is a great way to ensure your litigation attorney application stands out. It also gives you another chance to highlight your communication skills and show why you'd be a great addition to the firm.
Most of the time, you should send any follow-up communications to the contact listed on the job application. If it doesn't have any contact information, try researching the company to find their hiring manager or HR director.
For best results, keep your follow-up short and straightforward. As these resume follow-up examples show, all you need to do is emphasize your interest and politely let them know you're available if they have any questions. This simple message helps you build a personal connection with the hiring manager and show your dedication to the job.
Interviewing for Litigation Attorney Jobs
Your resume and application are a great way to get your foot in the door, but to land the job, you still have one more hurdle. The interview is your big opportunity to wow the employer and make them want to hire you. Make sure to follow these steps as you prepare for your interview.
Research the Company Ahead of Time
Your interview is a great chance to show that you're focused and analytical. Take the time to learn about things like the company's origins or famous cases it's won. You can mention this information in your interview as a casual way of impressing the interviewers.
Practice Answering Questions
Another useful thing to research is common interviewing questions. Check out our examples of popular law firm interview questions to get an idea of what to expect.
As you look at the questions, think of your own answers to these questions. You don't have to practice lengthy speeches, but just giving yourself the time to consider the question before the interview is quite useful. It lets you confidently answer questions without stammering or forgetting important details.
Learn Helpful Interview Techniques
Though litigation attorney interviews usually stick to standardized questions, it's always possible you'll encounter some unexpected questions. Having a technique for answering questions can help you stay focused and organize your thoughts clearly. For example, one of the most popular options is the STAR method:
- Situation: Describe the relevant situation that led to the concept you're trying to discuss.
- Task: List the responsibility you needed to fulfill during that situation.
- Action: Clearly explain the steps you followed to address the situation.
- Result: Wrap up your answer by explaining the outcome of your actions.
Remember to Follow Up
Just like your application, your interview can benefit from a follow-up. Most people in the legal profession approve of a polite thank-you note within 24 hours of interviewing. You can mention any details you forgot to include during the interview and thank the interviewer for their time.
If you haven't had any response within a week of the interview, contact the employer to politely ask about the hiring process. This can be a great way to get their attention and make them reconsider your application. In cases where you did not get the job, the follow-up allows you to ask for helpful feedback and improve your interviewing skills.
Handling a Litigation Attorney Offer
The final step of applying for litigation attorney jobs is going over any potential offers you receive. If the interview goes well, the company will usually reach out to you and let you know they'll be sending an offer your way. After patting yourself on the back and politely thanking them, it's time to carefully examine your offer and decide whether you want to accept it.
What to Look for in an Offer
Start with considering whether the salary is fair compensation for your expertise. Make sure the company is offering what any other employer in the industry would provide. Don't forget that a lower salary might be offset by other financial perks like excellent insurance or 401K matching.
Next, make sure you're comfortable fulfilling all the job duties listed in the offer. Think about whether they match your skills and expertise. You might want to keep looking if the list of job duties seems like more than one person could fulfill.
Every job offer needs to mention details like your schedule, your job title, where you'll work, and what employee benefits you'll receive. Never assume anything to be true unless the offer mentions it. If anything seems unclear, ask for details before accepting the job.
How to Negotiate the Offer
If you're interested in the position but feel that something's not quite right, check to see whether or not the company is comfortable negotiating. For the best results during negotiation, stay grateful and offer clear examples to prove your worth.
Use details like average salaries for your location or job descriptions for a litigation lawyer to show why you deserve perks like a higher salary. Most attorneys focus on salary, but keep in mind that you might also want to negotiate things like a more favorable job title or a longer vacation period.
Career Paths
For many litigation lawyers, each new job is part of their career path to eventually open their own firm or become a partner at someone else's firm. Litigation attorney jobs give you valuable experience, and you can use a record of successful trials to receive further promotions.
Some litigation attorneys also use their valuable skills to transfer to other related fields. Down the road, you might choose to become a judge, open a mediation business, or become a law professor.
Whatever career path you choose, the most important thing is to do well at your current job and seek out networking possibilities. Take the time to join local attorney associations and sign up for any mentorship programs your work offers. You also need to stay committed to your current legal cases since a proven track record is very helpful for future jobs.
If you're looking to progress from being a litigation attorney to another field, ongoing education can also be useful. Some lawyers report that business classes helped make them better candidates for partnership, while others find it useful to get certifications for specialized fields.
Similar Occupations
Here are some other fields that offer positions similar to litigation attorney jobs: