Careers In San Diego Law Firms: Jobs And What You Need To Know

The Legal Scene In San Diego

The legal job market in San Diego, while generally strong and steady, has its unique ebbs and flows that can be influenced by several factors. Nationwide, the legal market has seen trends towards in-house roles and increased demand for tech-savvy legal professionals who are comfortable with electronic discovery, data privacy issues, or litigation support technologies. San Diego is no exception. While demand for lawyers has remained stable, employers now seek out those candidates with a robust technological aptitude to help build out more cost-effective in-house teams.
Anecdotally, the legal market in the greater San Diego tends to follow a one-year lag behind the larger markets of Los Angeles and San Francisco, as firms and companies typically prefer to hire from regional talent pools . Such firms also maintain proximity to clients and provide better support services for their legal teams.
In terms of demand for legal services, the top fields experiencing the greatest growth can be broken down by demand for specific areas of employment law: insurance, transactional, technology, corporate, and intellectual property attorneys. Particularly in the insurance industry, San Diego and nearby locations have been experiencing a tech boom and an increase of local startups, leading to an influx of state, federal, and corporate law attorneys who have made their way down from Silicon Valley, further driving competition among candidates.

Best Law Firms For Lawyers To Work For In San Diego

Five law firms are perennial favorites on lists of top law firms to work for in San Diego. Morrison & Foerster LLP, headquartered in San Francisco, earned the number one spot on Law360’s list of top firms in San Diego. The firm was also named the number one firm to work for in California on Vault’s Best 100 law firms to work for in California. This firm is known for its community engagement, impressed employees with great benefits and opportunities, and had the highest scores for associate satisfaction, formal training and informal mentorship, said Jennifer Garner, a spokesperson for Vault.
Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP, also headquartered in San Diego, was named number four on the top firms to work for in California list and number five on the most prestigious firms list by Vault. Baker & McKenzie took the second spot on Vault’s most prestigious list.
The eight firms on this list were the top finishers in the Chambers Associate, Vault and Law360 annual surveys, with top finishers on each ranked from top to bottom.
The top firm for prestige in San Diego is Baker & McKenzie, with the firm also making the top 10 prestigious firms in California list on Vault. The full list of San Diego law firms ranked highly for prestige on Vault includes:
Morrison & Foerster LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP
Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
Jones Day
DLA Piper
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Squire Patton Boggs LLP
Baker McKenzie SD

In Demand Legal Jobs In San Diego

Attorneys continue to be the most in-demand legal position available for those searching law firm careers in San Diego. The most typical role for in-house attorneys, given the local hiring trends, is as a corporate generalist. In-house counseling work is also in high demand across a range of practice areas, including intellectual property, real estate, employment and environmental law. Senior attorneys with extensive experience will regularly have opportunities to join in-house legal departments.
Attorneys working with San Diego-based firms will often find opportunities to work collaboratively with business and community leaders from both the United States and Mexico. Firms moving into the region from other states or other countries will frequently have openings for attorneys who can help manage these relationships. Direct experience with foreign clients and a familiarity with cross-border business transactions are important qualifications for these attorneys.
It is not only attorneys that benefit from the healthy growth of the San Diego market. It will continue to be one of the best places to build a career as a paralegal or legal assistant as well. Paralegals specializing in corporate law, employment litigation, securities and immigration continue to be in highest demand. Attorneys seeking junior-level paralegals will often look for candidates who possess the following qualifications:
Legal assistants and paralegals working in San Diego often enjoy expanding responsibilities as their firm’s business develops. Junior professionals will usually get chances to work closely with high-profile matters and clients. They are often asked to develop skills in specialized areas of regulation over time.

How To Apply For Law Firm Employment

Applying for law firm jobs in San Diego is a process that requires careful thought and strategic planning. Your resume is your first opportunity to make a great impression. When looking into law firm careers in San Diego, spend time tailoring your resume to the position to which you are applying. Each resume should highlight the skills and experiences that fit the particular job description and requirements of the legal position. Resumes should range from one page to two pages. For more senior positions, two pages is acceptable as longer work experiences and skills descriptions are warranted.
There are a few things you should absolutely avoid on a resume. Do not list any references. You should also list what college or university you attended, but not the high school. No one cares what high school you went to, and it may make you look too young for the position for which you are applying. It is also essential to list one telephone number and one email address, making sure to list only those numbers for which you will be available during business hours. Change the voicemail message on your phone to make sure you are always prepared to answer if a potential employer calls .
Your cover letter is an additional opportunity to forecast the best of you. The cover letter should include an explanation of why you were drawn to a particular approach to legal practice. A brief overview of where you went to school and a few of your interests can help to humanize you to a prospective employer, but it is most important to explain how hiring you would benefit the firm. A cover letter should be individually written for each position you are pursuing. Unlike resumes that may look the same for multiple positions, each cover letter should be unique.
One of the best ways to find a job with a law firm is to utilize your network. Let everyone you know about your job search. Florida Bar’s Career Center, which also has both legal and non-legal jobs, is a useful resource for law firm career seekers. Joining a legal networking organization is another way to get to know people and companies for potential employment. Including your resume details and/or a cover letter when introducing yourself to the people you know can enhance your prospect of employment.

Legal Sector Salaries

Depending on the size of the firm and the level of experience, the salary range for legal professionals in San Diego varies significantly. The average salary for a legal assistant in San Diego City is currently $63,408 per year—and has a projected growth rate of 25% between 2016 and 2026; this is slightly above the national average of $53,580. In 2019, paralegals in San Diego earned about $70,640 per year, slightly below the national average of $81,750; the BLS predicts a growth rate of 12% between 2019 and 2029. Law clerks earn an average of $65,897 per year in San Diego, which is relatively comparable to the national average of $67,224. Bankruptcy lawyers in 2020 reported a median annual income of $82,627. Notable salaries run as high as $160,489 per year for general counsels, $108,787 per year for trial attorneys, and $78,724 per year for workers’ compensation attorneys. These are below the national averages of $133,709, $106,099, and $92,321 per year, respectively.
Potential candidates should understand that salaries in luxury law firms do not directly translate to higher effective salaries. San Diego-based luxury firms such as Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch pay above industry standards for associates in part because their associates work many hours beyond the industry standard. The California Bar Association notes that while San Diego’s median income may be on par with the rest of the nation, the state ranks second-highest in the nation for cost of living, meaning that the high salaries will be spent just to keep up. The good news is that high salaries are expected to remain steady through 2027.

Local Resources And Networking Options

San Diego Legal Secretaries Association – Local 48 (SLSA) is a group that works to preserve and encourage the longtime traditions of legal secretarial excellence. The SLSA deals with a range of issues impacting local law firms. Joining this organization is a great way to make contacts and gain valuable information that can be put to use in your career.
The San Diego Young Lawyers Division (SDYLD) serves as a valuable resource for those who are recent additions to the California bar. It provides an opportunity for networking and collaboration among lawyers across the region, connecting them with judges, mentors, and other like-minded individuals.
The San Diego Inn of Court is a part of the wider American Inns of Court organization, which seeks to foster excellence in the legal profession. It acts as a forum in which young and seasoned attorneys can learn from one another , furthering their professional development and enhancing their career prospects.
Those in search of opportunities with the government should check out the San Diego Chapter of the Government Counsel Association of San Diego. This group works to promote best practices among public-sector lawyers in the area. Many members perform vital roles on teams that are vital to many elements of how the legal system functions in the region.
Other organizations worth exploring include the San Diego Copyright Society, San Diego Estate Planning Council, San Diego Institute of Continuous Education in Law, San Diego/Mexico Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, San Diego Copyright Society, the Southwest Area Law Library Discussion Group, the San Diego Tribal Court Clearinghouse, and the Telephone Opinion Project.
Those who want to meet and interact with other legal professionals in the San Diego area have an abundance of networking opportunities available.