Exploring Legal Jobs in San Antonio

The San Antonio Legal Job Market

The legal job market in San Antonio, while presenting unique challenges, also offers a wealth of opportunities for prospective legal professionals. Although the growth rate for the legal services industry is slower than average, compared to other sectors in the local economy, demand remains steady in the Alamo City. Law firms and corporate legal departments look for professionals with legal knowledge and specific practice area expertise. Demand is particularly high for attorneys, paralegals, and compliance professionals. There has been a steady influx of new attorney jobs and paralegal jobs in San Antonio in recent years. Many new attorneys in the city are eager to help clients with criminal defense cases, family law matters, and civil litigation disputes . Large and midsize firms often compete for attorneys and paralegals that have experience with litigation support, of particular interest to defense firms that handle major litigation cases. The trend towards consolidation among midsize and small firms has created opportunities for attorneys and paralegals that work in banking, tax, and immigration law. Compliance professionals are also of great interest to employers in San Antonio. Corporations with international operations need corporate compliance professionals that have fluency in both Spanish and English. These jobs are typically filled by bilingual attorneys that have practiced or studied contract law or international law.

Largest Legal Employers in San Antonio

The legal job market in San Antonio is supported by major law firms, corporations, and government agencies that employ a wide range of legal professionals. The major law firms in the area include the three largest firms, more than 100 attorneys each, who comprise nearly 60% of the market—Jackson Walker, Thompson & Knight, and Susman Godfrey. Jackson Walker and Thompson & Knight have offices in San Antonio and are among the top ten firms by number of attorneys and revenue in Texas. Susman Godfrey, a national firm specializing in business litigation with a local office, is known for its demanding atmosphere.
Other large firms include Bracewell, Denton, and Texas offices of international firms Baker & McKenzie and Vinson & Elkins, with 50 to 100 attorneys. The area also features 50 firms of varying sizes known for their quality service in specific areas of practice, such as Antone, Wooten & Wooten (Public Law) and Davidson Troilo, Waldroup, & Reed (Family Law).
The financial services and health care industries are the biggest employers of legal professionals in the corporate world. Large private equity firms and publicly traded corporations in these industries have successful deals and litigation that contribute to employment opportunities. Some of the largest corporations include USAA, Valero Energy, Resamom, WellMed, Spurs Sports & Entertainment, and Clear Channel Communications.
Government agencies are also prominent employers of legal professionals in San Antonio. The US District Court for the Western District of Texas and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services are the most common employers of attorneys in the government sector. The Texas Department of Child Protective Services, the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the Secretary of State, and the San Antonio Public Defender also employ a significant number of legal professionals.

Different Types of Legal Jobs

The types of legal jobs available in San Antonio span a full spectrum of the legal profession. Within the realm of attorney positions, you’ll find opportunities ranging from entry-level associates in small firms all the way to top-tier partners in prestigious San Antonio firms and large in-house counsel positions. In addition, mid-level positions at mid-sized firms and senior practice and counsel positions are also available.
Paralegal positions are plentiful in the area, but there are often far more applicants than there are openings. In-house positions can be very competitive as well and require breadth of experience.
The legal assistant field is quite diverse with legal assistants that specialize in many areas including family law, trusts and estates, litigation, bankruptcy, real estate, corporate and many other specialties. Legal assistant duties often seem quite basic and include faxing, copying and filing. However, specialized knowledge such as with bankruptcy code, for example, or a deep knowledge of family law is essential as well research, writing and organizational skills.
Legal secretaries serve as the strategic linchpins of a law office, serving as the first and last contact for clients and managing the flow of people and information in an out of the office. Secretaries manage everything from meeting reminders to scheduling and abstracting legal documents.

Skills and Qualifications for Legal Jobs

Qualifications and Skills Needed for Legal Jobs in San Antonio
For most legal positions, a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school is required, along with admission to the state bar. Most employers prefer applicants with some experience, such as a clerkship or at least one year of practice in a relevant area. Those without legal experience should have a strong academic background, usually with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Specialized training in certain areas is also useful, such as tax law or patent and trademark law. Certain legal jobs — such as court reporters and legal assistants — may call for an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in addition to legal coursework, though relevant certification is more important.
Lifelong learning is a required part of the legal profession, especially considering that the law is always in flux. Attorneys are required to earn continuing legal education credits to maintain bar admission, but many continue to take classes to further develop their expertise in diverse areas of practice. Availability of courses through organizations like the State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program make it easy to stay current on legal issues in the San Antonio area and beyond.
Additional certifications are also available in various fields. Many firms are willing to subsidize workers pursuing certifications as paralegals, many of which are offered by the American Alliance of Paralegals (AAP). While not required to work as a paralegal, certification is preferred by many employers in the city; much the same is true in other specialized areas of practice. Texas is one of only three states that certifies court interpreters, making state certification a valuable addition to any resume.

Where to Find Legal Jobs in San Antonio

With each passing year, the judicial system in Texas becomes more difficult to navigate. In response to that fact, there has been a significant increase in the number of law firms and legal services that have opened their doors in primarily-populated cities such as San Antonio. With all of these growth opportunities, it is not unreasonable to assume that the number of legal job openings in the city have burgeoned as well. In reality, however, there are a few exceptions to this rule.
First, the biggest legal employers in the city are actually padlocked to the biggest legal employers in the state; hence, they are not hiring. The Supreme, District and Municipal Courts, the state Attorney General’s Office, and plenty of other large, government-run organizations require lots of different workers, but few of them are hired out-of-state or from other cities. Instead, legal professionals in those courts have to work with local departments for extensive periods of time before they can be considered by local departments anywhere else in the state.
Second , many of the legal jobs in and around San Antonio are contract-based. These contracts often give private law firms the right to hire and fire employees at will. When there are no cases to work on or no clients to serve, businesses like these tend to part ways with their staff members. If you can use those formal titles to press employers for regular contracts (instead of temporary ones), you probably will have a much easier time finding satisfying employment.
The best way to identify legal employment opportunities in San Antonio is through the Internet. Hundreds of legal job boards publish thousands of new listings every year, so make sure to set aside some time to read through yours every week. In addition to the hundreds of articles that cover job hunting tips, the Houston Chronicle added six job boards in the Lone Star State to its rotating list of resources in 2016. Thousands of people have used these boards to find and submit applications for legal openings all across the country.

Tips for Success in the San Antonio Legal Job Market

Successful legal professionals are always in great demand and the legal community in San Antonio is no different. There are, however, important strategies that candidates can employ to enhance their chances of success.
The first key to success is to become familiar with the technical aspects of resume writing and therefore know how to optimize your resume effectively, standing out from other professionals. Some effective strategies include integrating key words into your resume — those keywords usually being industry-specific — and ensuring that you highlight specific accomplishments that demonstrate your experience and expertise. One note: it’s a great idea not to overlook the skills that may be relevant to the position but that aren’t related to your legal experience on the assumption that they won’t be relevant. Creativity for instance or even an aptitude for learning foreign languages: both are examples of skills unrelated to the practice of law but they are nonetheless valuable to your potential employer.
Interviewing successfully in the legal market in San Antonio is no different from the interview process anywhere else. The basic interviewing strategies apply everywhere — be on time, dress appropriately and answer your questions in order. There are a number of differences in the interviewing process that you should be aware of, however. For instance, you should always have prepared a list of questions to ask during the interview, even if the interviewer should have already answered them throughout your conversation. It’s also vital to show an understanding of (and even a passion for) the profession that you’re pursuing, as well as knowledge about the prospective employer and his/her particular firm, office or company. In this sense, local knowledge can be your best ally, so learn as much as you can about the San Antonio legal community before your interview.
Attending local networking events, such as legal seminars and industry conferences can point you in the direction of excellent opportunities. You should also consider joining local organizations, whether you’re pursuing a professional association or resources that are somehow related to your profession. Those groups are an ideal opportunity to connect with likeminded professionals who can help you land the legal job of your choosing.

The Role of Technology in Legal Jobs

The Impact of Technology on Legal Jobs in San Antonio
Technology has had a profound impact on the legal profession, and legal professionals in San Antonio are no exception. The use of tools such as case management software, legal research databases, document management systems, and resource libraries are now essential components of the workflow for most modern legal jobs. As technology continues to advance, legal professionals in San Antonio must keep up with the latest tools and software to stay competitive in the job market.
Case management software is one of the most commonly used tools among legal professionals. These software programs are designed to help legal professionals manage their cases, keep track of deadlines, and organize their workloads. Most case management software includes features such as document storage, billing, time tracking, and document assembly. In San Antonio, many law firms and legal departments use case management software to streamline their operations and improve their efficiency. For example, the law firm McGinnis Lochridge uses the legal software Clio to manage its cases and organize its workload. Clio integrates with other tools, such as Dropbox and QuickBooks, to make managing cases more straightforward.
Legal research database subscriptions like Westlaw and LexisNexis are also widely used by legal professionals in San Antonio. These databases give access to a vast array of legal resources, including case law, statutes, regulations, and legal commentary. Legal professionals in San Antonio may subscribe to these databases to conduct legal research quickly and efficiently. For example, the law firm Cokinos Bosien & Young uses Westlaw to conduct legal research and help its lawyers stay up to date on the latest cases and legal developments in Texas.
Another tool commonly used by legal professionals in San Antonio is document management software. Document management software helps legal professionals organize and manage their documents effectively. These software programs allow legal professionals to store, retrieve, and share documents with others easily. For example, the law firm Dykema Gossett has been using DocuSign for several years to securely send and receive documents. This has helped the firm reduce paper waste while also saving time and improving efficiency.
Resource libraries are another common tool of the legal profession, allowing legal professionals to have access to a wide range of physical and digital resources. Law firms and legal departments may subscribe to legal research publications, online legal research databases, and other print and digital resources to ensure convenient access to information when it is needed. For example, the law firm Bell Nunnally has a robust digital library that includes access to legal research databases, online legal publications, and other resources that help its lawyers stay up-to-date on the latest legal trends and developments.

The Future of Legal Jobs in San Antonio

The future of legal careers in San Antonio appears promising, with a number of key trends and developments suggesting growth in the legal job market over the next decade. According to projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of lawyers, for instance, is expected to grow by four percent between 2019 and 2029, which is slower than the average for all occupations. This could be attributed to an increase in demand for legal services due to population growth, economic expansion, and the complex nature of the law itself. Additionally, there are emerging trends that may impact the demand for legal professionals over the coming years. For example, new technology is having a profound impact on the way legal work is carried out. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI), predictive analytics, and e-discovery software are all being adopted by law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies . While some experts assert that these technologies could potentially reduce the need for attorneys who manage more routine tasks, others argue that the implementation of AI in the legal field may create new opportunities for employment in more technical and specialized areas of law. Moreover, some industry experts note the need for lawyers with a background in science and technology. This kind of legal expertise may be required in emerging fields such as bioengineering or nanotechnology. As the law continues to intersect with new industries, law firms and corporate legal departments in San Antonio will likely seek candidates with niche expertise in these and other areas. Finally, it is worth considering the impact of COVID-19 on the employment landscape. While the pandemic initially caused job losses across multiple sectors, many areas are now recovering and rebounding. With businesses continuing to comply with state and federal regulations, the need for legal insight and counsel is likely to remain strong in San Antonio. Furthermore, businesses may increase demand for lawyers with experience in bankruptcy and business recovery as they rebuild following the financial impacts of the pandemic.