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The State of the Attorney Job Market in Michigan
Michigan has suffered from significant economic slowdowns and uncertainty recently, decreasing the market for attorney jobs in that
state. However, this slowdown does not mean that there are currently no opportunities. For professionals in some fields, there is still
significant demand, though experienced attorneys are preferred.
Detroit and the surrounding
areas are those most affected by
conditions relating to problems
in the auto industry, with other
Michigan cities being somewhat
less affected. Compensation in
the Michigan area remains on par
with that in most other Midwest
locations, though salaries tend to be lower than those offered
in very large metropolitan areas, such as Chicago.
Overview of Attorney Jobs in Michigan
As with any other job market, the market for attorneys varies
by location. Different economic and social conditions will
result in changes in demand for various services, and will
change the ability of clients to pay for legal help. Michigan
has economically suffered recently, due to the decline of the
Detroit auto industry, but opportunities for attorneys remain in
certain fields, and various cities have been affected differently.
While uncertainty continues in the Michigan job market
generally, unemployment has been slowly decreasing,
suggesting that the Midwest as a whole may be on the way
out of the currently uncertain economic climate. The negative
effects are felt most strongly in greater Detroit, and have been
exacerbated by the auto industry’s decline. In general, there
is less need for attorneys now than in the past.
The Market for Attorney Jobs in and around Detroit
Despite a reduced demand for attorney services, there are
still jobs available. Patent prosecutors who have two to four
years of experience and a strong background in mechanical
or electrical engineering are in demand. There’s also a need
for corporate associates with three to five years of experience
dealing with general corporate law, mergers, and acquisitions.
Tax associates who have similar amounts of experience
dealing with SALT matters may also be able to find positions.
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Attorney Jobs Elsewhere in Michigan
Outside of the Detroit area, in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Troy,
Ann Arbor, and Kalamazoo, conditions are somewhat better.
Firms which have offices located outside the Detroit area are
looking for attorneys with two to five years of experience.
Desired areas of specialization include general corporate law
and litigation. At senior associate and junior partner levels,
patent prosecutors are in demand. Preferred backgrounds
for these prosecutors include computer science and electrical
engineering. In the field of health care regulation, senior
associates and junior partners with seven years of experience
or more are desirable.
Attorney Jobs in Michigan — Portable Business
Partners already practicing in Michigan who are looking for
opportunities in the Detroit area or surrounding legal markets
may be able to find what they’re looking for, too. Ideally,
these partners should have a minimum of three hundred
thousand dollars of existing portable business relating to real
estate acquisitions and development, corporate transactions,
banking and securities, labor and employment, patent law and
private equity matters. Attorneys experienced in business
transactional matters internationally or across borders are also
in demand.
Salaries for Michigan Attorneys
As with all locations, salaries for attorney jobs in Michigan will
vary by specialty, experience, and the exact position offered.
However, some trends are true for the state of Michigan
overall. Summer associates in the Michigan area tend to
be paid around $2000 per week, with first-year associates
averaging salaries of $100,000 per year. More prestigious
firms may offer higher salaries to first-year attorneys, with
salaries up to $120,000 per year.
Entry-level salaries for Michigan attorneys may include
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signing bonuses, and all associates receive benefit packages Corporate attorneys and those who practice real estate and
in addition to their salaries. Bar examination fees and bar contract law continue to be in demand in various areas of
review courses may also be reimbursed by the hiring firm. For Michigan, as are attorneys for the Homeland Security offices in
exact compensation, including all benefits, it will be important Detroit. Many of the firms looking to hire lawyers for positions
to discuss matters with prospective employers. in Michigan have offices in many other locations throughout
the country, enabling them to be less affected by economic
Desirable Fields for Michigan Attorneys problems in the state itself. As the state recovers from these
problems, the market for jobs may improve.
Despite a somewhat depressed market for attorney jobs
in Michigan, opportunities still exist in various parts of the Conclusion
state. Specific specialties are more in demand that others.
Experienced attorneys are more likely to receive positions While the market for attorney jobs in Michigan is worse than
than newly graduated ones, and candidates with high it has been in previous years, experienced business attorneys,
academic achievements are favored. especially those who practice in real estate and patent areas,
are still in demand. Compensation for beginning lawyers in
Patent prosecutors and attorneys Michigan is roughly equivalent to that offered elsewhere in the
with patent experience, particularly Midwest, though lower than compensation for many first-year
those with backgrounds in computers Chicago attorneys.
science and engineering, are likely to
find attorney jobs in Michigan. There’s Experienced professionals will find it easier to obtain attorney
also a demand for lawyers familiar jobs in Michigan than will newly graduated lawyers, since most
with corporate transactions, general job listings require a minimum of two years of experience in
corporate law, and acquisitions and a particular specialty. Professionals in the right fields may
mergers. Very experienced health care find that the Michigan market is still quite favorable; it may
regulation lawyers will also be able to continue to improve along with economic conditions.
find attorney jobs relatively easily.

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