According to Wegman Partners lawsuit, employment in the legal field is expected to skyrocket over the next six years, with around 67,600 new jobs to appear in the sector by 2029.
As of May 2020, the average yearly salary for legal work was $84,910, representing just over double the average national wage for all occupations. A range of jobs in the field is anticipated to experience rapid growth over the coming years, giving graduates a new sense of motivation to make a name for themselves.
Legal Employment Growth by Job Role
Legal occupations cover many roles. However, the top four categories expected to display the most growth are as follows:
Court Reporters
In 2020, court reporters earned an average of $61,660 per year, with the job outlooking growing much faster than average occupations (9% by 2029).
Those with a postsecondary nondegree award and zero work experience can claim this position, making it very popular for those looking for a career change.
Mediators and Arbitrators
Experts state that mediator and arbitrator positions are expected to grow by around 8% by 2029, with an average salary of $66,130.
These roles require a bachelor’s degree and some work experience (less than five years in a related field). Generally speaking, retired lawyers and judges become mediators or arbitrators.
Legal Assistants and Paralegals
Paralegals work in a variety of areas in the sector, earning an average salary of $52,920 at last report. Supervised by an attorney, they perform various tasks to support legal proceedings and their assigned lawyer.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, paralegal and related assistant jobs are forecasted to grow by a whopping 10% in the next six years. With that in mind, those hoping to head into the field can expect around 35,300 paralegal/assistant jobs to appear on the market during this period.
Lawyers
Lawyer positions aren’t expected to grow as much as the others explained above. However, analysts still anticipate an expansion of 4% by 2029 — still faster than average.
Lawyers, on average earn roughly $126,930 per year (on average) or roughly $61.03 per hour. Estimations assume another 32,300 jobs will be added to the sector before 2030, including lawyers in private practices, corporations, law firms, and government agencies.
Of course, like compensation is based on various experiences, and may have be determined by location as well.
The Best Places for Scoring Legal Roles By 2029
Industry insiders believe law firms will continue being the easiest way to enter the legal field, especially for law school graduates.
However, some suggest that looking for positions through government agencies is just as good.
The private sector (e.g., LLCs, corporations, etc.) will remain the hardest (but just as profitable) method for acquiring legal occupations before the calendar hits 2030.
The Anticipated Growth for Legal Occupations Is Huge
The legal job market is expected to grow faster than average by 2029, exhibiting an expansion of around 5%. Thus, those considering attending law school will have a better chance of finding employment following their education.