SALT LAKE CITY LEGAL JOBS

While many cities are characterized by the nature of businesses that are located there or the unique climate the city offers, Salt Lake City is characterized by one thing: religion. Many people move to the area to follow religious beliefs, or solely to be surrounded by people who have similar morals that they do. The culture that is created makes Salt Lake City a unique city to practice law in. When searching for legal jobs here, it is crucial to understand this culture. Firms that post legal vacancies are looking for types of people who will be able to fit in with the residents and earn the trust of the clients that they represent.

Lawyers who practice in various areas of the country and then relocate to Salt Lake City say that the biggest difference they find is that attorneys in Utah place a large importance on focusing on ‘the things that matter’. Every small detail is taken under consideration when working on cases, whereas in some larger legal cities these details can get lost in the bigger focuses of the case.

What attorneys like most about practicing in Salt Lake City is they find that there is greater job stability and favorable working conditions. Attorneys are easy to trust, which can be difficult to say in some cities. Most law firms handle civil cases as opposed to representing large businesses, which is why they place a large importance on morals, as they want their clients to feel that their attorneys are easily approachable.

When looking for a job in Salt Lake City, many people have immediate concerns due to the nature of the Latter-Day Saints that dominate the area. Firms attempt to address these concerns to change people’s opinions of the area. The first concern is that it is more challenging for women to find legal jobs here. Many firms have come out and said that they do not discriminate based on gender and will consider all resumes equally. In addition, women have access to a variety of networking groups, including Women Lawyers of Utah, to help further their careers. Also, due to the religious nature of the city, firms place a large importance on family life. They are flexible with hours as they understand their associates want to be able to spend ample time with their families; this does include offering paid maternity leave to women attorneys.

Another concern that is addressed by many firms is diversity in the area. It is assumed that Salt Lake City lacks diversity which is not necessarily the case. Unknown to many, there is a large population of Pacific Islanders in the area as they enjoy the climate that Utah offers. In addition, after Latter Day Saints return from their mission trips, they bring a knowledge of other cultures and languages back to Salt Lake City with them, making it a prime city to host international cases. Finally, being a minority can help to further your career here as firms are always looking for talent that brings a new perspective and can service a new market.

All in all, Salt Lake City has a great legal market if you feel that you are meant for the culture here. While the city does not provide the high stress life that New York City or Chicago might, it does not come without its challenges. Since many of the firms are smaller, attorneys find a large portion of their job is related to the business aspect of running a firm in addition to practicing law. If you feel that this suits you, LawMatch has opportunities posted today that are waiting for you to take advantage of.