When you’re ready to take your career to the next level, partner with an attorney recruiting firm so you have full exposure to Denver’s top law firms and companies looking to fill in-house counsel positions. From urgent placements to helping lawyers put some feelers out, a legal recruiter can find law firms and roles that equate with your expertise as well as streamline the application, interview, and job transition processes.
Verified Denver Area Legal Recruiters
Mestel & Company provides comprehensive legal recruiting services in Denver, in the Mountain West Region, and across the country, focusing on attorney placement of all levels. With a nationwide network and local expertise, they cater to law firms and corporations seeking top legal talent.
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Job Opportunities
Nestled in the shadows of the majestic Rocky Mountains, Denver Colorado features one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the U.S. with over 3 million residents. Originally founded as a mining town in the late 1800s, the “Mile High City” is now a thriving economic hub for industry, transportation and commercial enterprises.
Thousands of lawyers serve the Denver area while practicing at one of its 100s of law firms, government agencies and corporations. The average attorney in the Mile High City earns a base salary of $119,094 and enjoys professional growth and development opportunities through these organizations:
- Denver Bar Association
- Colorado Bar Association
- University of Denver Sturm College of Law
- Many other local and state bar associations based on practice specialties, ethnicity, race, gender and interests
Requirements to Practice Law
To be admitted to the Colorado bar, you must first earn a law degree from an ABA-accredited law school and then pass the Colorado bar exam. If you did not graduate from an ABA-accredited school, or you are already practicing law in another country, you may still be eligible to take the Colorado bar exam once you’ve met several criteria and paid a $710 application fee.
Other ways to be admitted to the Colorado bar include:
- Passing the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE). If you passed the UBE in another state between 3 and 5 years ago, you could be eligible for admission to the Colorado bar without taking the state’s bar exam.
- Admission on Motion. If you’re already licensed to practice law in another jurisdiction, you may submit an Admission on Motion request for the Colorado bar if all other criteria have been met.
All lawyers who are accepted into the Colorado bar must pay a $40 licensing fee, and then take and sign an oath of admission before the Clerk of the Supreme Court. Maintaining a law license in Colorado requires the completion of 45 MCLE hours every 3 years, including 7 hours in legal ethics. For more information, please visit: www.lawyeredu.org.
Why Denver?
In addition to its breath-taking natural surroundings, downtown Denver is a culturally diverse
Hub of activity centered around the many restaurants and nightclubs within the Larimer Square and LoDo districts. Some of the area’s key economic sectors are transportation, energy, mining, biomedical technology, telecommunications and real estate. There are 10 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Denver, including Western Union, Liberty Oilfield Services, Davita, DCP Midstream, Whiting Petroleum and Climarex Energy.
As the 15th most-populous metro area in America, Denver’s cost of living ranks higher than the national average due mainly to housing, but its utility, grocery and healthcare expenses are quite reasonable. Scores of area commuters take advantage of the city’s convenient bus and light rail services within the Regional Transportation District (RTD).
Many Denver attorneys commute from their homes in other neighborhoods like Cherry Creek, LoDo, Washington Park, Golden Triangle and Central East Denver to offices in the downtown’s Legal District near I-25, Business I-70 and the River North Art District. In addition to skiing, mountain parks and various festivals, other major attractions around Denver are its zoo, 5 professional sports teams, the U.S. Mint, Union Station, art museum, aquarium and Museum of Nature and Science.
Given its proximity to the mountains, Denver’s climate is surprisingly mild, with an average of 245 sunny days per year. Snowfall is common during the winter, and January is the coldest month with average daily lows of 18 degrees F. The warmest month is July, with daily highs in the upper 80s F.
Employers
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Candidates
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Frequently Asked Questions
Denver’s legal market is thriving, supported by a strong presence of both national and regional law firms, as well as a growing number of boutique firms and individual practitioners specializing in various legal areas. The city offers a vibrant legal scene that attracts a diverse array of legal professionals, from recent law school graduates to seasoned attorneys. This rich mix is facilitated by local law schools such as the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, which contributes to the steady stream of new lawyers entering the Denver legal market.
Denver’s legal market is particularly robust in areas like environmental law, reflecting the region’s focus on energy and natural resource management. Lawyers specializing in energy, both from traditional fossil fuels and renewable sources, are in high demand due to the region’s regulatory landscape and ongoing environmental initiatives. Additionally, the real estate sector, driven by Denver’s expanding urban landscape, creates a constant need for legal expertise in land development and construction law.
The legal landscape in Denver is significantly shaped by several key industries. The technology sector is a major contributor, fostering a need for legal services in intellectual property and tech-related legal matters. Energy, both renewable and traditional, also plays a critical role, necessitating specialized legal expertise in regulatory compliance and environmental law. These industries not only drive the demand for legal services but also shape the specialization and career opportunities available to legal professionals in the region.
The legal industry in Denver, like much of the United States, is experiencing significant transformations driven by advancements in technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). AI is increasingly integrated into various legal processes, enhancing productivity and efficiency, but also bringing challenges such as ethical considerations and job displacement concerns. Firms are also grappling with issues around environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), which are influencing client decision-making and the types of legal expertise in demand.
Remote and hybrid work models have become more entrenched in Denver’s legal sector. This shift has prompted law firms to adopt new technologies and cloud-based solutions to maintain efficiency and data security. Compensation patterns are also evolving, with a noticeable shift towards performance-based fees and alternative fee arrangements, reflecting a broader trend towards more flexible and transparent billing practices.
Diversity and inclusion continue to be significant focus areas within Denver’s legal community. Law firms are actively working to improve their diversity policies and practices, not just to better reflect societal values but also to appeal to a new generation of lawyers who prioritize ethical and moral considerations in their employment choices. This is part of a broader trend where legal professionals are increasingly evaluated based on their contribution to diversity and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
