Illinois Legal Recruiters

Working With an Illinois Legal Placement Firm

Involving a headhunter for lawyers in your job search might be the easiest, most rewarding decision you make this year. In fact, partnering with a legal recruiter on your future firm transition will ensure that you don’t miss out on the top opportunities that match your job search criteria.

On your behalf, an attorney headhunter will research available roles, local Illinois law firms and other legal employers to identify the perfect match for your expertise with available positions in the area. Together, you can then review available prospects to determine when to explore an opportunity further or negotiate for terms in your best interest.

Improve Your Legal Career Prospects with An Illinois Legal Recruiter

In addition, when you partner with an Illinois legal job recruiter you can get a leg up on local and national competition vying for jobs in your market by getting in front of employers a step ahead of other applicants – and with the backing of a trusted industry legal recruiter. As you embark on your next job transition make sure to contact an Illinois legal staffing veteran to unearth exciting opportunities and match your expertise up with both available and forthcoming positions at local law firms.

The Legal Industry in Illinois 

The American Bar Association states that some 1.3 million attorneys practice law in the United States, nearly 63,000 of which are licensed in the state of Illinois. That means the Land of Lincoln has the fifth largest population of lawyers, behind New York, California, Texas, and Florida. Much of that is owed to Chicago, which is the third biggest city in the United States and a major commercial hub with a diverse economic base that includes finance, science, engineering, agriculture, retail, and transportation. 

Other Illinois cities have a much smaller footprint in terms of population, economy, and geographical area. The most populous in order of size include Aurora, Joliet, Naperville, and Rockford. 

Given that roughly a fifth of Illinois residents live in the Windy City and how experts state that Chicago has a highly diversified business base, legal specializations also run the gamut. Some of the more common areas of focus include bankruptcy, securities, corporate, litigation, finance, and intellectual property. 

Is It Difficult to Practice Law in Illinois? 

In order to practice law in the state of Illinois, attorneys must have completed several specific steps. These are: 

• Enroll in an ABA-approved law school, which will require receiving an undergraduate degree and passing the LSAT 
• Register with the Illinois State Bar and complete the required Character and Fitness Questionnaire (students may apply for temporary licensure while in school) 
• Apply for, take, and pass the Illinois Bar Exam (aka the Multistate Bar Examination or MBE), the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), as well as the Multistate Performance Test (MPT) 

Attorneys who are licensed in other states may apply for Illinois licensure. To qualify, they must meet the following standards in addition to having attended an ABA-certified law school and passed the MPRE: 

• Undergo an examination by the Committee on Character and Fitness and receive said Committee’s approval 
• Have passed the Bar in another state and currently be a member in good standing 
• Have actively practiced law in that state for five of the past seven years 
• Have not failed the Illinois Bar Exam within the past five years 

After attorneys have gained admittance to the Illinois Bar, they may avail themselves of the various advocacy groups and professional organizations available to licensed lawyers. The Legal Recruiter Directory has an extensive network of groups that can help you advance your career. Contact us today!