The Legal Recruiter Directory includes contact information for the best legal recruiters across the twin cities of Minneapolis & Saint Paul. Whether you’re a lawyer or paralegal moving across the country or grew up in Minnesota, your first step towards a new law firm should be to get in touch with best legal recruiters in the area.
Verified Minneapolis-Saint Paul Area Legal Recruiters
Atticus Recruiting is a legal recruitment agency specializing in placing highly skilled and exceptionally well credentialed attorneys at top-tier law firms and coveted in-house positions across the Midwest.
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Job Opportunities

For attorneys with career advancement aspirations, the “Twin Cities” of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, offer many prospects. With a growing metro area of over 3.9 million inhabitants, the Twin Cities provide the scenic backdrop for 100s of law firms and 19 Fortune 500 companies. Lawyers practicing in Minneapolis-Saint Paul earn an average base salary of $106,330, while living in an area with a cosmopolitan-feel and family friendly cost-of-living.
Career enrichment and networking possibilities for attorneys start with the 15,500-member Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) and the Hennepin County Bar Association (HCBA), with a membership of 7,000 encompassing the Minneapolis area. Lawyers based in Saint Paul are also welcomed to join over 2,700 fellow legal professionals that comprise the Ramsey County Bar Association (RCBA).
Requirements to Practice Law
There are two ways to practice law in Minnesota, which are passing the state bar exam or admission on motion if you are licensed to practice law in another U.S. jurisdiction. To be admitted on motion to the state bar without first taking the bar exam, the following requirements must be met:
- You must meet residency, age and moral character requirements, including passing the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)
- You must have actively practiced law for five of the past seven years
- You must have a J.D. degree from an ABA-approved law school
- You must be a bar member in good standing in each jurisdiction in which you are licensed
- You must provide documentation for all the above
Once admitted to the Minnesota bar, an attorney must re-register every year through the Minnesota Supreme Court prior to their law license issuance anniversary date. License renewal fees for active status attorneys vary and are as follows:
- Practicing more than 3 years in any jurisdiction: $248
- With yearly gross income less than $25,000: $220
- Admitted to practice less than 3 years in any jurisdiction: $114
For more information, visit the Minnesota Supreme Court’s website.
Why Minneapolis?
As the 16th largest metropolitan area in the U.S., the Twin Cities are a great place to live, work and play. Separated by the Mississippi River, on one side Minneapolis features an impressive skyline punctuated by tall buildings, while Saint Paul, located on the river’s other edge, is known more for its late-Victorian style architecture, East Coast vibe and quaint neighborhoods. Together, the Twin Cities provide residents and visitors with year-around shopping, sports, dining, art, music and family entertainment activities galore.
With all they offer, Minneapolis-Saint Paul’s cost-of-living only runs about 5% above the national average, with that bump mostly attributable to the housing, transportation and food sectors. The Twin Cities’ thriving economy is driven by 19 Fortune 500 companies, including Target, U.S. Bancorp, Ecolab, Ameriprise Financial and Xcel Energy. A list of the best neighborhoods for working professionals would start with the North Loop, Uptown, Highland Park, Eden Prairie, Edina, Minnetonka, Lakeville, Rogers, Chanhassen and Plymouth.
For commuters, the Twin Cities’ Metro Transit system maintains an extensive bus network that serves the bustling downtown areas, legal districts and suburbs. Metro Transit also operates a series of light rail routes to and from downtown Minneapolis destinations, including the thriving North Loop and Warehouse Districts. The Northstar commuter rail provides transportation for those living in the northern suburbs, and Saint Paul offers light rail services through Amtrak.
Weather-wise, winters in Minneapolis-Saint Paul can be very cold, so the cities built a series of climate-controlled skyways in their downtown areas to keep people warm. The hottest month is July, with average highs of 83 degrees F, and the coldest month January with average lows of 8 degrees F. A typical winter brings about 55 inches of snow to the area, and August is the wettest month with respect to rainfall. In general, the late spring and summer months are very conducive for enjoying the many outdoor activities in the Twin Cities area. Both cities maintain nationally acclaimed municipal park systems, which feature many lakes, biking and walking trails, golf courses, family recreation centers and formal gardens. Other popular attractions in the Twin Cities include the Mall of America, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minnehaha Park and Falls, Science Museum of Minneapolis, Mall City Museum, Como Park Zoo, Nickelodeon Universe and 6 major league sports teams.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The candidate pool in Minneapolis-Saint Paul is diverse and competitive, fueled by a mix of local talent and professionals relocating for the region’s unique career and lifestyle opportunities. Many attorneys are graduates of top institutions like the University of Minnesota Law School or bring experience from working in Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the Twin Cities. With only a limited number of high-level roles available at top firms, demand is especially high for attorneys with specialized skills in areas like intellectual property, healthcare law, and corporate transactions.
The region’s thriving industries drive demand for legal positions in healthcare compliance, intellectual property, and corporate law. Additionally, roles in real estate law, employment law, and litigation are in high demand due to the Twin Cities’ expanding population and business activity. In-house counsel roles at companies like 3M and UnitedHealth Group are particularly sought after, making the competition for these positions steep.
The legal market in the Twin Cities is shaped by industries such as healthcare, technology, manufacturing, and finance. Major players like Medtronic, Target, and U.S. Bank require extensive legal support for regulatory compliance, intellectual property protection, and corporate governance. The region’s commitment to sustainability also influences the demand for environmental law expertise, particularly in projects like renewable energy initiatives.
Current trends in Minneapolis-Saint Paul include increased emphasis on healthcare innovation and renewable energy, which are driving demand for legal professionals in these sectors. The rise of telehealth and sustainability initiatives has introduced new regulatory challenges, creating opportunities for attorneys specializing in compliance and environmental law. Additionally, urban development projects are fueling growth in real estate law, while ongoing litigation in employment law reflects the region’s evolving workplace policies.
Remote work has become more prevalent in the Twin Cities legal market, especially for in-house counsel and transactional roles. Firms are now competing with national employers for top talent, prompting many to offer competitive salaries and flexible work arrangements. Attorney salaries in Minneapolis-Saint Paul can vary depending on experience and specialization, but tend to hover around $124,560 on average. Combined with a cost of living 6% below the national average, the region offers an attractive mix of compensation and affordability.
Diversity and inclusion are priorities in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul legal community. Organizations like Twin Cities Diversity in Practice and Minnesota Women Lawyers actively promote equitable hiring practices and support underrepresented attorneys. Many local firms and corporate legal departments emphasize cultural competency, recognizing that diverse perspectives enhance their ability to serve a wide range of clients. Events like the Diversity in Practice Annual Meeting highlight the region’s commitment to fostering inclusivity, making it a welcoming environment for legal professionals from all backgrounds.