The Legal Industry in North Carolina
North Carolina is home to one of the fastest growing legal markets in the nation. In fact, data from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics data revealed that North Carolina is projected to add approximately 17,350 jobs for lawyers (approximately a 5% increase year-over-year). Additionally, North Carolina has an average starting salary of $107,700 per year.
North Carolina also has some of the largest firms in the nation. Notably, the top law firms in North Carolina include Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP (304 attorneys), Moore & Van Allen PLLC (274 attorneys), and McGuireWoods LLP (237 attorneys). Charlotte and Raleigh are the largest and most concentrated cities in North Carolina for lawyers. However, large firms that offer competitive starting salaries and career opportunities can be found all throughout the state.
North Carolina ranks 2nd in the nation for food processing and manufacturing. Consequently, business law and corporate law are popular, along with commercial litigation, LLCs, and partnerships. Criminal, civil, and family law are also popular practice areas in North Carolina.
Is It Difficult to Practice Law in North Carolina?
It is not as difficult for attorneys in North Carolina to become licensed and find employment, relative to other states. You must be an active member of the state bar in North Carolina to practice law legally. You can become an attorney in North Carolina by meeting these requirements:
- Complete an undergraduate program (pre-law). This is essential for admission to a law school approved by the Council of the North Carolina State Bar or by the American Bar Association (ABA).
- Take the Law School Administration Test (LSAT). Law schools consider this score during the admission process.
- Complete a law school program that is approved by the Council of the North Carolina State Bar.
- Apply for and take the North Carolina state bar exam. You must have a Juris Doctor (JD) degree before you can take the state’s bar exam.
The state also requires all licensed attorneys who practice in the state to take the oath of office and be sworn in as an attorney. In certain instances, there may also be additional steps to complete after you pass the state bar exam and are officially a licensed attorney in North Carolina.
As mentioned, the opportunities in North Carolina continually grow. Roughly 48,000 job openings for lawyers are projected every year, over the next decade. Therefore, although finding employment as an attorney is always competitive, North Carolina presents more opportunities. This is the case for new attorneys who are just starting their career as well as more experienced attorneys.
