Meet the leaders in Houston legal recruiting! Each of the legal placement firms in downtown Houston and the surrounding suburbs are equipped to help you land your dream position in the area. These Houston legal recruiters can help you with your legal industry job search whether you are passively or actively looking for a role at one of the local law firms or as in house counsel.
Verified Houston Area Legal Recruiters
Momentum Search Partners is a Texas legal recruiting and executive search firm specializing in attorney and compliance placements for companies and select law firms.
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Job Opportunities
If you’re an attorney who’s interested in relocating your talents to the Gulf Coast Region, don’t forget to include Houston, Texas, on your search list. Long recognized for its contributions to the U.S. space program and oil industry, Houston’s 2.3 million residents make it the largest city in Texas and 4th most populous in the nation.
Strategically positioned near the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Bay, Houston is alive with energy, rich in diversity, and serves as the welcoming home for people speaking over 140 different languages. While casting a world-class economic presence, Houston’s metro area includes the corporate headquarters of 22 Fortune 500 companies.
Lawyers working in Houston earn an average base salary of $128,863; many of which practice at its over 600 law firms, numerous corporations and various government agencies. At the end of a workday, the city’s 11,000+ attorneys are encouraged to network and otherwise interact with their peers through these professional organizations:
- State Bar of Texas
- Houston Bar Association
- Hispanic Bar Association
- Harris County Bar Association
- Texas Jewish Bar Association
- Houston Asian American Bar Association
The private South Texas College of Law also provides Houston-area lawyers with the opportunity to teach or pick up some additional legal courses.
Requirements to Practice Law
To be a member of the Texas bar, you must first graduate from an ABA-accredited law school in the United States. In addition, all attorneys who want to practice in Texas must:
- Pass the Texas Bar Exam
- Pay a bar exam fee. For in-state law students it’s $300, out-of-state law students pay $490, and the fee for attorneys already licensed in another state is $1,040.
- Pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) with a scaled score of 85 or above
- Once all those requirements have been met, be sworn in at an official swearing-in ceremony scheduled by the Texas Bar Examiners’ Office.
For newly licensed attorneys to continue practicing law in the state of Texas, they must complete 15 hours of mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) within the first two years. After being licensed for two years, lawyers are then required to complete 15 more MCLE hours every year, including 3 hours in legal ethics or legal professional responsibility. Those MCLE credits must also be reported yearly to the Texas Bar Examiners’ office.
Why Houston?
The city of Houston is famous for its professional sports teams, shopping, dining, and the performing and visual arts. Fortune 500 companies that call Houston home include Phillips 66, Sysco, Halliburton, Westlake Chemical and Kinder Morgan (KMR). Globally, the city plays a major economic role in sectors like energy, shipping, chemicals, healthcare and aeronautics.
Even with all its positives, Houston’s cost-of-living runs lower than the national average due to the area’s family friendly housing, grocery and healthcare prices. Public transportation to and from the Downtown District is available through the city’s sprawling Metrorail and Metrobus routes. There are also pedestrian tunnels and skyways throughout the downtown area, and Greenlink buses and taxicabs to transport commuters where they need to go.
The Legal District in Houston is located downtown near Lubbock Street between I-45 and Houston Avenue. The best neighborhoods in the greater Houston area include Clear Lake, Cinco Ranch, University Place, Greatwood, Midtown, Braeswood, New Territory, The Woodlands and Memorial. In addition to its ubiquitous parks, trails and golf courses, major attractions in Houston are its many museums, the Houston Zoo, Space Center of Houston, the Galleria and Cockrell Butterfly Center.
Because Houston is near the gulf, its climate features an above-average amount of rainfall each year, but no snow. During a typical year, the city’s residents enjoy 204 sunny days and see 90 days with at least some precipitation. Summers are usually warm and humid, and winters mild and damp. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 93 degrees Fahrenheit, and January the coldest month, with lows averaging around 43 degrees F.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The candidate pool in Houston is diverse and highly skilled, reflecting the city’s large and growing population. Houston is home to several top-tier law schools, including the University of Houston Law Center and South Texas College of Law, which produce a steady stream of qualified graduates. Additionally, the city’s robust economy attracts experienced legal professionals from across the country. The legal workforce is bolstered by Houston’s strong emphasis on continuing legal education and professional development, ensuring that candidates are well-prepared for the demands of the market.
Houston’s legal market has a high demand for attorneys specializing in energy law, healthcare law, and intellectual property law, reflecting the city’s key industries. Corporate lawyers and those with expertise in mergers and acquisitions are also in demand due to the active business environment. Additionally, there is a growing need for environmental lawyers to address the regulatory and compliance issues facing Houston’s industrial sectors. Family law and immigration law positions remain consistently needed, given the city’s diverse and expanding population.
The energy industry is the primary driver of Houston’s legal market, with major companies like ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Halliburton headquartered in the city, necessitating expertise in energy law and regulatory compliance.
Healthcare is another significant sector, anchored by the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world, which requires robust legal services in healthcare law and policy.
The technology sector is growing rapidly, driven by innovation and startups, particularly in biotech and IT, increasing the demand for intellectual property and technology transaction lawyers.
Real estate and construction also significantly impact the legal market, fueled by Houston’s rapid urban development and population growth. This growth spurs numerous construction projects, driving the need for legal expertise in real estate law, land use, and zoning.
Current trends in Houston, such as the city’s rapid economic growth and urban development, are expanding the scope and complexity of legal services required. Recognized as the second fastest-growing U.S. metro by the U.S. Census Bureau, Houston’s economic activities are driving substantial changes in the legal field.
The increasing focus on renewable energy and sustainability, driven by government initiatives and corporate commitments, is boosting demand for legal expertise in environmental and regulatory law. Lawyers are required to navigate complex regulations, secure permits for renewable projects, and address environmental impact concerns, reflecting Houston’s ambitious goal to become carbon neutral by 2050.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote work in Houston’s legal sector, with many firms and corporate legal departments continuing to offer flexible work arrangements. This shift has increased job satisfaction and work-life balance for many legal professionals. Compensation in Houston remains competitive, with firms often offering additional benefits to attract and retain top talent. The cost of living in Houston, which is 8% lower than the national average, also makes the city an attractive place for legal professionals seeking a high quality of life.
Furthermore, Houston’s position as a hub for the energy, healthcare, and technology sectors has driven the need for specialized legal expertise, which commands higher salaries. For example, legal professionals in the energy sector are in high demand due to Houston’s status as the “Energy Capital of the World.” Additionally, the Texas Medical Center’s presence necessitates a robust legal framework for healthcare law, further enhancing compensation packages for lawyers in this field. These factors collectively make Houston a lucrative and desirable location for legal professionals.
Diversity and inclusion are central to Houston’s legal sector, reflecting the city’s multicultural population. Houston, one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the U.S., ensures that its legal community mirrors this diversity. Many law firms and legal organizations actively promote diversity through initiatives and programs aimed at increasing representation and providing support for minority lawyers. For instance, the Houston Bar Association’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee hosts events and provides resources to foster an inclusive legal community.
Efforts to improve diversity are evident in hiring practices, mentorship programs, and professional development opportunities. The Hispanic National Bar Association and the Asian American Bar Association of Houston are active in the region, providing networking and support for their members. Additionally, firms like Norton Rose Fulbright and Vinson & Elkins have robust diversity programs to ensure inclusive hiring and advancement practices. These initiatives ensure that the legal sector in Houston continues to evolve and better reflect the community it serves, making it a more welcoming environment for all legal professionals.
