Wichita Legal Employment Market Overview
The legal job market in Wichita, KS has traditionally been robust, but in recent years, certain segments of the industry have shown greater growth. Incorporating a strong mix of large, mid-sized, and boutique law firms, the major legal employers in the city include Internal Revenue Service, Kansas Legal Services, Kansas Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Justice, Airbus, AmeriPride Services, Spirit AeroSystems, United States Department of Defense, Cornejo & Sons, Textron Aviation, and Spirit AeroSystems. The largest legal employers in Wichita, KS boast a various areas of practice, including corporate and labor & employment law.
Over the last decade, the Wichita economy has exhibited positive growth, including a 7.2% legal services sector increase. Despite being on an uptrend, the overall net employment change was estimated at just 1.7%. Overall employment is estimated to grow by 5.9 %, and departmental service employment will grow by 14.1%, presenting strong opportunities for jobseekers. While the legal profession is experiencing growth, now more than ever it is essential for law firms to be aggressive in talent acquisition within all departments.
As the city continues to experience a high demand for legal services, they are also experiencing a growing need for projection across several functions. Within this context, the demand for specialized IT, finance, HR professionals, administrative support, clerks, and research staff are all in high demand . Corporate legal departments are establishing progressive programs that focus on the continuous improvement and development of their staff. Administrative professionals can increase their significance to supporting legal departments by adding to their skill set and growing their organizational knowledge.
A number of factors impact the job market for legal professionals in Wichita. The overall unemployment rate is accounting for 4.1% of the state’s jobless rate. This is not far from the national unemployment rate of 3.7% and a positive indicator that the local economy is healthy and building momentum. The current hiring trend for legal occupations within the Wichita area has increased by a rate of 11.8% over the past five years.
Looking ahead, even higher growth in demand for legal services is expected through 2024, with an anticipated increase of almost 20 percent in a legal industry that already hosts a spectrum of legal employers. Corporations will continue to feel pressure to reduce spending, which will continue to impact corporate spending on outside counsel. For this reason, innovative programs to reevaluate how law firms deliver their services cost-effectively are being developed. Legal providers are enhancing their ability to efficiently manage engagements through technology, process improvements, and a wide range of services that allow them to operate more like consulting firms.
Major Legal Employers in Wichita
There are several top employers in Wichita that offer a range of legal job opportunities for legal professionals. The largest legal employer in Kansas, Kansas Legal Services, is a non-profit corporation founded in 1979 that provides civil legal assistance for low-income Kansans across the state. There are two statewide offices as well as more than 20 county offices in Kansas, providing a wide range of legal services. In addition to corporate counsel legal positions in the local government, the City of Wichita also employs a number of attorneys for public interest work. Located in Downtown Wichita, the law firm of Foulston Siefkin LLP is the largest firm in the state of Kansas. Founded in 1886, Foulston has more than 100 attorneys practicing in more than 20 areas of practice. Another large law firm in Wichita is Martin Pringle, which has 23 area of practice groups encompassing a much wider range of legal services in both the private and public sectors. The firm has been in operation since 1896 and has 31 attorneys practicing across 22 areas of law including criminal defense, family and divorce law, business services and real estate, all of which have potential legal job openings for legal professionals.
Current Top Open Legal Positions
Wichita, like many other cities in the country, has seen an increase in demand for a range of legal professionals. Among the most popular positions available are attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants. Of these, attorneys are in the highest demand, with the city home to several major firms and numerous small practices. These firms are often looking for litigation and corporate attorneys, particularly those who excel in complex matter resolution. Paralegals are also highly desired, as they help to ensure that attorneys can focus on the most critical aspects of their cases. Legal assistants make the most sense for smaller firms that want to accomplish similar tasks to those managed by paralegals, but tend to have a limited budget. Both paralegals and legal assistants are in-demand due to the recent addition of several municipalities to the area, which has resulted in a consistent uptick in clients. Finally, a number of firms and corporations are hiring contract attorneys to provide assistance with complex litigation matters.
Required Legal Skills and Experience
The necessary qualifications and skills for those seeking legal job opportunities in Wichita, KS tend to focus on a strong educational background, relevant work experience, and the development of essential soft skills. For most law-sector positions, a Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school is a minimum requirement. Advanced educational credentials, such as an LLM, may be preferred for specialized positions, such as corporate counselors or tax attorneys.
In addition to education, relevant work experience is highly valued by most law firms and corporate legal departments. Candidates with internships and clerkships with judges or particularly prestigious firms are often at an advantage. It’s also important for candidates to demonstrate an understanding of the local courts, legal system, and common types of cases. Most law firms favor candidates with established networks in the Wichita area, who may also have experience working with particular industries or niches.
Candidates should also demonstrate key soft skills, such as emotional intelligence, as well as strong communication and analytical skills. Attention to detail is crucial, as is the ability to research, write, and interpret complex legal documents.
Legal Networking and Career Resources
Kansas Lawyers Networking Group – This is an online group that provides a space for Kansas lawyers to connect, share opportunities, and discuss the latest developments in the legal field. It’s a great platform for networking and finding job leads.
Kansas Bar Association – Their website offers a variety of resources for job seekers such as job listings, local bar association information, and practice area guides.
Wichita Young Professionals – A part of a regional network of 18 young professional organizations in Kansas, this group serves as a resource for job seekers and those looking to expand their professional networks.
LawCareers.net – Hosted by the National Association for Law Placement, this site offers attorney job listings across the U.S., along with articles on career development .
Kansas Legal Services – The state-funded agency that is dedicated to providing quality legal services to the low income Kansans. They frequently employ new lawyers and have open positions.
LinkedIn – This business-oriented networking site has a number of groups focused on providing support and networking opportunities for Kansas lawyers.
In addition to these resources, don’t overlook the potential of local networking opportunities that can come in the form of mixers, professional speaker events, or industry conferences. The legal industry in Wichita is no different, and events organized by local chambers of commerce, bar associations, or community organizations can provide a solid opportunity to make connections and learn about upcoming job openings.
Legal Search Firm Tips
An effective strategy for job searching in Wichita is utilizing big job search websites like Monster and ZipRecruiter, but also exploring some of the lesser-known local job search websites such as EduKansasa.com, KsJobFinder.com, KansasWorks.com and CareerBuilder.com. These websites feature Wichita job openings and allow you to post your resume online. Keep in mind that Kansas Lawyer magazine, a publication of the Kansas Bar Association, posts job openings for law firms and legal employers who are seeking to hire in Kansas only. Even though Kansas Lawyer is not dedicated to only Wichita jobs, it is an excellent resource for local legal job openings.
Additionally, to formally apply for a job opening, it is important to submit a resume to a firm or organization directly. Sending a resume with a cover letter via email is the best way to guarantee that your resume will reach the appropriate person. Some organizations prefer that applicants apply through their own online application platform, so be sure to do some research on the company. Other websites, such as BeLawTog.com, can help you connect with attorneys looking to hire clerks, graduates or young associates. The Legal Network also has a database of qualified lawyers and paralegals for law firms, corporations and legal service providers to search for. Once you have found an opportunity that you are interested in pursuing, it also may be in your best interest to schedule an informational interview, or to even go a step further and complete an internship or clerkship, which will provide you with the experience and contacts necessary to succeed in your search for employment after graduation.
Future Employment Prospects
Looking ahead, the future outlook for legal jobs in Wichita, KS is a mixed bag. On one side, the demand for legal services is expected to remain steady due to ongoing legal complexities in various industries and new regulations at state and federal levels. However, this need may not translate into more jobs or higher salaries as there is a growing trend of companies reducing their use of outside counsel and opting for alternate service providers.
Technological advancements will continue to play a significant role in shaping the industry. Many firms are investing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning to automate routine legal tasks, which raises questions about the future of entry-level positions. Nonetheless, these technologies are also expected to open new areas in intellectual property , privacy law, and cybersecurity, requiring attorneys with interdisciplinary skills.
Furthermore, as clients become more cost-conscious, the market will demand higher efficiency from legal professionals, pushing the need for comprehensive legal technology and software training to be integrated into law school curricula and continuing legal education programs for practicing lawyers.
In summary, while traditional avenues for employment in the legal sector will continue to exist in the near future, there will be a stronger focus on technology integration, niche specializations, and flexibility in legal service delivery models. Adapting to these changes will be critical for aspiring legal professionals looking to make their mark in Wichita’s legal ecosystem.