When it comes to population growth and job opportunities, Austin, TX, is quickly becoming the envy of mayors across the US. As the capital of the Lone Star State, the City of Austin has seen an influx of over 171,000 new residents since 2010.
Now recognized as the 29th largest in the country, Austin’s rapidly expanding metropolitan area boasts more than 2.2 million people. A 2021 report from US Census Bureau ranked Austin as the fastest-growing metro in the country with at least one million residents.
Fortune 500 companies — notably those from the tech industry – are flocking to Austin in droves to take advantage of its shorter commutes, lower taxes, and family-friendly cost of living in comparison to California or New York. If you are a legal professional who’s looking to relocate to Austin, here’s why a local legal recruiter may hold the “golden ticket” to your success.
Big Tech Companies Moving to Austin Means Shifts in Hiring Needs
Nicknamed “Silicon Hills,” Austin’s rapid growth during the past decade has primarily been fueled by the burgeoning tech industry. Companies like Apple, Tesla, Amazon, Google, Facebook (now Meta), and Oracle have moved into or broken ground on regional offices there within the last two years alone.
Using Apple as an example, the company has expanded its Austin workforce by a hefty 50 percent within the past six years. In 2019, Apple broke ground on a new $1 billion state-of-the-art campus.
The aggressive expansion of these tech companies, along with employers in other sectors, has created a need for skilled workers throughout the Austin community. Lawyers and other legal professionals are also in high demand as companies seek to fill newly created positions within their in-house legal departments.
Candidates Can Also Take Advantage of Big Tech
According to a recent article from Bloomberg Law, many prestigious law firms are also putting down roots in Austin. Last year alone, large firms including Urquhart & Sullivan, Kirkland & Ellis, Quin Emanuel, and O’Melveny & Myers announced office openings in the city.
According to Kim Hicks, a partner in Kirkland & Ellis’ new Austin office, “It’s a fantastic place for not only recruiting talented lawyers… but it’s also a place where a lot of our clients are moving.”
As the home of the University of Texas at Austin, the city offers more legal work specific to emerging companies and venture capital than comparable US cities. Two companies based in Austin, F45 Training Holdings, Inc., and legal technology company CS Disco, Inc., completed initial public offerings (IPOs) in 2021.
Another draw for Austin that attracts Big Law is geography. Since Texas has several business centers in different cities, many firms find that they also require multiple offices to be effective— for example, one in Dallas or Houston and another in Austin.
The Great Resignation Makes Finding Ideal Talent a Challenge for Businesses
Due mainly to the ongoing COVID pandemic, millions of American workers left traditional jobs in 2021 to work remotely and spend more time with their families. Known as the “Great Resignation,” this phenomenon impacted legal markets across the US, including Austin.
As a result, hiring managers were left scrambling as they sought ways to develop more effective candidate recruiting and placement strategies. Matching candidates to open positions has become more challenging than ever before as workplace considerations like company culture, a healthy work-life balance, diversity, inclusion, and – most importantly – retention rates have risen to the forefront.
Legal headhunters have taken a role at center stage during this time. Several companies are finding that partnering with a recruitment agency gives them instant access to a robust candidate pool, helps them expand the reach of their job opening through better marketing, and helps them tailor open positions to appeal to the broadest range of their ideal candidates.
Booming Population is also Shaping the Legal Employment Market
As was previously pointed out, Austin has experienced unprecedented population growth within the past decade. As the number of new homes and businesses has increased, additional lawyers specializing in practice areas like real estate law, corporate law, intellectual property law, mergers and acquisitions, data privacy, commercial contracts, and related specialties have been needed.
As the city continues to add potential clients, legal professionals with expertise in immigration law, family law, litigation, environmental law, health law, and employment law will be very much in demand.
Companies setting up shop in Austin will continue to seek creative ways to fill open legal positions within their in-house corporate counsel departments, further driving the demand for talented attorney candidates.
As Austin’s flourishing legal market continues to experience exceptional growth, legal recruiters will remain a viable part of the candidate placement process by connecting prestigious employers with qualified applicants.
Relocating to Austin? Momentum Search Partners Can Help
When it’s time to change jobs as a legal professional, a reputable legal recruiter can be invaluable throughout the entire job search process. At Momentum Search Partners, our team of six legal recruiters has 100+ years of legal recruiting experience in Texas and nationwide. With offices strategically located in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, our fingers are constantly on the pulse of the Texas legal market. For more information about our recruiting services, contact us today!