As the United States becomes increasingly diverse, being fluent in a language other than English poses benefits to attorneys, who will increasingly serve non-English-speaking individuals, and we are not just talking about immigration law.
According to the most recent census, 15%, or 45.5 million, of the US population is Hispanic. Growth among Hispanics was responsible for half of the US population gains between 2000 and 2007.
A majority of the increase in the last 10 years came not from immigration but from births — children who will for the most part be educated in the United States and grow up speaking English. However, as the Hispanic population increases throughout this century, there will also be more Spanish-speaking immigrants who will require, or prefer, the services of attorneys who speak their first language.
Language fluency is usually listed at the end of a resume; consider it the frosting on a cake. It is also appropriate to include it near the end of your cover letter. Language skills can be the only thing that is setting you apart from the competition.
As the United States becomes increasingly diverse, being fluent in a language other than English poses benefits to attorneys, who will increasingly serve non-English-speaking individuals, and we are not just talking about immigration law.
Hispanics are expected to buttress the economy as well as the Social Security system in coming years, according to the Wall Street Journal, which means there will be legal opportunities for Spanish-speaking attorneys in real estate, commercial law, estate planning, and tax, as well as social areas, such as personal injury, education, and landlord-tenant law.
"If you are pro-economic growth, you must be pro-immigration and pro-Hispanic, because we don't have the workers," says Donald Terry, a senior official at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
If you are considering a career shift or a relocation and you have Spanish language skills, consider legal opportunities in areas where the Hispanic immigrant population is growing, and you will be ahead of the curve.
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