| SUMMARY |
Practicing law in Boston is a great career choice for many lawyers. With a vibrant legal community, top-tier law schools, and an economy that is consistently growing, the city is a thriving hub for legal professionals. The city offers a wide range of opportunities for practitioners at all levels of experience, from recent law school graduates to seasoned attorneys.
Boston is home to some of the nation's leading law schools, such as Harvard Law School, Boston College Law School, and Northeastern University School of Law. With a diverse student body, these schools attract lawyers from all over the world who are looking to launch their legal career in Boston. For recent graduates, the city is a great place to start as it provides numerous opportunities to gain experience and learn the ropes.
Boston is also home to a variety of large and small-scale law firms. Many of these firms specialize in different areas of the law and offer positions for lawyers at all levels of experience. From corporate law and litigation to contract, family law, and criminal defense, law firms in the city provide attorneys with a broad range of opportunities to develop their skills and specialize in the practice of law.
In addition to the top-tier law schools and firms located in Boston, the city is also home to a variety of legal associations and organizations. These organizations provide lawyers with the opportunity to network and build relationships with other legal professionals in the city. Members can also gain access to resources such as continuing legal education programs, job postings, and professional development events.
| QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THIS ARTICLE |
The Legal Scene in Boston
Boston is the jewel in the crown of Massachusetts, known for its historical significance in the U.S. Founding Fathers and culture. Practicing law in Boston offers lawyers a great opportunity to gain experience in one of the oldest and most established legal markets in the United States of America. Home to over 150 years of legal history, Boston is a key center for legal services and a major player in the global legal industry.Leading Law Firms in Boston
Boston is home to several leading national and international law firms that specialize in a wide range of practice areas. The city has no shortage of legal resources, including prestigious law schools such as Harvard Law School and Boston College Law School, as well as corporate law firms, public defenders, alternative dispute resolution firms and more. Lawyers in Boston have access to experts in every legal field and a wide range of legal services.Unrivaled Legal Opportunities in Boston
Due to its large legal market, attorneys in Boston can benefit from unrivaled professional development opportunities, from working in leading legal firms and institutions to gaining experience in specialized legal practice areas. With an excellent reputation for quality legal services and an unbeatable network of professionals, Boston is a great place for attorneys to practice law and continue their legal careers.Boston Bar Association
The Boston Bar Association (BBA) is the professional organization for legal professionals in the Greater Boston area. Founded in 1910, the BBA provides attorneys with access to a wealth of legal information, education, professional development opportunities, and networking events to help them stay competitive in the legal market. The BBA also works to promote diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, including through its Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.Pro Bono Opportunities in Boston
Lawyers in Boston also have access to a number of pro bono opportunities to help those in need of legal services. From opportunities to serve on boards and committees, to providing legal assistance to those in need, pro bono work in Boston can provide lawyers with invaluable experience and serve as a great way to give back to their communities. The BBA, as well as other local organizations, provide numerous opportunities for attorneys to get involved in pro bono projects.When the Democrats recently picked Boston to host their 2004 national convention, the reaction in Kennedy country was mixed. Old-timers here can be frostier than the nor'easters that slam the city each winter, and the prospect of busloads of delegates clogging a street system just recovering from the $14 billion Big Dig road construction project had some crying, "Not in my backyahd." But more forward-looking locals viewed the news more happily. Finally, a chance to dispel the notion that Beantown is about nothing more than the Red Sox, church scandals, and green beer. That's modern Boston — a mix of crusty New England charm and progressive 21st-century thinking. Believe it or not, not everyone in the Hub has an ancestor who rode over on the Mayflower. As many as one third of the city's residents are newly arrived in the past five years; many come to study at one of the area's 68 institutions of higher learning (including eight law schools). The city's law firms boast a mix of corporate, life sciences, IP, and litigation practices that reflect its thriving defense, biotech, insurance, and personal finance sectors, and those businesses generate a healthy demand for in-house attorneys as well. During off-hours, a lawyer can follow the path of Paul Revere's midnight ride — or go raving. The choice is yahs.
Among the city's powerhouse firms, ROPES & GRAY boasts the largest roster of attorneys-470-and arguably the most prestigious reputation. White-shoe rival HALE AND DORR gets raves from associates in satisfaction surveys. TESTA, HURWITZ & THIBEAULT offers first years the highest paycheck in town-$135K. Intellectual property boutique FISH & RICHARDSON offers some of the city's most cutting-edge biotech work. MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM REILLY, known for his scrapes with Microsoft, HMOs, and the Catholic Church, runs a coveted two-year fellowship program. Want to contribute to the war on terror? Look for an in-house job at defense giant RAYTHEON in nearby Lexington.
HOT HOODS
Before the late-'90s boom, SOUTH BOSTON was still "Southie," and outsiders visited the scruffy Good Will Hunting setting only when settling debts with the Irish mob. Today, young professionals are snatching up $500,000 converted lofts. Closer to downtown (and several steps ahead in the gentrification process) sits SOUTH END, where blocks of classic brownstones bisect streets lined with funky restaurants and eclectic shops. THE LEATHER DISTRICT, known for art galleries and lofts, pulls off a decent SoHo impersonation. BACK BAY is Ally McBeal country. BEACON HILL is where your firm's managing partner lives.
HOT TICKETS
Hub sports fans have started to warm to the FleetCenter, the clean, well-lighted, and amenity-packed home of the resurgent CELTICS and BRUINS. Star conductor James Levine is a god to devotees of the BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. When the BSO isn't performing at SYMPHONY HALL, a comic like George Carlin might be. Indie bands like the Vines and Interpol play at THE ORPHEUM, THE PARADISE CLUB, and THE MIDDLE EAST. The best dose of history? Standing on BUNKER HILL and thinking about the men who fought to found this country still makes your spine tingle.
HOT BARS
Located within stumbling distance of many downtown law offices, AQUA BAR & GRILL and THE KINSALE, a pub imported piece-by-piece from Ireland, draw throngs for after-work cocktails and pints of Guinness. Belching's not your thing? NOIR, the sultry new hangout tucked under Cambridge's Charles Hotel, serves up strawberry-basil martinis and the occasional celebrity sighting.
HOT RESTAURANTS
Local foodies can't stop talking about the sussed-up Italian fare (think fluke with white truffles) at VIA MATTA, a bustling trattoria perfect for dazzling clients. Imaginative dishes like saffron-scented coconut soup with poached oysters, plus a 30-foot-high hookah den, have made hip French-Indian-fusion eatery MANTRA another of the toughest reservations in town. RADIUS is among the most expensive restaurants in the city, but the impeccable French fare-steak tartare with quail egg, gaufrette, and mâche-is well worth the ticket. If it's high-end seafood you want, head to KINGFISH HALL, the latest outpost in celebrity chef Todd English's growing empire. Gotta have chowder? Longtime favorite LEGAL SEA FOODS is still the name to beat.
