Atlanta’s exciting legal landscape offers a range of opportunities to enhance your career as a lawyer in the U.S. Here’s what awaits in Atlanta should you ever consider the move from the big apple to the big peach!
Learn more about working as a lawyer in Atlanta below, and for more information, reach out directly to Elizabeth Ruocco.
Legal Market Overview:
Atlanta, a city renowned for its enchanting southern allure, dynamic urban landscape, and rich cultural tapestry, is fast becoming a magnet for legal professionals. Nestled within its vibrant core are the headquarters of Fortune 500 giants such as Home Depot, Delta, Coca-Cola, UPS, and Aflac. This corporate abundance translates into a wealth of legal work, providing lawyers with a front-row seat to the complexities of major corporate operations.
Atlanta's legal landscape is diverse, offering legal practitioners a broad spectrum of opportunities. Within its bustling confines, lawyers can discover their niche within prestigious law firms or thriving corporate legal departments. The city's dynamic legal ecosystem caters to an array of specialties and interests, promising a career path that aligns with individual aspirations.
One might wonder if leaving New York would mean compromising on the quality of work. Rest assured, Atlanta offers legal professionals a parallel experience of top-notch legal challenges and cases. The city's legal prowess rivals that of New York, offering lawyers the chance to continue honing their skills at the highest level.
Making the move from other legal hubs to Atlanta is seamless, with no additional qualifications required for lawyers accustomed to practicing in New York. The transition is smooth, eliminating the need for cumbersome re-qualification processes.
Law Firms in Atlanta
Atlanta's largest law firms have been aggressively expanding nationally and globally to remain competitive, creating a healthy legal market. Five Atlanta-based firms are counted in the AmLaw 100 — the highest-grossing law firms.
Here are the top 10 firms in Atlanta and their relevant top practice areas:
King & Spalding LLP - Focus on domestic and cross-border transactions, including finance and restructuring, capital markets, M&A and private equity, investment funds, real estate, construction, energy & infrastructure projects, tax, and global human capital matters, among others.
Alston & Bird - The firm is nationally recognized by their Privacy & Data Security group, representing a full range of clients in identifying their objectives at every step of the information lifecycle regarding the collection, use, and protection of customer data. structured finance.
Jones Day - The firm’s practice spans multiple industries, including aviation, biotechnology, construction, defense, energy, financial services, insurance, life sciences, media, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and much more.
Kilpatrick Townsend - A regular in the top 20 of Vault’s Intellectual Property & IP Litigation ranking, Kilpatrick Stockton is a force in the intellectual property space. The firm has more than 300 intellectual property attorneys among its ranks, who focus on advertising, copyright, patents, trade secrets, and trademarks.
Bondurant Mixson & Elmore - Bondurant handles high-stakes litigation for any manner of issues that arise in the business world.
Troutman Pepper - Troutman Pepper lawyers work across more than 20 practice areas. Among the industries it serves are construction, energy, finance, health sciences, insurance, private equity, real estate, and technology.
Eversheds Sutherland (US) - Eversheds Sutherland is home to many strong practices, such as corporate, energy and infrastructure, financial services, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, and tax law.
Greenberg Traurig, - Although the firm has grown significantly since its early days, there are still traces of Greenberg Traurig’s history in its modern practice, the firm continues to hold sway in the real estate market. The firm is also known for its entertainment & media practice and has ranked among the top 10 firms in Vault’s Media, Entertainment, & Sports ranking.
Paul Hastings - Paul Hastings is a premier global law firm with elite teams in finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and litigation dedicated to serving the world’s leading Wall Street and global investment banks, asset managers, and corporations.
Arnall Golden Gregory - AGG is a full-service law firm servicing big-name clients like American Express, Costco, and Equifax. Multiple specialty areas are the bread and butter of the firm’s practice—including health care, FDA law, private wealth management, real estate, and data privacy.
Lifestyle
Atlanta’s lifestyle offers the perfect opportunity for lawyers wishing to pursue high calibre work, while also prioritising their lifestyle goals such as family and work-life balance.
The city's warm climate encourages outdoor activities, from exploring lush parks like Piedmont Park to enjoying al fresco dining in its numerous trendy neighborhoods.
Atlanta's thriving arts scene includes world-class museums, music venues and theaters, like the historical Fox Theater with its Roaring 20’s art deco styling.
While the city's culinary scene is equally impressive, with a fusion of Southern and international flavors, and its reputation for southern hospitality ensures a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all who call Atlanta home.
Cost Of Living
Despite being the ninth-largest city in the country, Atlanta remains a very affordable city. Atlanta is almost 50% cheaper to rent compared to New York, with the general cost of living being around 70% cheaper. Taxes in Georgia are relatively favorable, being the 11th state with the lowest tax rates – while New York stands at number one with the highest tax rates in the country.
Since the cost of living in Atlanta is not as high as many other cities around the country, the higher wages that are offered create a better quality of life comparatively.
Location & Transport
Atlanta's prime location in the southeastern United States makes it a hub for travel and exploration. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the world's busiest airports, connects the city to destinations worldwide, facilitating easy access for both domestic and international travel.
The city itself boasts a well-developed public transport system, including MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority), which provides buses and rail services to various neighbourhoods and suburbs. Atlanta's highway network, including major interstates like I-75 and I-85, simplifies road travel within the region.
For day and weekend trips, Atlanta offers a multitude of options. Within a short drive, you can explore the scenic North Georgia mountains, visit historic sites like the Civil War battlegrounds, or enjoy outdoor activities in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Weekend getaways to coastal destinations like Savannah, Charleston, and the Gulf Coast are easily achievable due to Atlanta's central location. Additionally, the city's cultural attractions, such as the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, provide numerous opportunities for local exploration.
