Are you a legal professional in the Buffalo, New York region? The Legal Recruiter Directory is your resource for Buffalo-based legal headhunters, that liaise between candidates for jobs in the legal industry and professionals in firms and corporations looking to hire those individuals.
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Located near the Niagara River on the eastern shore of Lake Erie, Buffalo is famous for its thriving, progressive music and arts scene. Nicknamed the “City of Light”, Buffalo anchors a metropolitan area in Upstate New York encompassing over 1.3 million people. For prospecting attorneys Buffalo’s low cost of living, extensive park system and amazing architecture make it an inviting spot.
There are 5500+ lawyers in Buffalo and most practice at its nearly 600 law firms, 100s of corporations and numerous government agencies. Those attorneys earn an average base pay of $87,739 and enjoy career-enrichment opportunities through these professional organizations:
- New York State Bar Association
- Bar Association of Erie County
- University of Buffalo School of Law
- Many other state and local bar associations
Requirements to Practice Law
Any graduate from an ABA-accredited law school may take the New York Bar Exam. Other ways to sit for the Bar Exam and become a member of the New York Bar include:
- Having earned 28 credit hours from an ABA-accredited law school combined with a clerkship or study for at least 4 years in a law office
- Graduating from a non-ABA-approved U.S. law school with a J.D. and then practicing for 5 out of the past 7 years in another jurisdiction
- Completing a foreign law study program equivalent to an ABA-approved program in the U.S.
Qualified applicants must also pass the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) and the New York Law Exam, which costs $250 for U.S. law school graduates or $750 for those graduating from a foreign law school. All lawyers admitted to the Bar must also be formally sworn in. To maintain a law license in New York, new attorneys must complete 32 CLE hours within the first 2 years- including courses in specified practice areas. During each subsequent 2-year period, another 24 hours of CLE is required. For more information visit: www.lawyeredu.org.
Why Buffalo?
Downtown Buffalo is a unique blend of newer high-rise office buildings and old-world architecture. The city is known for its annual festivals, proximity to Niagara Falls and two professional sports franchises. Although M&T Bank is the only Fortune 500 company based in the area, Buffalo’s economy is bolstered by major employers like Kaleida Health, Wegman’s Food Markets, Inc., GEICO and Catholic Health.
The area’s cost of living runs well below the national average thanks to housing and health care, although utility and transportation costs run slightly higher than comparable US cities. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) provides bus and light rail services for area commuters, while air travelers have their choice of two international airports. Many attorneys commute from better neighborhoods like South Abbott, North Park, Starin Central, Albright and Delaware-West Ferry to the downtown’s legal district located east of I-90 near Niagara Square.
In addition to its extensive park system and two pro sports teams, major attractions in Buffalo include Canalside, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, Buffalo City Hall, Pierce-Arrow Museum and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. For those who enjoy outdoor winter activities, Buffalo’s climate is ideal as it produces generous amounts of snow every year. July is the warmest month, with average highs near 80 degrees F, and January the coldest month, with average lows of around 17 degrees F.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The candidate pool in Buffalo is highly skilled, with many legal professionals holding degrees from prestigious institutions such as the University at Buffalo School of Law, which is the only law school in the SUNY system. Buffalo’s legal community also benefits from an influx of young talent, as the city has become more attractive to new graduates due to its affordable cost of living and growing job market.
The legal talent in Buffalo is diverse, with professionals experienced in a wide range of practice areas including healthcare law, corporate law, and intellectual property. Additionally, the city’s proximity to Canada brings in candidates with cross-border legal expertise, adding a unique dimension to the talent pool. This diverse and well-educated candidate base makes Buffalo a competitive market for legal professionals.
Several legal positions are in high demand in Buffalo, reflecting the city’s evolving economic landscape and key industries. Healthcare law positions are particularly sought after due to the region’s large healthcare sector, led by major providers like Kaleida Health and Catholic Health. Corporate and business law positions are also in demand, driven by Buffalo’s growing business community and the presence of a Fortune 500 company, M&T Bank.
Additionally, intellectual property law has seen a rise in demand, fueled by Buffalo’s emerging tech hub and its thriving startup ecosystem. Environmental law is another area of increasing demand, especially with the region’s focus on sustainable development and recent federal funding initiatives aimed at environmental protection and restoration. These positions reflect the diverse legal needs of Buffalo’s key industries and its broader economic growth.
Several key industries are shaping the legal market in Buffalo, with healthcare, technology, and financial services leading the way. The healthcare industry is a major driver, with Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and institutions like Kaleida Health creating significant demand for legal expertise in healthcare law, regulatory compliance, and medical malpractice. The technology sector is also on the rise, with Buffalo experiencing a 21% job growth in tech over the past decade. This growth has increased the demand for legal services in intellectual property, data privacy, and cybersecurity.
Additionally, the financial services sector, anchored by M&T Bank, continues to influence the legal market, particularly in corporate law, banking regulation, and mergers and acquisitions. Environmental law is another growing area, supported by the region’s emphasis on sustainable development and recent federal funding for environmental protection projects along Lake Erie. These industries collectively drive the demand for specialized legal services in Buffalo.
Current trends in Buffalo are significantly reshaping the legal field, particularly through the city’s economic revitalization, tech industry growth, and increased focus on sustainability. The rise of the tech sector, marked by a 21% job growth over the past decade, is driving demand for legal expertise in intellectual property, data privacy, and cybersecurity. Additionally, the focus on environmental sustainability, supported by federal funding for projects like those along Lake Erie, is creating new opportunities in environmental law.
Buffalo’s evolving business landscape, which includes a resurgence in startups and small businesses, also increases the demand for corporate law services, especially in mergers and acquisitions, regulatory compliance, and cross-border transactions with Canada. These trends are diversifying the legal market in Buffalo and offering new challenges and opportunities for legal professionals.
Remote work has become increasingly prevalent in Buffalo, particularly in the legal sector, where many firms have adopted hybrid models in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift has allowed firms to attract talent from a broader geographic area, including out-of-state professionals who can work remotely.
Compensation in Buffalo has also seen adjustments to remain competitive, with firms offering salaries that are more aligned with national averages, particularly in high-demand areas like corporate law, healthcare law, and intellectual property. The combination of remote work flexibility and competitive compensation is helping Buffalo law firms attract and retain top talent, while also adapting to the changing expectations of the workforce.
Diversity and inclusion in Buffalo’s legal sector are gradually improving, reflecting the broader efforts within the city to create a more inclusive environment. Law firms and legal organizations in Buffalo are increasingly recognizing the importance of diversity and have implemented targeted recruitment and retention strategies to attract talent from underrepresented groups. Organizations such as the Minority Bar Association of Western New York and the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York’s Western New York Chapter play key roles in advocating for diversity and providing support networks for minority and women attorneys.
However, challenges remain, particularly in achieving significant diversity in leadership positions. Ongoing initiatives focused on mentorship, community outreach, and diversity training are helping to foster a more inclusive legal community, but there is still work to be done to ensure that the legal sector in Buffalo fully reflects the diversity of the broader population.
