Hot job: Law profession is growing rapidly in Indiana
Practice makes perfect. According to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, law is one of the fastest-growing professions in the state, landing lawyers on the Hoosier Hot 50 Jobs list with an average salary of $86,730.
Keenan Fennimore is a litigation associate for Cruser, Mitchell & Gaston, LLC, a firm that primarily represents trucking companies in tort litigation arising from motor vehicle accidents.
“The legal field can be broken down into civil and criminal law,” he said. “Civil law can be transaction- or litigation-based, and litigation can be public or private. In private practice, an attorney can become a solo practitioner or join a firm.
“Law firms vary widely in the services they provide, and each sub-category can be further divided. And that’s not to mention the corporate, judicial, legislative and academic paths.”
In Indiana, lawyers must gain admittance to the Indiana Bar Association in order to practice, which requires graduation from an accredited law school and passing the Indiana Bar Examination.
“Generally, the job progression of a litigation associate is tied to proficiency at various stages in the litigation process,” Fennimore said. “As an attorney gains experience and develops skill, he or she becomes more valuable to the firm and is able to make more money.”
Question: What does your job entail on a daily basis?
Answer: “My job entails a significant amount of research and writing. I’m not in the courtroom trying cases yet, but I do a lot of preparation for attorneys in my firm who are. At any given time, I tend to be working on 10 to 15 cases. During early stages, I’m responsible for preparing and responding to written requests for information and documents from the plaintiff and other non-parties. I review this information and identify evidence that helps or hurts our case. As the case progresses, my responsibilities shift to building legal arguments for the admission or exclusion of that evidence, and then drafting and responding to motions to the court making those arguments. The process is repetitive, but the unique facts of each case keep things interesting.”
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: “I enjoy putting the puzzle together. My strength is taking facts that have been developed and forging them into a favorable argument, especially when that argument is written. Making a complex argument in a simplified, appealing manner is particularly gratifying.”
Q: What do you enjoy least about your job?
A: “Settling a lawsuit can be intellectually unsatisfying, especially when you’ve spent weeks or months developing your client’s defense and believe in the strength of your case. But the reality is, attorneys are advocates for their clients’ interests, and those interests are often financial. Taking a case to trial can be expensive, regardless of which party wins. It’s important to understand that the work you put into a case drives it to settlement.”
Q: What kind of job security do you typically enjoy in your line of work?
A: “Job security is dependent on having a stable client base. There certainly isn’t a shortage of lawsuits in Central Indiana, and if you take a lap around I-465, you can see that the trucking industry is alive and well. My firm is fortunate to have developed some great relationships with a number of trucking companies that do business in Indiana. Those clients provide a sense of security, but we can’t take that for granted. Just like any business relationship, we have to deliver results.”
Q: What skills and characteristics are needed to be successful as a lawyer?
A: “Reliability is the most important trait. Clients count on you to represent their legal interests, and you absolutely cannot drop that ball. Organization is also big, if only to survive times when things seem totally chaotic. Beyond that, the skills needed to be a successful attorney vary. Some excel at analysis, some at writing, some at negotiation. Others are well-rounded, demonstrating a variety of skills. There’s no specific mold.”
Q: What are your thoughts on employment outlook for lawyers?
A: “The job market is tough but getting better. Employment outlook depends largely on the flexibility of the attorney. There always seems to be a market for patent attorneys, especially in Indianapolis, and the practice of health care law has seen steady growth over the last five years.”
More about Keenan Fennimore
Age: 33.
Title: Litigation associate.
Education/training: Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University; law degree from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis.
Family: Wife, Carolyn; sons, Charlie and Thomas.
More about Lawyers*
Average salary: $86,730.
Education/training: Doctoral or professional degree.
Major industry: Law, public safety, corrections and security.
Related occupations: Judge, magistrate judge, arbitrator, mediator and conciliator, paralegal, law teacher.
2012 employment: 7,683.
2022 projection: 8,812.
Growth: 14.69 percent.
*Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Hoosier Hot 50 Jobs