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Want to move to Miami-Dade County? So do a lot of other people. Miami-Dade's population increased by 87,388 people between 2000 and 2003, bringing the total county population to more than 2.3 million, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Miami-Dade is the eighth-largest county in the nation, and the increase in its number of new residents ranked thirteenth among all counties in the nation.
Miami is a large city with busy dockets, many big businesses, and a fast-paced professional life. Up-and-coming fields in Miami include entertainment, environmental, and import-export law. And if you are interested in securities law, real estate, or litigation, there are always plenty of viable opportunities here. Immigration law is also a very busy practice area, and international banking and tax work have skyrocketed recently. Litigation is the best bet for those seeking new opportunities, but transactional opportunities do exist.
Miami does not have the mega-firms seen in many large cities, with most Miami-based firms staying at medium to small sizes. Even the largest firms, such as Greenberg Traurig, only hire 10 summer associates every year. With fewer entry-level positions at firms in Miami than in most cities and four law schools, competition is tough for all lawyers in this town.
Miami is not what you might think of when you think of a Southern city, in which everyone knows each other and the legal profession is steeped in civility. Many of the attorneys we spoke with likened the pace of legal life here to the faster feel of Los Angeles, New York, or San Francisco.
Still, while the pace may be more like New York than Savannah, most of all, Miami is a highly diverse international city, often called "The Gateway to Latin America," where many international businesses make a home base. Keep in mind that Miami-Dade County holds several municipalities all packed into southeast Florida, including Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, and Fort Lauderdale.
By all accounts, the cost of living is going up in Miami, but business is booming as well. You'll see more competition for that legal job than you might in other places, but you also might see a higher salary than in smaller markets. You'll need it if you want to buy a house, as housing prices are increasing.
Miami also holds more nations than you can imagine if you live elsewhere in the country. Far more people in Miami speak only Spanish than only English. It is not uncommon to hear people speaking Creole, French, or German. Tourism, international banking, and a very strong connection to Latin America make this city highly diverse. |
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