Land Use Attorney Career Overview

Duties and Responsibilities of a Land Use Attorney

Increasing urban sprawl and dwindling wilderness environments have resulted in many legal battles over land use. A land use attorney may fight for the rights of the environment against encroaching construction or for the rights of land developers. Land use attorneys may also act as legal counsel for conflicts that arise from zoning and other land use disputes. Most land use attorneys will spend the majority of their time preparing for trials and negotiating with their clients and their opponents. The majority of cases will end in a settlement, but land use attorneys will also try cases in open court, in front of judge and jury. The following job postings from Monster.com show other common job duties and responsibilities:

• 'Draft and negotiate land development agreements for residential, commercial and mixed-use projects. Ensure land use compliance with the CEQA, NEPA and other federal agencies. Work to help clients understand the challenges faced in receiving regulatory approval concerning land use compliance. Litigate cases related to conflicts over land use for both public agencies and private entities.' -CyberCoders
• 'Provide legal advice and guidance to clients with regards to municipal and land use planning law. This is a contract position; flexible hours and scheduling options are available. Some litigation may be required, but this position consists primarily of consultations with clients, including drafting contracts and providing interpretations of legal statutes.' -Town of Topsail Beach

Job Requirements

All lawyers must be a member of their state's Bar Association. In order to join the bar, a lawyer must complete an undergraduate degree, earn a Juris Doctorate (JD) from an accredited law school and pass a qualifying examination known as the Bar exam. In addition, land use attorneys must understand the legal issues and regulations surrounding land use and property zoning. An understanding of environmental law and endangered species can also be useful as many land use disputes are environmentally based. All lawyers must have excellent communication skills in order to present a convincing argument in court and to form strong relationships with their clients. Excellent writing skills are also needed in order to draft legal motions and briefs. The following Monster.com job postings show other common job requirements for careers in land use law:

• 'Ideal candidate will have at least five years of experience in land use litigation. Experience reviewing and preparing compliance records, environmental impact reports and related documents is encouraged. An understanding of zoning laws, water usage legislation and zoning issues is a plus. All candidates must have strong academic records from accredited and reputable law schools and must be in good standing with their state Bar Associations.' -Adams & Martin
• 'A minimum of three years experience in land use law, including zoning, entitlements, endangered species and environmental impact is required. Academic writing experience, particularly in the form of law review or law journal, is preferred. All candidates must be current members of the state Bar Association or be in the process of preparing to take their Bar Examinations within 6 months of hire. Additional experience in real estate is preferred.' -Macartney Mitchell & Campbell

Economic Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, expects overall employment of lawyers to grow by over ten percent by the year 2016. Competition for most positions will be fierce, because if the current trend continues, there will be more qualified law school graduates than openings in the industry. An exemplary educational record from a reputable law school can help in securing a desirable position. In addition to careers in law, land use attorneys may pursue careers in real estate, finance, public policy, academia and other related fields. These industries place a premium on the communication and logical thinking skills possessed by legal professionals as well as knowledge more specific to the legal issues surrounding land use. In 2006, the median salary for a lawyer was around $100,000 a year. Lawyers who work for non-profit organizations or in public service generally earn lower salaries while private practice land use attorneys will have higher earning potential.