Law firms are opening new Texas offices and racing to hire lawyers. These are the 6 hottest practice areas in the Lone Star State, according to recruiters.

Texas’ legal market is growing rapidly.

Top corporate law firms like Kirkland & Ellis, Shearman & Sterling, and White & Case have recently opened offices in the state and are bolstering their ranks with key hires.

The firms have also been hiring the many junior lawyers who moved to Texas during the pandemic in search of a lower cost of living and a higher quality of life, recruiters told Insider.

“You can get some experience working in big law firms on the East and West Coast, then go to Texas, get paid the same salary, and get a 4,000-square-foot house,” said Wendy Boone, a principal recruiter at Lateral Link.

Despite the influx of young lawyers, firms are struggling to fill vacancies. Large firms in Houston and Dallas are eyeing the same pool of lawyers, offering sign-on bonuses that range from $20,000 to six figures to attract talent, Boone said.

“It’s a candidate’s market,” said Christine Ruffner, a recruiter at Parker + Lynch.

Here are the six practice areas driving demand for legal talent in Texas.