Small firm hiring is flat

A recent NALP survey suggests that associates in large firms feel free to make lateral moves from one law firm to another … and that  such movement in small firms is neglible.

“… NALP survey indicates that office size is a factor in whether experienced attorneys are welcomed. While lateral hiring at smaller firms was flat in 2005, the megafirms of 500 lawyers or more reported an almost 25 percent increase in lateral hires, with an aggregate increase of half that in firms of 251 to 500 lawyers.”

While there are many experienced lawyers changing jobs, and merger activity is still prominent in the news, more than 70% of lawyers are in small firms. That suggests that there is little movement in the small firm environment and that there are relatively few experienced lawyers changing firms.

This information does not reflect how many lawyers leave their current environment to start their own new firm.

Categorized in: Management