Lateral Hiring Slows in Most Markets in 2022, But Not for Partners (NALP Bulletin+, April 2023) — After an unprecedented increase of 111% in 2021, the 2022 lateral hiring market produced mixed results according to the latest analyses. Read the 2023 article or the press release.

2021's Hot Lateral Hiring Market Notches Record Increase From 2020 — Following a 30% decline in 2020 due in large part to hiring pauses in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, lateral hiring rebounded at an unprecedented rate in 2021, according to analyses of NALP’s Survey on 2021 Lateral Hiring. Overall, lateral hiring was up by 111% compared to 2020, the largest year-over-year increase since NALP began tracking these data 23 years ago. Read the 2022 article or the press release.

How Fall Recruiting for Summer Programs Has Changed Over Time and Fluctuated During Times of Uncertainty (NALP Bulletin+, February 2022) — It may be useful for individual law offices to compare trends over time in their own recruiting ratios — that is, how many callback interviews were required to yield one accepted offer for the summer program.

Overall Lateral Hiring Plummets in 2020, Lateral Associate Hiring Saw Greatest Declines (July 7, 2021 Press Release)

Lateral Hiring Plummets in 2020 (NALP Bulletin+, July/August 2021) — After remaining relatively steady in 2019, lateral hiring fell by more than 30% overall in 2020, driven in large part by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on recruiting.

Lateral Hiring Volume Holds Steady in 2019 (NALP Bulletin, April 2020) — In 2019, aggregate lateral hiring was relatively stable, down by just 0.7 percent compared to 2018.

Lateral Hiring Up in 2018, Largely on the Strength of Associate Lateral Hiring (NALP Bulletin, March 2019) — Lateral hiring volume decreased dramatically during the recession in 2008 and 2009, and then experienced a big rebound as the legal economy recovered in 2010 and 2011. Since then changes have fluctuated from a double-digit loss to double-digit growth. In 2018 aggregate lateral hiring was up by over 14%.

Lateral Hiring Little Changed in 2017 (NALP Bulletin, March 2018) — Lateral hiring volume decreased dramatically during the recession in 2008 and 2009, then experienced a big rebound as the legal economy recovered in 2010 and 2011. Since that time, there have been small year-to-year increases and decreases. In 2017 aggregate lateral hiring was up by less than 2%.

Lateral Hiring Down in 2016 (NALP Bulletin, March 2017) — Lateral hiring volume suffered a dramatic decrease during the recession in 2008 and 2009, and then a big rebound as the legal economy recovered in 2010 and 2011. Since then there have been small year-to-year increases and decreases. In 2016, aggregate lateral hiring was down for the first time since 2013.

Lateral Hiring Up Again in 2015 (NALP Bulletin, April 2016) — Aggregate lateral hiring was up for the second year in a row, finishing out 2015 8.5% higher than in 2014.

Law School-Funded Jobs — 2011-2014 — NALP Bulletin, September 2015

Lateral Hiring Up Modestly in 2014 (NALP Bulletin, April 2015) — After two years of declines, down 6% from 2011 to 2012 and down 7% from 2012 to 2013, aggregate lateral hiring nudged up, finishing out the year not quite 5% higher than in 2013. That modest increase notwithstanding, the level of hiring, averaging 14 lateral hires per office/firm, is the highest in a dozen years.

Lateral Hiring Slows Down for the Second Year in a Row (NALP Bulletin, March 2014) — After two years of year-over-year double digit increases, from 2009-2010 and again from 2010-2011, aggregate lateral hiring has now declined for the second time in a row from 2012 to 2013, finishing out the year just over 7% lower than in 2012. This follows a 6% decline from 2011-2012.

Lateral Hiring Slows in Most Markets (NALP Bulletin, March 2013) — After two years of year-over-year double-digit increases, the pace of lateral hiring was tempered in most markets in 2012, finishing out the year about 6% lower nationally than in 2011.

Lateral Hiring Up for Second Year in a Row (NALP Bulletin, March 2012) — Lateral hiring was up by 48% in 2011 compared with 2010, the second year of increase after 2009, a year in which many law firms did no lateral hiring. That was the overall finding of NALP's 2011 "Survey of Legal Employers on Fall Recruiting," which requested information on lateral hiring in 2010 and 2011.

Lateral Hiring on the Rise Again After Two Years of Decline (NALP Bulletin, April 2011) — After 2009, a year in which many law firms did no lateral hiring, lateral hiring rebounded by 38% in 2010. That is the overall finding of NALP's 2010 "Survey of Legal Employers on Fall Recruiting and Associate Deferrals," which requested information on lateral hiring in 2009 and 2010.

Recruiting for Entry-Level Lawyers Edges Up Slightly (March 16, 2011 press release) — Most of the markers that measure the strength of the legal employment market for new lawyers, such as law firm recruiting levels for summer programs and summer program outcomes, rose slightly in 2010, a change in course following the general downward trend in recruiting volumes that was measured in 2008 and 2009. While entry-level recruiting volumes and summer program sizes have not returned to anything like the levels measured before the recession, the information provided by NALP members about summer programs in 2010 and fall 2010 recruiting show a modest rebound in recruiting volumes.

Entry-Level and Lateral Hiring — On the Road to Recovery? (NALP Bulletin, March 2011) — Just how much did the number of entry-level associates starting work in law firms in 2009 decline? New research from NALP suggests that, after holding relatively steady from 2007 to 2008, the volume of entry-level associates starting work in 2009 plunged by an estimated 40%. Meanwhile, the decline in lateral hiring started even earlier, with the volume dropping off by an estimated one-quarter in 2008 compared with 2007, and falling by an estimated 46% from 2008 to 2009.

Lawyer Hiring: The Lead Up to the Slow Down (NALP Bulletin, May 2009) — Lateral hiring was off by more than 25% in 2008 according to the findings of NALP's 2008 "Recruiting Snapshot Survey for Legal Employers" reported in the March 2009 NALP Bulletin. This column takes a look at lateral hiring in the year immediately preceding that decrease and provides additional insights on recent law firm hiring by comparing the level of lateral hiring with entry-level hiring.

Lateral Hiring - Down Just About Everywhere (NALP Bulletin, March 2009) — After five years of growth, lateral hiring was off by more than 25% in 2008. That is the bottom-line finding of NALP's 2008 "Recruiting Snapshot Survey for Legal Employers," which requested information on lateral hiring in 2007 and 2008.

Lateral Hiring Continues to Outpace Entry-level Hiring (NALP Bulletin, May 2008) — According to information reported by offices in the 2007-2008 NALP Directory of Legal Employers, lateral hiring has been strong, outpacing entry-level hiring for the most recent three years for which data are available (2004-2006).

Lateral Hiring Is Up in General — But Not Everywhere, (NALP Bulletin, March 2008) — Lateral hiring levels continue to be strong, with the overall volume increasing for the fifth year in a row.

Lateral Hiring Oupaces Entry-Level Hiring in Recent Years (NALP Bulletin, May 2007) — According to information reported by offices in the 2006-2007 NALP Directory of Legal Employers, lateral hiring has been strong, outpacing entry-level hiring by about 25% in the two most recent years for which data is available.

Lateral Hiring Up Again (NALP Bulletin, March 2007) — Lateral hiring levels continue to be strong, with the overall volume increasing for the fourth year in a row.

Lateral Hiring Continues at a Strong Pace (NALP Bulletin, March 2006) — NALP’s “Snapshot of the Recruiting Season” survey requested information on lateral hiring in 2004 and 2005. The results shown on the opposite page are based on reports from 485 employers who reported at least some lateral hiring in one of the two years. Patterns & Practices: Measures of Law Firm Hiring, Leverage & Billable Hours in 2004

Lateral Hiring Up for the Second Year in a Row (NALP Bulletin, March 2005) — NALP’s "Snapshot of the Recruiting Season" survey requested information on lateral hiring in 2003 and 2004. The results are based on reports from 443 employers who reported at least some lateral hiring in one of the two years.

Entry-Level Hiring at Law Firms Stabilizes — Lateral Hiring Increases (March 25, 2005 Press Release) — The market for entry-level associates at law firms has stabilized somewhat, according to the March 2005 edition of Patterns & Practices: Measures of Law Firm Hiring, Leverage & Billable Hours, an annual publication from NALP. Law firms decreased entry-level hiring by 8.4% from 2002 to 2003, but projected a decrease of just 1% from 2003 to 2004.

Patterns & Practices Tracks Entry-Level, Lateral Hiring Trends (NALP Bulletin, April 2004) — Highlights of the findings from Patterns & Practices for 2003.

Entry-Level Hiring at Law Firms Declines — Lateral Hiring Also Off (March 12, 2004 Press Release) — The market for entry-level associates at law firms has declined, according to the March 2004 edition of Patterns & Practices: Measures of Law Firm Hiring, Leverage & Billable Hours, an annual publication from NALP. Law firms decreased entry-level hiring by 6.8% from 2001 to 2002 and projected a decrease of 8% from 2002 to 2003.

Lateral Hiring: Recovery after Two Years of Decline (NALP Bulletin, March 2004) — Overall, based on aggregate hiring of 3,568 lateral attorneys in 2003, the volume of hiring increased about 18%, with a median figure of five lateral hires in 2003. The average number hired was nine.

A Sampling of Findings from Patterns & Practices: Measures of Law Firm Hiring, Leverage and Billable Hours in 2002 (NALP Bulletin, May 2003) — Compared with an aggregate increase of 6.4% in second-year hiring between 2000 and 2001, these same firms reported plans to hire 13% fewer 2Ls in 2002 compared with 2001. But the decrease was expected to be far greater at the largest firms of 501 or more attorneys (-16.8%) and in the West (-20.6%).

Entry-Level Hiring at Law Firms Stabilizes — Lateral Hiring Drops but Continues to Match Entry-Level Hiring (March 12, 2003 Press Release) — The market for entry-level associates at law firms has stabilized, according to the March 2003 edition of Patterns & Practices: Measures of Law Firm Hiring, Leverage & Billable Hours (a Review of Patterns & Practices in 2002), an annual publication from NALP. Law firms increased entry-level hiring by 3.7% from 2000-2001 and projected a decrease of 2.2% from 2001 to 2002.

Lateral Hiring: 2001 and 2002 — A Second Year of Decline (NALP Bulletin, March 2003) — Overall, based on aggregate hiring of 2,821 lateral attorneys in 2002, the volume of hiring decreased by 17%, with a median figure of four lateral hires in 2002. The average number hired was seven. Firms of 251-500 attorneys reported the largest decrease in aggregate hiring, about 24%.

Entry-Level Hiring Continues to Increase in Law Firms — Lateral Hiring Surges, Continues to Outpace Entry-Level (April 5, 2002 Press Release) — The market for entry-level associates at law firms continues to grow, according to the 2001 edition of Patterns & Practices: Measures of Law Firm Hiring, Leverage & Billable Hours, an annual publication from NALP. Law firms increased entry-level hiring by 5% from 1999-2000 and projected an increase of about twice that, almost 11%, from 2000 to 2001.

Lateral Hiring — 2000 and 2001 (NALP Bulletin, March 2002) — Overall, based on aggregate hiring of 6,224 lateral attorneys in 2001, this survey indicated that the volume of hiring decreased by almost one-quarter, with a median figure of six lateral hires in 2001. The average number hired was ten.