Legal Recruiter

Lateral Link Director, Nick Pappas, shares invaluable dos and don’ts from his dual experience as a lateral associate and a legal recruiter, offering key insights into making effective career moves.

Discover how engaging with a legal recruiter, even when you're not actively job hunting, can offer unparalleled insights, guidance, and opportunities to advance your legal career.

Amidst the return-to-office momentum, Biglaw firms are navigating divergent preferences among attorneys, giving rise to hybrid work strategies that strive to balance productivity, culture, and the newfound demand for flexibility.

Unravel the far-reaching implications of the dramatic increase in first-year associate salaries in the legal industry in 2023, including effects on talent acquisition, financial pressures on smaller firms, and potential impacts on client billing rates.

Discover essential tips for law students and associates, empowering you to take control of your legal career and maximize your potential in the competitive world of law practice.

As law firms confront an influx of major antitrust matters, some of which will arise on short notice, flexible staffing is playing an important role in serving clients efficiently and effectively.

Certain practices and industry sectors have featured continued demand for mid- through senior-level associates, counsel, and partner-level attorneys.

Although secondary market expansion may have been the defining story of 2022, we expect this trend to continue in 2023. The window remains open to partners making a lateral move to a secondary city.

As a former Biglaw attorney, I can tell you, this thought most certainly crossed my mind.  But as a legal recruiter, I have a whole new appreciation for what I call “minding the gap.”

Fortunately, Biglaw and in-house are not the only options. Attorneys who are tired of Biglaw life should also consider a different alternative: boutique and midsize law firms.

As the saying goes, 'time kills all deals,' and this rings especially true in the world of legal hiring.

Might a new firm offer a better package?

So many candidates have the misconception that it’s best to wait until January. Allow me to address some of the main objections I hear to starting a fall lateral search.

Instead of viewing your performance review as something to be endured, take control of the process to the extent possible.

Making the conservative assumption that conditions will get worse before they get better, now is the time to assess your situation and take steps to position yourself to survive a downturn.

Undoubtedly there is still much room for improvement, but the good news is that we increasingly have reason to celebrate!

If your LinkedIn profile doesn’t clearly communicate your skills and specific experience, recruiters are left to guess.

Success in business development is a cumulative process, built through years of strategic investment of your time and energy.

In-house roles can be a good fit for many lawyers, but the way law firm associates idolize in-house counsel positions often indicates an incomplete understanding of the realities of these jobs.

Analysis of lateral hires in 2022 indicates continued strength, not just in the largest cities like New York and Chicago but also in many smaller markets. Taken together, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Detroit offer a useful case study.