Recruiting is happening earlier, more rapidly, and increasingly outside traditional channels, according to NALP's annual Perspectives on 2025 Law Student Recruiting report. The data underscore the continued shift toward employer sponsored recruiting methods, including direct application alongside accelerated timelines. During the 2025 recruiting cycle for 2026 2L summer … [Read more...] about Law Student Recruiting Is Racing Ahead—and Employers Are Setting the Pace
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Building Tech-Savvy Teams: Lessons from Firms Letting Juniors Spend 20% of Their Time on AI
A growing number of law firms are experimenting with a new approach to technology adoption: allowing junior lawyers to spend up to 20% of their time exploring, testing, and learning AI tools. Instead of treating AI as something to “roll out” from the top down, these firms are building internal expertise organically — and fast. For law office managers, this trend offers an … [Read more...] about Building Tech-Savvy Teams: Lessons from Firms Letting Juniors Spend 20% of Their Time on AI
How You Can Support Associates’ Professional Development
The law office administrator can have a significant impact on the professional development of your associates. By fostering a culture that encourages continuous learning, providing mentorship opportunities, and promoting growth, you can help build a stronger, more capable team. Here’s how you can play a pivotal role in supporting your associates’ professional development. 1. … [Read more...] about How You Can Support Associates’ Professional Development
Law Graduates of Color, First-Gen Students Lag in Jobs, Salaries Despite Strong Market
Racial and socioeconomic disparities persist in law graduate employment, according to new data released by the National Association for Law Placement (NALP). The organization’s Jobs & JDs: Employment and Salaries of New Law Graduates — Class of 2024 report found that while the latest class entered a historically strong job market, graduates of color and first-generation … [Read more...] about Law Graduates of Color, First-Gen Students Lag in Jobs, Salaries Despite Strong Market
Law Firm Lateral Hiring Expands in 2024, Fueled by Associate Recruitment
Recuitment of associates drove an expansion in lateral hiring for law firms last year. Following a two-year market downturn, lateral hiring bounced back in 2024, with hiring growing nearly 14% overall and lateral associate hiring rising by almost 25%, according 2024 Lateral Hiring Survey just released by NALP. Partner lateral hiring increased by a modest 2%, while the hiring of … [Read more...] about Law Firm Lateral Hiring Expands in 2024, Fueled by Associate Recruitment
Women now majority of associates, record gains in partnerships
For the first time in the history of the US legal industry, the majority of associates are women, and women have also made record gains in achieving law firm partnerships. NALP has released its annual Report on Diversity in U.S. Law Firms, available at www.nalp.org/reportondiversity. The report, based on information from the 2023 NALP Directory of Legal Employers (NDLE), … [Read more...] about Women now majority of associates, record gains in partnerships
Law firms can’t just keep throwing money at growing talent war: 2022 report on the state of the legal market
Having regained their footing after navigating the depths of the pandemic, law firms are facing a growing talent war that threatens to upend the legal industry’s newfound momentum. But the 2022 Report on the State of the Legal Market, issued in January by the Center on Ethics and the Legal Profession at Georgetown Law and Thomson Reuters Institute, warns: “The traditional law … [Read more...] about Law firms can’t just keep throwing money at growing talent war: 2022 report on the state of the legal market
Effective mentoring helps minimize staff turnover woes
A well-designed and well-managed mentoring program can have a major positive impact upon the career development and retention of associates in law firms big and small, says Bianca Moreiras, a law firm consultant, coach and speaker, and CEO of Bianca Moreiras and Associates. "Over 45 percent of new associates leave their firms by their third year and the top 400 law firms lose … [Read more...] about Effective mentoring helps minimize staff turnover woes
10 traits to look for in your firm’s next partner
By Bianca Moreiras bio Think you've found the perfect candidate for your firm's next partner? Before you make the offer, make sure the candidate has these 10 traits. 1. Honesty We would hope that all attorneys are honest; however, even stretching the truth when keeping timesheets is an act of dishonesty. Missing deadlines and making excuses perhaps is an oversight … [Read more...] about 10 traits to look for in your firm’s next partner
Firms spend average of $12,000 to recruit and train each entry-level lawyer
Newly minted associates may see employers extend more job offers, research indicates. Nearly one-quarter (22 percent) of lawyers recently interviewed by Robert Half Legal said their law firm plans to increase its hiring of first-year associates in the next 12 months, while 67 percent indicated no change in hiring activity and 7 percent plan a decrease. Not only are law firms … [Read more...] about Firms spend average of $12,000 to recruit and train each entry-level lawyer