Thinking of making a lateral move or building out your legal team? Now’s the time to get strategic.

Lateral hiring in the legal sector is back after two years of inactivity, and it’s smarter and more intentional than ever. For attorneys exploring new opportunities and firms aiming to stay competitive, understanding where the legal hiring market is heading in 2025 is crucial.

After two quieter years, lateral hiring has made a strong comeback, and law firms aren’t just plugging gaps anymore, they’re building success for the future. For associates, this means more meaningful opportunities at firms that are proactively shaping their teams to meet evolving demands.

According to the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), lateral associate hiring rose by 25% in 2024, with the largest firms (1,000+ attorneys) leading the way at 41.4% growth. In contrast, firms with 250 or fewer lawyers saw a decline, highlighting a growing gap in recruitment power between large and smaller firms. When looking at partner hiring, it is recovering too. After a 10% dip in 2023, 2024 brought a 2.3% increase which is small but significant, given the long-term stakes of partner transitions. Firms today are prioritizing alignment over volume, looking for lawyers whose clients and values match their long-term strategy.

The NALP also highlights geographical data of lateral moves that tells its own story. Some examples of this are Denver, which saw a hiring jump of over 38%, and Boston that experienced a 22.6% decline. These shifts aren’t random, they actually reflect how client demand, firm focus, and emerging practice areas like data privacy and fintech are reshaping regional legal markets.

What does this mean for lawyers? It means that there is opportunity if you’re intentional. Firms want more than strong resumes, they are wanting and looking for lawyers who can thrive in hybrid environments, collaborate effectively, and bring strategic value. And for law firms, this is a chance to rethink hiring as a long-term investment. The lateral market isn’t just reactive anymore, it’s strategic.

Whether you’re building your team or planning your next move, now is the time to act. Understand the trends, know your value, and make your next step a smart one.