Job Seekers

Since the beginning of Big Law, several midsize firms have worn that “Big Law” label with pride. With this label, each firm touts an unmatched culture, a certain attractiveness that makes their firm special, and much more appealing than the large AM Law 100 operations. 

As the new year begins, lateral hiring is picking up speed. Law firms Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough and Sidley Austin are among the firms with recent hires and were specifically for leadership positions in practices that are experiencing high demand during the coronavirus pandemic. 

As new law associates enter their careers as attorneys, there are several routes to take their careers. But the question on every recent law school graduate’s mind remains: How do I navigate my law firm and what skills are important to master in those first few years?

Picture that at the beginning of last year, you heard “Next year we’ll have an entire set of predictions dealing with everybody working from home because of the pandemic.” That sounds insane right? 

There comes a time in every law firm associate’s journey toward partnership when business development becomes a primary issue. However, you cannot simply flip the switch when you need to. Associates need to get ahead of the issue, even years in advance of when it becomes a necessity. 

Restructuring and corporate litigation are among Big Law’s most popular practice areas for onboarding lateral talent as 2020 comes to an end and as firms seek to leverage veteran industry expertise amid uncertain economic conditions. 

For millennials or young lawyers getting their start after graduating law school, there are more career options in the legal system more than ever before. Whether it’s firms, alternate legal service providers, in-house legal departments, the Big Four or even legal technology companies, fresh-faced talent in law has its pick of choices when charting a career path.

Recently, Am Law 200 firms have been hiring more for their labor and employment and mergers and acquisitions departments.

Numerous law firms have implemented layoffs, pay cuts and other austerity measures in spring and summer this year in response to economic pressures the COVID-19 pandemic has created. 

If there is a bright side to take from this pandemic, it is that law firm associates are facing brighter futures and a far less volatile job market than young lawyers who stared down the 2009 financial crisis. And attorneys at elite firms may even see their compensation boosted as firms look past survival and toward the talent war.