NALSC: the National Association of Legal Search Consultants’ Post

It pays to be nice to ex-employees. Latham & Watkins and Kirkland & Ellis, with robust alumni programs, have the most former attorneys from their firms in the top 100 paying corporate in-house leader roles. And these firms have often landed on new matters after their lawyers arrived in-house. “While a lawyer moving from a firm to a private or public company doesn't guarantee new business to the law firm, it often results in firms benefiting from a referral network. In placing an alum at a business, a law firm will strengthen its relationship and can ensure the firm is top of mind for that company when they do seek outside counsel.” To learn why law firms might be smiling as their lawyers walk out the door, read: https://buff.ly/4fDr3vb Does your firm have a strong alumni program? #nalsc #lawjobs #legaljobs #legalrecruiting #lawfirmalumni

Alumni from Big Law are often the legal department chiefs and general counsel of the largest corporations in the U.S. While these connections help a firm's current and future lawyers in career development, they also further cement relationships between the largest firms and GCs, leading to more business for the law firms. But to ask GCs? They will tell you that they put the work in the hands of specific lawyers, not law firms.

📉 New Partner Class Sizes Shrink Again—Time to Rethink Your Path to Partnership? For the second year in a row, major law firms are reducing the size of their new partner classes, as reported by The American Lawyer. Economic pressures, strategic realignments, and shifting client demands are making the road to partnership even steeper. For talented associates aiming for partnership, this trend raises a critical question: Are you at the right firm to achieve your career goals? If your current firm’s trajectory or priorities seem misaligned with your aspirations, it may be time to explore opportunities at firms with a stronger track record of advancing talent in your practice area. Here at Astral Legal, we work with candidates to navigate these shifts and identify firms where they can thrive and achieve their long-term goals. Partnership isn’t just about tenure—it’s about finding the right platform to showcase your value. If you’re reconsidering your path or just want to explore the market, let’s connect. #BigLaw #Partnership #LegalCareers #CareerStrategy #TheAmericanLawyer https://lnkd.in/e-4ddWQr

Cristina Leon, Esq. of The Partners Group shared valuable insights on the fall associate classes of Southeast law firms, highlighting her expertise in helping firms navigate hiring trends and attract top talent. If you're curious about the trends shaping the legal talent market or need guidance in hiring, connect with The Partners Group today! #LegalRecruiting #FallAssociates #SoutheastLawFirms #ThePartnersGroup #HiringTrends

Please check out the excellent article by Amanda O'Brien in today's Legal Intelligencer where I discussed with her Partner compensation at Philadelphia area law firms. As always, please feel free to reach out at any time if you are a partner at a firm in the Philadelphia area and would like to confidentially discuss compensation, or hear about the lateral recruitment market.

After a slate of Big Law firms encroached into Florida’s legal market during past years, this year proved to be a big year for midsize firms moving into the state. 2024 has been a standout year for Florida’s legal market. As big law firms continue to make waves in the state, it's the midsize firms driving the growth. From Miami to Tampa, I’ve seen firsthand how this shift is reshaping the market and this isn't set to slow anytime soon. If you're ready to take the next step in your career or curious about the opportunities Florida has to offer, let’s talk. https://lnkd.in/evFM4Cny

More Southeast-rooted firms named new partners to start 2025, and all followed many of their Big Law counterparts in increasing the number they moved up during their last promotion rounds. Smith Gambrell & Russell, Burr & Forman and Adams and Reese named their new partners at the start of the new year, and each firm exceeded the numbers from their 2024 partner promotions. Atlanta-founded Smith Gambrell promoted eight to partner, up from six last year, and New Orleans-based Adams and Reese elected 11 to partner, an increase from seven in its last round. The announcements followed increases in 2025 partnership classes reported by Southeast-rooted Am Law 100 firms King & Spalding, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough and Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, as well as Second Hundred firm Freeman Mathis & Gary in recent days and weeks. . . . #lawfirmgrowth #lateralhiring #jobsearch #revenue #promotion #law #mergersandacquisitions #healthcarelaw #transactionallaw #IPlaw #litigation #flexibility #lawfirms #atlantalawyer #legalrecruiting #AtlantaLegalRecruiters #theRMNagency #legalrecruitingfirm #legalrecruiter #legalrecruiters #legalsearch #atlantalegalrecruiters #atlantalawfirms #biglaw #smalllawfirm #inhousecounsel #associate #partner

The formula for a superstar global law firm? Step one: Either start with a big US based law firm or merge with a big US based law firm Step two: hire as many BIG NAME STARS as you possibly can Step three: replace your current comp system with one that rewards the superstars! Step four: re-evaluate and plot out Step Five

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton announced Thursday it elected 10 lawyers to its partnership beginning Jan. 1 with a majority in two cities and reflecting an emphasis on its core practices and West Coast focus on China brands and Native American affairs. All but one of the 2025 partners are women, and they practice in the areas of trademark and patent litigation, complex commercial litigation and technology transactions. Four are located in the firm's largest office in Atlanta and three in Seattle, with rest in Denver, New York and Winston-Salem, North Carolina.   . . . #lawfirmgrowth #lateralhiring #jobsearch #revenue #iplaw #law #technology #trademarklaw #transactionallaw #patentlaw #litigation #flexibility #lawfirms #atlantalawyer #legalrecruiting #AtlantaLegalRecruiters #theRMNagency #legalrecruitingfirm #legalrecruiter #legalrecruiters #legalsearch #atlantalegalrecruiters #atlantalawfirms #biglaw #smalllawfirm #inhousecounsel #associate #partner

Want a quick tutorial on how to make a smart and successful lateral move as a law firm partner? Dan Binstock, NALSC: the National Association of Legal Search Consultants Board member and partner in DC -based legal search firm Garrison boils down his 20 years of legal search experience into 20 tips covering lateral partner moves from soup to nuts. For the first 10 of Dan’s top 20 tips for lateral partner moves, see: https://buff.ly/41wOvXa For the second 10 of Dan’s top 20 tips for lateral partners, watch for tomorrow’s post. #nalsc #jobsearchtips #legalrecruiting #lawjobs #legaljobs