Lateral Hiring vs. Summer Associate Hiring

You may have been successful at landing summer associate offers, but that has no bearing on your luck as a lateral attorney candidate. Law student recruiting provides firms with access to top talent, the ability to train lawyers from the get-go, and the development of camaraderie within the class, which facilitates the building of a strong firm culture. Lateral hiring, in contrast, helps firms match their current needs. For example, a firm might have a gap in its talent pipeline because of attrition by lawyers in a particular practice area or a spike in billable work.

Unlike entry-level hires, lateral attorney candidates are sought after solely for a specific set of experience and subject matter expertise. It is imperative that lateral candidates possess that expertise and can market themselves accordingly.