Norma Harris
The U.S. law firm lateral market shows healthy expansion and also provides a strategic shift toward senior leverage and a surprising surge at smaller firms.
According to the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) 2025 Survey of Law Firms on Lateral and 3L Hiring (released April 22, 2026), total lateral hiring volume rose 16.4% year-over-year among the 305 offices/firms reporting comparable data.
Table 1: Summary of Lateral Hiring — 2025 (NALP Data)
| Category | Median # | Average # | Total # Reported | % Change from 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Lateral Hiring | 4.0 | 11.6 | 3,535 | +16.4% |
| Lateral Partners | 1 | 2.6 | 787 | +17.8% |
| Lateral Associates | 2 | 6.8 | 2,059 | +17.1% |
| Other Lateral Lawyers | 1 | 2.3 | 689 | +13.0% |
Source: NALP Bulletin+ May 2026
Growth was nearly identical for partners and associates — a departure from 2024, when associates drove most of the rebound. This signals firms are building senior leverage to protect margins and deepen expertise.
Chart 2: Lateral Hiring Growth by Firm Size (2025 vs 2024)
(Bar chart generated from NALP data: Small firms ≤250 lawyers led with ~44% overall growth; 251-1,000 lawyers ~20%; 1,001+ lawyers ~11%. Partner hiring at small firms surged 88.7%.)
Small and midsize firms dominated the gains
Firms with 250 or fewer lawyers posted a remarkable 44% increase in overall lateral hiring — reversing a decline in 2024. Lateral partner hiring in this segment exploded by 88.7%. Larger firms (1,001+ lawyers) grew more modestly at 10.6% overall.
This NALP data is marketing and BD gold, particularly for smaller firms who now have authoritative third-party proof they can compete aggressively for rainmakers and specialists, perfect for press releases, attorney profile overhauls, client alerts announcing new hires, and positioning narratives like “Agile, high-growth practices winning top talent from BigLaw.”
Every lateral announcement becomes more credible and traffic-worthy when tied to these benchmarks.
Other Key Insights from NALP:
- Median lateral hires per office/firm: 4.0 (Average: 11.6, up from 9.9 in 2024).
- Associates still comprised 58.2% of lateral hires, partners 22.3%, and other lawyers 19.5%.
- Regional/city swings were dramatic: West/Rocky Mountain +20.8%; Boston +156%; Denver -37.2%.
- Post-clerkship and 3L hiring also rose, with 22% of offices recruiting 3Ls (up from 14%).
What This Means for 2026 Strategy The talent wars have evolved from volume to strategic depth. Firms of all sizes can use this report to:
- Justify retention bonuses and counter-offers with industry data.
- Craft compelling “We’re growing where it counts” marketing campaigns.
- Benchmark recruiting ROI against peers.
- Target practice areas with proven lateral demand.
Lawfuel readers — managing partners, CMOs, and practice leaders — should treat every new lateral as a brand moment. Announce hires with NALP context for maximum credibility and SEO lift.
Got your own lateral success story or 2026 hiring playbook? Share in the comments or pitch it to Lawfuel — we turn data-driven talent moves into lead-generating content.
