Lateral Interviews: Advice from Seasoned Interviewers
With the end-of-year bonus season upon us and a lateral hiring market that remains exceptionally strong, it’s a safe bet that many law firm associates will soon be preparing for lateral interviews. What can you do to maximize your chance of a successful interview? To get some pointers, I spoke with Mike Blankenship, managing partner […]
Beginning the Biglaw Lateral Process: A Guide for Associates
The current Biglaw lateral market is overwhelming. There are more variables influencing associates’ career planning and strategic decision-making than ever before. A byproduct is that getting started on a lateral search can be intimidating. My goal here is to advise you on how to take the first few steps, because the way in which you […]
In the Market for Cannabis Counsel? Don’t Pay Your Lawyers to Learn on the Job!
Demand for high-end legal services is booming this year, and law firms are competing fiercely for talent across many practice areas. Growth has been particularly strong in some niche practices that barely existed a decade ago, such as cannabis and blockchain. For law firms, the business case for establishing and promoting groups in these emerging […]
Why A Conflicts Check Should Be Step One in a Partner’s Lateral Move
Any experienced lawyer knows that making a lateral move to a new firm requires a conflicts check. You have surely heard about lawyers whose attempt to lateral was blocked when a client refused to grant a waiver. But despite the general understanding that conflicts are an important factor, many law firms wait until the end […]
Think Fall is a Bad Time to Make a Lateral Move? Think Again.
Every fall we at Lateral Link have conversations with associates who are ready to switch firms but worry that this is the wrong time of year to do it. Wouldn’t it make more sense to just wait until the new year, after annual bonuses have been paid? That line of thinking is fundamentally flawed, for […]
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
So you fought the law2 … and won! Congrats, you’re now a firm partner. You’ve obviously achieved a lot in your career already. You’ve honed your legal skills and become a trusted advisor to your clients. You’ve generated business for your firm, mentored associates, and contributed to the broader legal community. Rudie can’t fail!3 You […]
Why You Should Build a Relationship with a Recruiter Now
So you’re happy at your firm? That’s great! It’s possible you’ll continue to like it so much that you’ll spend your entire career there. But it isn’t likely. Firms change over time and so might your priorities. Maybe personal circumstances will cause you to move to a market where your firm has no presence. Maybe […]