For the first time in a while, associates who possess over six years of experience are in high demand, with the understanding, or perhaps misperception, that junior associates’ training may have been less comprehensive during the pandemic era.
Noted by Ru Bhatt, an associate recruiter at Major, Lindsey & Africa based in New York, the legal hiring landscape is currently showing a clear preference for more senior attorneys. The sought-after attribute is “transferable skills,” specifically, the ability to handle and manage cases or deals.
Partners across law firms find themselves in a scramble to appropriately staff their teams and fortify their ranks with adequate experience and expertise. Bhatt described the demand for more senior associates as unusual, but acknowledged the uniqueness of the current situation stemming from the specific demands of this year.
In his discussions with the American Lawyer, Bhatt attributed this shift to the strong needs of law firms in the present situation, which contrasts with more normal circumstances.
An increase in lateral opportunities for senior associates signals an interesting shift in the legal hiring landscape, appearing to be a direct consequence of the current global situation and its impact on the practice of law. Whether this represents a longer-term shift in industry hiring practices or a temporary blip remains to be seen.
See the original reporting by Staci Zaretsky at Above the Law here.