Onward Insights - May 2025
Summer might seem like the legal industry's slow season, but that perception is exactly what creates the opportunity.
While firms manage summer programs and lawyers balance mentoring with client work, there’s a unique opening for strategic career movement that most people miss.
This edition of Onward Insights explores why Memorial Day to Labor Day is one of the smartest windows for lateral moves.
With fewer candidates in motion and firms operating at a slightly more reflective pace, summer offers the ideal conditions for thoughtful career conversations and smarter hiring decisions.
The Human Edge: Why Soft Skills Are Reshaping Legal Talent Strategy
As law firms cautiously adopt AI and automation, soft skills are emerging — not as new priorities, but as long-standing strengths now seen as competitive essentials.
In a profession where trust, judgment, and human connection remain irreplaceable, legal talent strategies are shifting their focus back to what has always set great lawyers apart.
This post explores why emotional intelligence, adaptability, communication, and leadership are becoming the primary differentiators in legal hiring and development. For firms and lawyers alike, it's not about reinventing the skill set, it's about doubling down on what matters most.
The Second Archetype: Why In-House Lawyers Are Built for the Hybrid Era
Why In-House Lawyers Are Built for the Hybrid Era
As the legal world adapts to AI, automation, and cross-functional demands, in-house counsel are uniquely positioned to thrive.
This post explores the "second archetype" — a blend of legal expertise and business fluency — and why it’s essential (not optional) for lawyers navigating corporate environments.
If you're eyeing an in-house move or already in the seat, this is your roadmap to staying relevant, resilient, and ready.
Onward Insights - April 2025
When traditional markers of success — title, compensation, prestige — no longer feel as fulfilling as they once did, it’s not failure. It’s evolution.
This month’s Onward Insights explores the concept of Aligned Ambition: how high-performing attorneys can navigate the tension between external expectations and internal clarity.
We’re talking about what to do when:
📌 Staying silent starts to feel easier than speaking up,
📌 Success looks good on paper but feels hollow in practice,
📌 You're not ready to make a leap, but you know you can’t stay the same.
Leaving isn’t always immediately possible (and often, it’s not the smartest first move). That’s why this issue focuses on how to stay strategically. Redrawing boundaries, reconnecting with what matters, and preparing for future transitions with intention and purpose.
We’ve also updated the look and feel of Onward Insights — a fresh new style for the fresh conversations attorneys need now.
Onward Insights - March 2025
🌱 New Month, Fresh Insights
The March edition of Onward Insights is live, and this one goes way beyond the offer letter.
We’re talking real retention, smarter transitions, and what law firms actually need to keep top talent engaged. Think: onboarding that works, career moves with strategy, and how AI is quietly (and not so quietly) shaking up the legal world.
If you’re building for the long run, whether you’re hiring or being hired, this one’s for you.
👉 Dive in. Let’s grow smarter, together.
Beyond the First Week: Cracking the Code to Onboarding
Experienced associates already bring exceptional legal skills to the table, but thriving in a new law firm means understanding the unwritten rules, unique workflows, and the expectations of supervising attorneys.
Most firms nail the first week of onboarding, but what happens after? Discover how a strategic 90-day roadmap can help transform new hires into long-term contributors and build a stronger foundation for your team.
Ready to refine your firm’s onboarding strategy?
Onward Insights - February 2025
Our February newsletter explores what creates true value in today's legal market, beyond the tired "we have great people" cliché.
Discover how forward-thinking firms differentiate themselves and why lateral career moves can fast-track professional growth.
Check out our latest insights on redefining value from both the firm and candidate perspective, plus practical tips to help you stand out in 2025's competitive landscape.
Culture by Design: Stop Letting Your Law Firm’s Identity Run on Autopilot
“Our people.” Every law firm says it, but that’s not a strategy, and it’s definitely not a differentiator. If firm culture truly drives recruitment, retention, and long-term success, why do so many firms treat it as an afterthought? The days of “culture by default” are over.
In this article, we dive into Culture by Design. How law firms can move beyond generic platitudes and create an intentional, tangible culture that sets them apart in a fiercely competitive talent market. We’ll explore real data, actionable strategies, and the key shifts firms need to make to attract and retain top legal talent.
Onward Insights - January 2025
Starting a new year often brings thoughts of career changes, but navigating the legal job market can feel overwhelming.
At Onward Recruiting, we understand these challenges firsthand and are here to guide you with practical insights and personalized support.
Check out our January newsletter for actionable strategies to advance your legal career in 2025, including tips for self-assessment, digital presence optimization, and mastering today's evolving workplace dynamics.
Whether you're actively seeking change or simply exploring possibilities, let's partner to make your next career move the right one.
2025 Trends: The Lateral market
Navigating a lateral move in today’s legal market requires more than just ambition—it demands insight into the forces shaping the industry. From the rise of hybrid work tensions to the growing appeal of mid-market firms and increasing expectations for portable books of business, the trends of 2025 are redefining the way lawyers make career moves.
Is Remote Work Dead? Let’s Not Bury It Just Yet
The remote work era may be ending, but the push for flexibility isn’t. Discover why work isn’t just about office spaces—it’s about people and priorities.
Onward Insights - December 2024
Ready for a clear-eyed look at the legal industry in 2024? Our latest Onward Insights newsletter examines the key lessons learned this year - from evolving workplace wellness priorities to changing career growth definitions. We also explore what 2025 might bring, including shifting technology impacts and specialized skill demands.