Keeping Your Momentum When Lateral Moves Take Months
Lateral hiring rarely moves in a straight line - and for many attorneys, the process now stretches six to nine months or more.
This blog breaks down why legal hiring takes so long, how to stay motivated through the silences, and what it really takes to maintain momentum during a non-linear search.
Onward Insights - November 2025
This month, we break down the surge in partner movement and merger activity shaping the legal market - and what every partner should evaluate before making a move. From early merger-integration trends to deal-flow timing and financial considerations, this edition offers a clear roadmap for navigating today’s shifting landscape.
Onward Insights - October 2025
The firms losing top candidates aren’t doing anything wrong - they’re just moving too slow. The real divide isn’t about effort; it’s about infrastructure. When traditional approval chains meet today’s lateral market speed, even well-meaning firms end up ghosting strong candidates.
We break down how one firm made a two-week close possible, what’s structurally blocking others from doing the same, and why treating recruiting as a strategic function - not a committee afterthought - is what separates firms that hire talent from those that just interview it.
Legal Hiring Market Reality Check: Fall 2025
The legal hiring market in fall 2025 isn’t frozen - and it’s not “back” in the 2021 sense either. What we’re seeing is a selective recovery defined by strategic hiring, focused growth, and renewed confidence across key practice areas.
From M&A’s cautious rebound to litigation’s sustained strength, firms are moving with precision, not panic.
For lawyers considering a move, understanding these shifts is essential to timing and strategy.
Onward Insights - September 2025
Fall hiring isn't slow - it’s strategic. October is when timing, leverage, and market movement quietly align, offering lawyers a real opportunity to plan their next move without the bonus-season stampede.
Firms are actively hiring across litigation and transactional roles, and some are offering sign-on bonuses for pre-year-end starts. For associates and partners alike, early action unlocks better options and fewer headaches.
We break down what’s actually happening in the market, what candidates should be doing now, and why intentional timing - not wishful thinking - is what sets successful transitions apart in today’s competitive legal landscape.
Onward Insights - August 2025
For years, associates have mentored summer classes, attended firm events, and sat through CLEs - all while knowing this work "mattered" but never quite sure how much. Now, some firms are putting a number on it.
The move to formalize "investment hours" alongside traditional billables isn't revolutionary on paper. Associates were already doing most of this work. But formalizing it? That feels different.
It's the shift from implicit expectations to explicit targets. And for lawyers already navigating a complex numbers game, that change is creating more conversation than expected.
We explore why this development is resonating across the profession, what it reveals about evolving workplace expectations, and how both firms and associates are adapting to new ways of measuring value.
Onward Insights - July 2025
A talent crisis is brewing in the legal profession, and it's hiding in plain sight.
While law schools continue producing graduates, the training infrastructure that develops them into experienced practitioners is rapidly shrinking. Summer associate classes are getting smaller each year as firms reassess the economics of entry-level hiring, creating a bottleneck that will leave the entire industry scrambling for mid-level talent within the next five years.
The implications reach far beyond BigLaw. In-house departments, boutique firms, and government agencies all rely on the same pipeline of experienced lawyers – a pipeline that's about to run dry.
We explore why this structural shift is happening, what it means for legal careers, and how smart organizations are already adapting their talent strategies.
Why Analysis Paralysis Is Derailing Smart Lawyers: A Psychological Perspective
Overthinking is costing lawyers real opportunities.
A candidate declined a simple meeting with a firm he admired—out of fear, not facts.
This article breaks down how legal training fuels analysis paralysis and why refusing low-stakes conversations can sabotage your career.
Onward Insights - June 2025
We’re halfway through 2025 and the legal market is anything but quiet.
Hiring cooled in Q2, but key trends are emerging: litigation is steady, real estate finance is hot, and in-house roles are on the rise.
Firms and lawyers who act now (while others wait) may come out ahead.
👇 Get the data, insights, and roles worth watching in our Mid-Year Market Check.
The Power of Being Liked
Technical skills may get you in the door, but likeability is what accelerates your legal career.
From landing client trust to snagging partner-track assignments, being someone people want to work with is a legit strategic advantage.
This article breaks down the science and the strategy behind professional likeability, plus real ways to build yours without losing your edge.
Because in law, trust is currency, and likeable lawyers are rich in it.
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.