Associate Mobility Briefs
Monthly analysis of attorney lateral movement across the Am Law market. Each brief tracks practice area trends, seniority breakdowns, law school pipelines, and geographic concentration.
Associate Mobility Brief July 2026
July 2026 recorded 1,126 attorney lateral moves, up from June's 1,079 and marking the first month-over-month increase after four consecutive months of cooling from March's high of 1,306. Even with the modest rebound, overall volume remains below the pace set earlier in the year, and associate-level movement continues to account for the majority of monthly volume.
The month's data suggests the market found a floor in June and is beginning to firm back up, with the same core practice areas driving momentum alongside a couple of notable reversals worth watching heading into the back half of Q3.
Figure 1. Total tracked lateral moves by month, 2026. Bars reflect months with data explicitly stated in this report series.
Movement by Practice Area
Litigation and Corporate remain the highest-volume practice areas in the market, simply given the size of those groups across firms, but Labor & Employment again stands out for the strongest net gain relative to its size, extending June's trend and posting an even wider surplus this month.
Figure 2. Net movement (entries minus exits) by practice area, July 2026.
Strongest net gain for the second consecutive month — surplus grew from June's +56 to +67 in July. The clearest sustained growth signal in the dataset and points to continued bench-building across seniority levels.
Largest practice area by volume. July's net gain is in line with June's +30 — entries modestly outpacing exits even as churn at this scale remains a normal feature of the practice area.
Turned net-negative in July after two consecutive months of net-positive movement, though the shift is marginal — entries and exits landed within two of each other. Worth watching in August to see whether the reversal holds.
Stayed net-negative for a second straight month, though the deficit narrowed considerably from June's −8 to just −1 in July, suggesting the imbalance between attorneys exploring new opportunities and available roles is closing.
Figure 3. Entries vs. exits by practice area, July 2026. Data shown for the four practice areas with explicitly reported figures in this brief.
Seniority Trends
Associates accounted for just over half of all July moves, consistent with the pattern seen since the start of the year. Partner-level movement made up 26% of the total, up from June's 22% and a notably strong share given how much longer partner-level searches typically take to close.
Figure 4. Seniority breakdown of July 2026 lateral arrivals. Associate percentage is approximate ("just over half" per source data).
Where Today's Talent Is Coming From
Georgetown, NYU, Harvard, Michigan, and Columbia produced the largest share of attorneys who changed firms in July, a mix that reflects both elite national programs and the strong regional pipelines feeding the DC and New York markets in particular.
- 01Georgetown University Law Center
- 02NYU School of Law
- 03Harvard Law School
- 04University of Michigan Law School
- 05Columbia Law School
- 06Positions 6–10 not named in source data
Where Attorneys Are Moving
New York, California, and DC together account for the majority of tracked movement this month. DC again stands out for the strongest net gain relative to its size, with arrivals outpacing departures by 10 — a trend consistent with continued absorption of attorneys moving from government roles into private practice. New York was the only top market with more departures than arrivals in July.
Figure 6. Top ten states by lateral activity, July 2026. Chart displays the three states with explicitly reported net figures in this brief.
Outlook for Q3 2026
Labor & Employment remains the clearest positive-momentum story in the market, and Real Estate and Health Care join it this month among the practice areas posting solid net gains. Litigation and Corporate remain the deepest pools of overall activity, and Corporate's shift to net-negative in July is the development most worth tracking as Q3 progresses. Insurance's narrowing deficit is an encouraging sign, but the practice area has now posted two consecutive negative months and bears watching.
Onward Recruiting will continue to track this data monthly and will publish an updated analysis once August figures are available.
Associate Mobility Brief June 2026
June 2026 recorded 1,079 attorney lateral moves, easing from May's 1,170 and continuing a gradual cooling trend since March's high of 1,306. Even with that moderation, the lateral market remains highly active, and associate-level movement continues to account for the majority of monthly volume.
The month's data points to a market that is settling into a steadier rhythm after a fast start to the year, with a handful of practice areas standing out for sustained, above-average momentum.
Figure 1. Total tracked lateral moves by month, 2026. Bars reflect months with data reported in this series.
Movement by Practice Area
Litigation and Corporate remain the highest-volume practice areas in the market, simply given the size of those groups across firms, but Labor & Employment stands out for the strongest net gain relative to its size — a signal of active, sustained investment in that practice area this month.
Figure 2. Net movement (entries minus exits) by practice area, June 2026.
Strongest net gain of any practice area in June, with entries nearly double its exits. The clearest growth signal in the June dataset — points to firms building out bench strength across seniority levels.
Largest practice area by volume. June's figures show entries outpacing exits for a healthy net gain, even as churn at this scale remains a normal feature of the practice area.
Second consecutive month of net-positive movement, consistent with a broader stabilization in deal-driven hiring across the market.
Only practice area with a meaningfully negative net in June, suggesting a deeper pool of Insurance attorneys currently exploring new opportunities relative to the roles being filled.
Figure 3. Entries vs. exits by practice area, June 2026. Data shown for the four practice areas with explicitly reported figures in this brief.
Seniority Trends
Associates accounted for just over half of all June moves, consistent with the pattern seen since the start of the year. Partner-level movement made up 22% of the total, a healthy share given how much longer partner-level searches typically take to close.
Figure 4. Seniority breakdown of June 2026 lateral arrivals. Associate percentage is approximate ("just over half" per source data).
Where Today's Talent Is Coming From
Harvard, Columbia, Fordham, George Washington, and Georgetown produced the largest share of attorneys who changed firms in June, a mix that reflects both elite national programs and the strong regional pipelines feeding the New York and DC markets in particular.
- 01Harvard Law School
- 02Columbia Law School
- 03Fordham University School of Law
- 04George Washington University Law School
- 05Georgetown University Law Center
- 06Positions 6–10 not named in source
Where Attorneys Are Moving
New York, California, and DC together account for the majority of tracked movement this month. DC stands out with the strongest net gain relative to its size, with arrivals outpacing departures by 15 — a trend consistent with continued absorption of attorneys moving from government roles into private practice.
Figure 6. Top ten states by lateral activity, June 2026. Chart displays the three states with explicitly reported figures in this brief.
Outlook for Q3 2026
Labor & Employment, Real Estate, and Energy enter the third quarter with the most consistent positive momentum in the market, and firms with a credible platform story in these areas are well positioned to attract talent through the summer. Litigation and Corporate remain the deepest pools of overall activity, and while both are trending net-positive in June, the scale of churn in these groups means the market for experienced talent there stays competitive. Insurance is the practice area most worth watching heading into Q3, given June's softer net reading.
Onward Recruiting will continue to track this data monthly and will publish an updated analysis once July figures are available.
Career Resources for Attorneys — Onward Recruiting
Onward Recruiting provides free career tools and guides designed specifically for attorneys considering a lateral move, exploring whether to go in-house, or simply trying to get clearer on what they want from their legal career. All resources are free and designed for associates, lateral candidates, and partners at law firms.
Mastering Interviews: A Strategic Guide for Lawyers
A modern interview preparation guide for attorneys. Today's lateral interviews demand more than credentials — firms want lawyers who can lead virtual depositions, think on their feet, and communicate well under pressure. Covers virtual interview presence, storytelling frameworks, how to evaluate firm culture through the questions you ask, and how to position yourself effectively as a lateral associate or partner candidate.
We Need to Talk: Scripts for Values-Based Conversations at Work
Practical scripts for attorneys who want to advocate for themselves at their current firm before deciding whether to make a lateral move. Covers how to open conversations about growth, workload, burnout, alignment, and future opportunities without burning bridges. Designed for associates and counsel who aren't sure whether the right next step is leaving or having a better conversation first.
Career Clarity Worksheet: For Attorneys Who Feel Off But Aren't Sure What's Next
A 10-minute self-reflection worksheet for attorneys experiencing career dissatisfaction without a clear sense of what's wrong or what to do next. Guides attorneys through identifying what energizes them, what they're done compromising on, and how to recognize a genuine opportunity. Useful for associates, senior associates, and counsel considering a lateral move but not yet ready to commit to one.
Stay or Go? Self-Reflection Grid for Attorneys
A structured decision tool for attorneys deciding whether to stay in their current role or explore a lateral move. Covers values, energy, growth trajectory, logistics, and relationships — the five dimensions that most determine whether a job change is the right call. Designed for high-achieving attorneys who want a clear framework rather than making the decision on instinct or stress.
What Matters to Me? Core Values Identification Exercise for Lawyers
A values identification worksheet for attorneys at any career stage. Helps lawyers articulate the values driving them now and use that clarity to evaluate whether their current role and firm are aligned with what actually matters to them. Particularly useful for attorneys considering lateral moves, in-house transitions, or practice area changes.
Is Your Career on the Right Track? Career Checklist for Lawyers
A career assessment checklist for attorneys to evaluate where they are, where they're headed, and whether their current trajectory aligns with their long-term goals. Designed for associates and counsel at law firms who want a structured way to assess their momentum — whether thriving, coasting, or actively considering a change.
2025 Recruiting and Hiring Trends Report for Lawyers
A legal hiring trends report for attorneys navigating the job market. Covers how economic shifts and emerging technologies are redefining legal roles, the growing demand for hybrid skill sets in law firm and in-house hiring, what firms are doing to attract and retain lateral talent, and practical steps attorneys can take to strengthen their positioning and build a future-proof legal career.