Attorney Mobility Briefs
Monthly and quarterly analysis of attorney lateral movement across the Am Law market. Each brief tracks practice area trends, seniority breakdowns, law school pipelines, and geographic concentration.
Attorney Mobility Quarterly Brief Q3 2026
Firm Prospects tracked 4,675 attorney lateral moves in the third quarter of 2026. That full quarter figure incorporates records added after each monthly data cut, so it runs well ahead of the 3,440 moves first reported across our July (1,126), August (953), and September (1,361) briefs. On a comparable basis, Q3 averaged roughly 1,150 moves a month as first reported, slightly ahead of the May and June average of about 1,125. The lateral market held steady through the summer and showed no sign of cooling.
The quarter's shape was uneven. July firmed modestly after a soft June, August delivered the steepest single month pullback of the year, and September rebounded to the highest monthly total in our 2026 tracking, driven largely by attorneys completing judicial clerkships and joining firms. Across the full quarter, 326 attorneys joined firms directly from law clerk roles, the large majority of them in September.
Figure 1. Tracked lateral moves by month, as first reported in each monthly brief, 2026. Q3 months highlighted. April data not available in this analysis.
Movement by Practice Area
Litigation and Corporate remained the highest volume practice areas across the quarter, together accounting for nearly half of all Q3 moves. Labor & Employment ranked third by volume and was the quarter's most consistent growth story, posting the strongest net gain of any practice area in both July and August before recording its highest monthly entry count of the year in September.
Figure 2. Lateral entries by practice area, top 12 practice areas, Q3 2026.
Litigation was the largest practice area every month of the quarter. Its net movement held remarkably steady through the summer, at +29 in July and +30 in August, before entries surged in September as returning clerks overwhelmingly joined litigation groups. Excluding that seasonal inflow, Litigation's September intake sat within the range of the two prior months.
Corporate had the most volatile quarter of the major practice areas. It slipped briefly into negative net territory in July (−2), recovered to a modest gain in August (+6), and then posted a strong rebound in September entries driven almost entirely by experienced laterals. Corporate also saw the highest share of moves to in house and other non firm roles among the top practice areas, at roughly one in ten.
Labor & Employment led all practice areas on net movement in July (+67) and August (+47), and September's entries were the highest monthly total we have recorded for the practice area. It also had one of the lowest shares of moves out of private practice, showing that demand in this group is being met primarily through firm to firm hiring.
Insurance spent the quarter stabilizing. Its deficit narrowed from −8 in June to −1 in July before closing entirely in August, and September's entries held in line with the summer average. Insurance also posted the lowest share of moves to non firm roles among the top eight practice areas.
Figure 3. Lateral moves by destination type (law firm vs. in house, government, and other), top 8 practice areas by volume, Q3 2026. Segment splits are approximate.
Seniority Trends
Associates accounted for 59% of all Q3 moves, with partners at 21% and counsel at 15%, a mix that held notably steady from month to month even as total volume swung. Attorneys from the classes of 2023 through 2025 made up 39% of associate moves, reflecting sustained demand for early career talent alongside the late summer clerkship inflow. Partner level movement remained a meaningful share of the market throughout the quarter, ranging from 22% to 26% of monthly volume.
Figure 4. Seniority breakdown of Q3 2026 lateral arrivals.
Where Today's Talent Is Coming From
Georgetown, Harvard, NYU, Columbia, and Fordham produced the largest share of attorneys who changed firms in Q3, with George Washington close behind. Georgetown led the quarter outright and appeared in the monthly top five in every month of Q3, underscoring the depth of the DC pipeline. Virginia, Michigan, and Texas rounded out a strong second tier, with Texas notable for breaking into the monthly top five for the first time in August and for producing the most attorneys arriving from clerkships across the quarter.
- 01Georgetown University Law Center (159)
- 02Harvard Law School (141)
- 03NYU School of Law (123)
- 04Columbia Law School (112)
- 04Fordham University School of Law (112)
- 06George Washington University Law School (106)
- 07University of Virginia School of Law (96)
- 08University of Michigan Law School (94)
- 09University of Texas School of Law (93)
- 10Duke University School of Law (71)
Where Attorneys Are Moving
New York, California, and DC together accounted for just under half of tracked state level activity in Q3, and every one of the ten largest markets finished the quarter with arrivals equal to or ahead of departures. Texas posted the largest net gain of any state (+48), with interstate arrivals outpacing departures by more than two to one, closely followed by California (+47), where arrivals ran roughly double departures. New York (+37) and DC (+37) both posted solid gains, with DC's consistent with continued movement from government and judicial roles into private practice. Massachusetts was the only top market to finish exactly balanced.
Figure 6. Top ten states by lateral activity (interstate arrivals and departures), Q3 2026.
Outlook for Q4 2026
The third quarter showed a steady market. Monthly volume swung sharply, yet the underlying pace of experienced lateral hiring held close to early summer levels once the September clerkship inflow is set aside. Labor & Employment enters Q4 as the clearest sustained growth story, Litigation remains the deepest and most stable pool of activity, and Corporate is the practice area most worth watching after a volatile quarter that ended on a strong note.
Fourth quarter timing is typically shaped by year end compensation and bonus cycles, which tend to slow movement late in the year before activity picks up again in January. We expect October to give the first clean read on whether September's strength in experienced Corporate and Labor & Employment hiring carries into the final quarter.
Onward Recruiting will continue to track this data monthly and quarterly, and will publish an updated analysis once Q4 figures are available.
Attorney Mobility Brief September 2026
September 2026 recorded 1,361 attorney lateral moves tracked through Firm Prospects, a 43% jump from August's 953 and the highest monthly total in our 2026 tracking, edging past March's previous high of 1,306. The rebound more than reverses August's late summer pullback and closes the third quarter at 3,440 tracked moves across July, August, and September.
The headline story behind the surge is the annual clerkship cycle. 238 attorneys, or 17% of all September moves, joined firms directly from law clerk roles, nearly all of them judicial clerkships concluding in late summer. Set those arrivals aside and September's remaining 1,123 moves sit almost exactly in line with July's 1,126. The underlying lateral market looks steady, with a strong seasonal inflow layered on top.
Figure 1. Total tracked lateral moves by month, 2026. April data not available in this analysis.
Movement by Practice Area
Litigation and Corporate remain the highest volume practice areas in the market, together accounting for nearly half of all September entries. Litigation's share expanded sharply this month as returning clerks overwhelmingly joined litigation groups, while Labor & Employment posted its strongest entry count of the year and continues to stand out as the market's most consistent growth story.
Figure 2. Lateral entries by practice area, top 12 practice areas, September 2026.
Litigation posted its highest entry count in our tracking, well above July's 350 and August's 263. Roughly 165 of those entries came from judicial clerkships, the natural pipeline for litigation groups, and excluding them Litigation's lateral intake lands at about 300, consistent with the steady range of recent months.
Corporate rebounded strongly from August's 141 entries and returned to the level last seen in June (209). Corporate's gain was driven almost entirely by experienced laterals, with very few clerkship arrivals, making it one of the clearest indicators of renewed hiring appetite this month.
Labor & Employment recorded its highest entry count in our tracking, ahead of July's 150 and well above August's 99. After three consecutive months as the market's strongest net gainer, the practice area shows no sign of cooling, and firms continue to invest in bench strength across seniority levels.
Insurance entries rose from August's 30 to 38, in line with July's 40. Following August's move to a balanced reading, September's steady intake reinforces the view that the practice area has stabilized after its softer start to the summer.
Figure 3. Entries by prior role (judicial clerkship vs. other prior roles), top 8 practice areas by volume, September 2026. Clerkship splits are approximate.
Seniority Trends
Associates accounted for 59% of all September moves, essentially unchanged from August's 60%, while partner level movement held at 22%, close to August's 23% and June's 22%. Counsel made up a further 15%. Junior talent is driving the associate figure. Attorneys from the classes of 2023 through 2025 represented just over half of all associate moves, reflecting both the clerkship inflow and continued demand for early career associates.
Figure 4. Seniority breakdown of September 2026 lateral arrivals.
Where Today's Talent Is Coming From
Harvard, Georgetown, Michigan, Fordham, Columbia, and George Washington produced the largest share of attorneys who changed firms in September, with Columbia and George Washington tied for fifth. Michigan returned to the top five after stepping out in August, and Virginia rose to eighth, both schools contributing meaningfully to the clerkship cohort. The University of Texas, which entered the top five for the first time in August, slipped to ninth overall but led all schools among attorneys arriving from clerkships.
- 01Harvard Law School (45)
- 02Georgetown University Law Center (43)
- 03University of Michigan Law School (41)
- 04Fordham University School of Law (38)
- 05Columbia Law School (37)
- 05George Washington University Law School (37)
- 07NYU School of Law (35)
- 08University of Virginia School of Law (32)
- 09University of Texas School of Law (29)
- 10Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (26)
Where Attorneys Are Moving
New York, California, and DC together account for nearly half of tracked state level activity this month. New York posted the largest net gain of any state, with interstate arrivals outpacing departures 71 to 32, a clear step up from August's +8. California again stands out for its gain relative to its size, with arrivals outpacing departures by more than three to one (31 to 9), and DC's net gain of +25 (43 arrivals to 18 departures) remains consistent with continued absorption of attorneys moving from government and judicial roles into private practice. Florida, the only top market with a net outflow in August, swung back to a gain (+7), and none of the ten largest markets recorded more departures than arrivals in September.
Figure 6. Top ten states by lateral activity (interstate arrivals and departures), September 2026.
Outlook for Q4 2026
The third quarter closed on a high note in volume terms, but the clerkship cycle accounts for most of September's jump, so October will be the first clean read on whether the broader market is building momentum or holding steady. With clerkship arrivals typically concentrated in late summer, we expect total volume to ease back toward the 950 to 1,150 range seen across the summer.
Labor & Employment enters the fourth quarter as the market's most consistent growth story, and Corporate's rebound is the development most worth watching. If the recovery in experienced Corporate laterals holds through October, it would point to firmer deal driven hiring heading into year end. Litigation remains the deepest pool of activity, and firms that absorbed returning clerks this month may shift their focus toward midlevel and senior litigation hires in Q4. Year end compensation decisions also shape lateral timing, so we will be watching for any early quarter movement ahead of bonus season.
Onward Recruiting will continue to track this data monthly and will publish an updated analysis once October figures are available.
Attorney Mobility Brief August 2026
August 2026 recorded 953 attorney lateral moves, a 15% pullback from July's 1,126 and the lowest point in this data series to date. The mid-summer dip is consistent with seasonal patterns — August hiring decisions typically slow as partners and decision-makers take time away — but the decline in volume does not obscure the underlying practice area dynamics, which remain telling. Note that April data is not available in this analysis.
Despite the softer volume, Labor & Employment extended its streak as the strongest net-positive practice area for the third consecutive month, and the geographic story shifted meaningfully in August: California posted the most lopsided net gain of any top market, with arrivals outnumbering departures five to one.
Figure 1. Total tracked lateral moves by month, 2026. April data not available in this analysis.
Movement by Practice Area
Twenty-three practice areas were tracked in August. Labor & Employment again leads with the strongest net gain at +47, continuing its run at the top of the dataset. Litigation (+30) and a broad positive spread across Banking, Bankruptcy, Energy, Real Estate, and Health Care round out the most active growth areas. Tax is the only practice area with a meaningfully negative net at −5, while five areas — Media, Transportation, International Trade, Government, and Insurance — finished exactly flat.
Figure 2. Net movement (entries minus exits) by practice area, August 2026.
Third consecutive month as the market's strongest net-positive practice area — entries nearly double exits. The pattern points to sustained, broad-based investment in L&E bench strength rather than a one-off surge.
Largest practice area by volume. Net gain of +30 is consistent with July's +29 — entries continue to outpace exits even as churn at this scale remains a normal feature of the practice area.
Solid net gain in August. Real Estate has posted consistent positive net movement across the series — the +15 this month continues that trend heading into Q4 planning season.
Only practice area with a meaningfully negative net in August. Worth monitoring heading into Q4 — year-end compensation discussions can accelerate movement in both directions, and the −5 may be an early signal of that dynamic.
Figure 3. Entries vs. exits by practice area, August 2026. Data shown for the eight practice areas with explicitly reported figures in this brief.
Seniority Trends
Associates account for 60% of August lateral moves — up from the "just over half" readings in prior months — reflecting a market where mid-level talent is most actively in motion even as overall volume softens. Partner movement held at 23%, Counsel at 15%, and Other at 2%.
Figure 4. Seniority breakdown of August 2026 lateral arrivals.
Where Today's Talent Is Coming From
Georgetown leads the August pipeline with 28 lateral arrivals, followed closely by Fordham (26), and Harvard and George Washington tied at 24. The University of Texas makes the top five at 23 — reflecting the strength of Texas as a feeder market. All ten schools are named in the source data this month, offering a more complete picture of the pipeline than in prior briefs.
- 01Georgetown University Law Center (28)
- 02Fordham University School of Law (26)
- 03Harvard Law School (24)
- 03George Washington University Law School (24)
- 05University of Texas School of Law (23)
- 06Columbia Law School (22)
- 07Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (18)
- 07NYU School of Law (18)
- 09UC Berkeley School of Law (16)
- 10Duke University School of Law (14)
Where Attorneys Are Moving
California posted the most decisive net gain of any top market in August — 26 arrivals against just 5 departures, a 5-to-1 ratio and a net of +21. New York swung back positive after July's net-negative reading, recording 33 arrivals and a net of +8. DC held steady at +9. Florida was the only top-ten market to finish net negative, with 6 departures against 5 arrivals.
Figure 6. Arrivals and departures by state, top ten markets, August 2026.
Outlook for Q4 2026
The August dip in overall volume is consistent with seasonal patterns and does not signal a structural pullback. Labor & Employment's third consecutive strong month makes it the clearest sustained growth story in the 2026 dataset. If California's 5-to-1 arrival ratio holds into September, it will mark a meaningful shift in where talent is concentrating on the West Coast — a development firms with California offices should factor into Q4 recruiting strategy.
Tax is the practice area most worth monitoring heading into Q4 — year-end compensation decisions can accelerate movement in both directions, and the −5 net in August may be an early signal of that dynamic. Corporate's +6 in August is a modest positive after July's −2, suggesting the brief reversal was noise rather than a trend.
Onward Recruiting will continue to track this data monthly and will publish an updated analysis once September figures are available.
Attorney 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.
Attorney 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.