To say that the legal world has become a revolving door is an understatement. According to NALP, the overall volume of lateral hiring in the United States increased by more than 11 percent in 2007, the fifth consecutive annual gain. Judith N. Collins, “Lateral Hiring Is Up in General — But Not Everywhere,” NALP Bulletin, March 2008.
Lateral hiring of associates accounted for more than three-quarters of the total. And they keep on moving. NALP reports that 73 percent of laterals leave a firm within four years, compared with 56 percent of entry-level associates. NALP Foundation, “Update on Associate Attrition: Findings From a National Study of Law Firm Associate Hiring and Departures — 2006,” May 2007, Table 11 and Table 19.
