Navigating the Lateral Market: How Government Attorneys Are Facing a ‘Buyer’s Market’ in Big Law

The legal market is constantly evolving, and for government attorneys considering a move to private practice, today’s lateral hiring landscape presents new challenges and opportunities. As The American Lawyer explores in a recent article, firms are being highly strategic in their hiring, weighing not just credentials but also long-term business needs.

With an influx of government lawyers entering the market—whether by choice or due to shifting priorities under a new administration—firms are taking a selective approach. While some candidates are securing strong compensation packages, others are facing tougher negotiations. Compensation guarantees, which had been declining in recent years, are now making a comeback in certain cases.

Lauren Drake, a partner in our Washington, D.C. office, shared insight on the trends we’re seeing:

“There are all these terrific people on the market, and what we are hearing from firms is, ‘We’d love to be opportunistic and grab this person, but we don’t have the business case for it.’ That’s a refrain that I hear quite a bit. So they have a business case for some – but not all.”

Read the full article by Abigail Adcox for The American Lawyer here.

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For more insights connect with Lauren Drake or reach out to our team at Macrae.