What an eventful data dive! Flo Recruit's 2024 data insights on law student recruitment revealed a major shift in the landscape, with August’s once-dominant interview peak giving way to a new high tide in June and July.
Among law firms and schools combined, interview volume increased 429% in June and decreased 77% in August 2024 compared to 2023. Recruitment leaders, review the insights to inform your strategy as 1L recruitment season begins this fall.
Flo Recruit Insight Series
On September 10, 2024, Flo Recruit CEO Katherine Allen hosted a webinar that attracted registrations from over 500 legal industry recruitment leaders, with more than 350 in attendance live.
📈 Want the full scoop? Watch the recording and download the slides here.
The session provided a comprehensive analysis of the latest law student recruitment data from our software solutions, which capture aggregate data insights from 100+ law schools and consortiums, 100+ law firms, and 12,000+ law students on Forward.
The latest data revealed deepening timeline trends, like a 77% decrease in August interviews by firms and schools combined. While the trend toward increased activity in June and July has been evident in recent years, August had previously remained the peak period. In 2024, June and July emerged as the new high points for law student interviews, marking a substantial shift in the recruitment landscape.
Let's take a closer look at the key trends and data from the cycle.
Outreach & Networking
Increase in Events: The number of outreach and networking events saw a 21% increase from September 2023 to August 2024 compared to the previous year. Notably, November 2023, April 2024, and May 2024 saw significant spikes, with May showing a remarkable 155% increase.
Implication: This surge underscores the growing importance of early and proactive engagement between firms and students.
Direct Applications
June Job Listings: This year, 60% of firms posted their 2L job openings before June 1, reflecting a shift towards earlier recruitment. June became the peak month for student applications on Forward.
Implication: Firms are adapting to a faster-paced recruitment timeline, making timely information crucial. Law students can now access all direct applications posted by firms with 100+ attorneys in one place on Forward.
Interviews
Firm-Hosted Interviews: Interview volume for 1L students increased by 27% this season, though the timing remained consistent with the majority occurring in January. For the 2L season, interviews surged by 188% in June and 39% in July, but saw a significant 71% drop in August. Virtual interviews continued to be prevalent at 82%.
School-Hosted Interviews: Schools experienced a 25% decrease in 2L interview volume overall, with August interviews decreasing by 83%. June interviews, however, increased by a whopping 669% from 2023 to 2024. Both shifts highlight the earlier recruitment activity and the efforts by schools to adapt their strategies.
Implication: The shift away from August as a peak month in favor of earlier months signals a major change in recruitment patterns, requiring (and showing 2024 moves towards) new strategies from both firms and schools.
The Forward Solution: Navigating Change
As law student recruitment evolves with decentralized hiring channels and earlier timelines, it’s more crucial than ever for students to have a centralized platform to stay informed and manage their applications.
Flo Recruit Forward is designed to address these challenges by offering a comprehensive solution that streamlines the recruitment process.
Forward Firm Profiles: Allows students to research law firms and view detailed profiles, enhancing visibility and understanding of firm opportunities.
Forward Events: Aggregates recruiting events, making it easier for students to find and register for engagements that matter to them.
Forward Jobs: Centralizes summer associate job listings, allowing students to filter, view, and apply directly to positions.
Forward Dashboards: Combines recruiting events, interviews, and application tracking into one unified schedule, helping students manage their recruitment process efficiently.
Forward provides a holistic platform that helps students navigate the evolving landscape of law student recruitment, ensuring they stay informed and organized. This approach not only supports students in reaching their dream careers but also helps law firms attract and hire the right talent.
Want more data insights from Flo Recruit? Check out the rest of our Insight Series on our blog.
Questions about Flo Recruit data? We'd love to dive deeper with you. Reach out to hannah@florecruit.com to continue the conversation.
