Insights from more than 500 lateral searches give a clear view into how firms are hiring attorneys in 2025, and where things may be headed next.
This analysis comes directly from Flo Recruit’s applicant tracking system (ATS), which law firms use to manage lateral recruiting. Over the past 12 months, Flo’s system has supported more than 500 lateral searches across 40 U.S. law firms ranging in size from 30 to 1,700 attorneys. Searches span a wide range of roles, including partners, associates, counsel, and clerks offering a detailed view of real-time market activity.
Litigation leads in search volume
According to Flo ATS data, law firm clients are creating twice as many searches for Litigation roles as compared to the next most common area, Corporate. This aligns with long-standing demand for litigation talent and reflects its continued importance in law firm growth strategies.
New York dominates lateral search activity
Among the top 10 markets, New York accounts for 33.7% of all lateral searches tracked in Flo ATS—more than double the volume seen in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, which follow in second and third place. This reinforces New York’s role as the central hub of lateral attorney hiring activity in the U.S. Flo’s strong presence in the Atlanta law firm market may account for its strong showing as the third largest lateral area in Flo’s data.
Hiring volume peaked in March
Data from Flo’s ATS shows a clear peak in lateral search activity during the first half of the year in March, with a slowdown heading into summer. This spike suggests that firms are actively opening lateral searches later in Q1, possibly aligning with post-bonus movement. Understanding this timing pattern can help recruiters and candidates better plan for periods of heightened activity.
Write-In remains the primary candidate source
Flo ATS data shows that 68% of lateral candidates were entered manually via Write-In, meaning firms are still relying heavily on internal sourcing and direct outreach. Agency submissions make up 26% of tracked candidates, while all other sources—including referrals, job boards, and internal hires—account for less than 6% combined. The dominance of write-in candidates in lateral searches was a surprising takeaway, especially given that search firms are still widely seen as the primary channel for lateral hiring across the broader market. This trend could reflect the smaller dataset or signal an active shift in sourcing strategy. Flo is watching this closely.
These findings help illuminate how law firms are structuring lateral recruiting today and can serve as benchmarks as we head into the second half of the year.
For more on how firms are using Flo Recruit to manage their lateral search process—from intake to interviews to hiring, reach out!