wsj blog article on biglaw hiring Forum

[Chrstgtr]

Even if the number hired isn't as high as 2013 going forward, shouldn't we still likely see gains in the overall percentage hired due to class size reductions?

The class sizes of the T14 have remained relatively stable so the schools that actually feed into big law won't see their percentages change much due to class size variation. I agree with another poster that the increases in hiring is going to benefit mostly the T15-T20 schools because some of those have dramatically decreased their class size and those were the ones hardest hit by the recession.

[Tiago Splitter]

500+ hiring:

2013: 3980
2012: 3636
2011: 2856
2010: 3750

The expectation was that 2010 and 2012 were the new normal and 2013 largely bears that out, but it's nice to see that there was a slight uptick.

[FSK]

I think it also depends on where you stand as to what you want to happen. I feel like if you have a good shot at landing prestigious biglaw somewhere, you are actually fine with the hiring not going back to pre-recession levels. Lower associate hiring should in theory mean more job security down the line because there are simply fewer associates to compete with for work and they'll have no reason to thin the herd as much. The downside is you may be asked to put in longer hours.

On the other hand, if you are at a T20 and are on the "bubble" of having a good shot at a biglaw job, you do want the hiring to increase.

I think this is an interesting comment. At some point, shitboomers have to start retiring, and classes in general are much smaller. Its a possible (though certainly not likely) that a few classes of hires that "stuck it out" will seemingly randomly have relatively strong partnership prospects.

I'm at T20 and on the safer end of the bubble, so I obviously want hiring to go up.

[NYSprague]

500+ hiring:

2013: 3980
2012: 3636
2011: 2856
2010: 3750

The expectation was that 2010 and 2012 were the new normal and 2013 largely bears that out, but it's nice to see that there was a slight uptick.

Thanks for finding those numbers. Just to keep the data all together:
2009: 5156

I know when everyone breaks it down by school and market they see good odds, and I know that there are additional biglaw jobs not in the 500+ firms, but those numbers look small to me, considering how many people need biglaw to repay sticker debt.

There are about 4300- 4400 students in the t14, iirc.

[enibs]

Here's what I'm seeing at my firm:

Workload is definitely up this year. Hours are up and there's a lot in the pipeline.

That said, there's still cautiousness/worry about whether it will be sustained or is just an anomoly. The memories of the financial crisis are too recent for people not to take a conservative approach to hiring.

Size of summer program is up a little, but not by much - certainly not by as much as workload has increased. But keep in mind that summer program decisions were made last September.

If current workload continues, or increases, we'll need more bodies than we're currently hiring.

It's a big if, but if that occurs, my guess is that we'll be expanding the summer program next year and may consider hitting the 3L market or even the lateral market.

[Donkeykongmadness]

What kind of firm are you at?

Here's what I'm seeing at my firm:

Workload is definitely up this year. Hours are up and there's a lot in the pipeline.

That said, there's still cautiousness/worry about whether it will be sustained or is just an anomoly. The memories of the financial crisis are too recent for people not to take a conservative approach to hiring.

Size of summer program is up a little, but not by much - certainly not by as much as workload has increased. But keep in mind that summer program decisions were made last September.

If current workload continues, or increases, we'll need more bodies than we're currently hiring.

It's a big if, but if that occurs, my guess is that we'll be expanding the summer program next year and may consider hitting the 3L market or even the lateral market.

[Anonymous User]

Here's what I'm seeing at my firm:

Workload is definitely up this year. Hours are up and there's a lot in the pipeline.

That said, there's still cautiousness/worry about whether it will be sustained or is just an anomoly. The memories of the financial crisis are too recent for people not to take a conservative approach to hiring.

Size of summer program is up a little, but not by much - certainly not by as much as workload has increased. But keep in mind that summer program decisions were made last September.

If current workload continues, or increases, we'll need more bodies than we're currently hiring.

It's a big if, but if that occurs, my guess is that we'll be expanding the summer program next year and may consider hitting the 3L market or even the lateral market.

FWIW my firm is also slammed and understaffed. I'm not sure the incentive is there to increase hiring in response, though. And maybe it is just a temporary uptick.

[enibs]

What kind of firm are you at?

Here's what I'm seeing at my firm:

Workload is definitely up this year. Hours are up and there's a lot in the pipeline.

That said, there's still cautiousness/worry about whether it will be sustained or is just an anomoly. The memories of the financial crisis are too recent for people not to take a conservative approach to hiring.

Size of summer program is up a little, but not by much - certainly not by as much as workload has increased. But keep in mind that summer program decisions were made last September.

If current workload continues, or increases, we'll need more bodies than we're currently hiring.

It's a big if, but if that occurs, my guess is that we'll be expanding the summer program next year and may consider hitting the 3L market or even the lateral market.

V25 in NYC