Chicago Lateral Associate Market Check: February 2025

After a relatively active January, February felt slower—and the numbers confirm it.

Only 41 new associate roles were posted at the 200 largest law firms in Chicago, a notable drop from the 75 new openings in January. For context, February 2024 saw 47 new roles, and that was with one extra day due to the leap year.

While hiring always ebbs and flows throughout the year, the slower pace in February may reflect a “wait and see” mindset among firms, particularly in areas tied to market volatility and deal flow.

Key Takeaways

• Finance cooled off—significantly. After a strong showing in January, this sharp drop suggests firms may have already made key hires or are pausing to assess the market.

• IP and litigation remain comparatively strong. These continue to be among the more resilient practice areas when others slow down.

• Bankruptcy ticked up slightly. While just three new roles, it’s a modest rise worth watching—especially if broader economic conditions begin to shift.

• Real estate dropped to zero. After showing some momentum in January, no new postings appeared in February, though several existing searches remain open.

February 2025 Role Breakdown by Practice Area

• Litigation – 10

• Intellectual Property (IP) – 7

• Corporate – 5

• Labor & Employment (L&E) – 5

• Bankruptcy – 3

• Data Privacy – 3

• Employee Benefits – 3

• Energy – 2

• Finance – 1

• Investment Management – 1

• Technology – 1

• Capital Markets – 0

• Healthcare – 0

• Real Estate – 0

• Trusts & Estates (T&E) – 0

• Tax – 0

It’s important to remember: these numbers reflect only new roles posted in February. Across Chicago’s top 200 firms, there are still roughly 330 open associate positions—plenty of opportunities still in play, even as the pace of new postings fluctuates.

If you’re an associate thinking about a move—or just want a better read on your practice area—I’m always happy to chat. Message me here or reach out at chris@navigatelegalsearch.com.

New associate positions in Chicago in February 2025

New associate positions in Chicago in February 2024