Chicago Lateral Associate Market Check: January 2025
Curious about how the lateral associate market is shaping up in Chicago this year, I decided to dig into the data—and the results were encouraging.
In January 2025, 75 new associate roles opened up across the 200 largest law firms in the city. That’s a noticeable increase from the 63 new positions posted in January 2024, and a positive signal that demand for associate-level talent is trending upward—at least in some areas.
Key Takeaways
Litigation and finance remain strong. Firms continue to invest in core practice areas that drive revenue and client demand.
Data privacy is heating up. The demand here suggests firms are responding to a growing regulatory landscape and client concerns around cybersecurity and compliance.
Real estate is showing signs of life. After a quiet couple of years, this could indicate cautious optimism—or strategic hiring in anticipation of a rebound.
Corporate/M&A remains steady, but slow. Activity isn’t spiking, but firms appear to be maintaining a base level of capacity in case deal flow picks up.
Labor & Employment is still active. This area continues to see consistent demand, likely due to ongoing shifts in workplace law, compliance, and litigation.
Smaller practice areas are mixed. Most saw only one or two new openings, indicating slower movement and tighter hiring across niche specialties.
January 2025 Role Breakdown by Practice Area
Litigation – 14
Finance – 9
Data Privacy – 7
Labor & Employment (L&E) – 7
Intellectual Property (IP) – 6
Corporate – 5
Real Estate – 5
Tax – 4
Healthcare – 4
Employee Benefits – 3
Energy – 3
Investment Management – 3
Trusts & Estates (T&E) – 2
Bankruptcy – 1
Capital Markets – 1
Technology – 1
While January is only one data point, the early signs suggest a cautiously optimistic start to 2025. If we continue to see this pace—or better—in the coming months, it could mean more opportunities for associates looking to make a lateral move in the Chicago market.
If you're considering a transition, want to talk through the market in your practice area, or just want to keep tabs on where things are heading, feel free to reach out. You can message me here or email me directly at chris@navigatelegalsearch.com.
New associate positions in January, 2025
New associate positions in January, 2024