The In-House Counsel Hiring Cycle

In-House Counsel Hiring Cycle

The in-house counsel hiring cycle has changed over the years, as The Lawyer Whisperer points out in her recent blog post. If you are trying to time the in-house counsel hiring cycle, read on to learn more about the factors involved. Remember, timing isn’t everything, be a purple squirrel!

“15+ years ago the hiring market for in house lawyers was fairly predictable and cyclical in nature. Most of the hiring activity occurred in the first quarter (Q1) of the calendar year when legal budgets were created and authorized. Hiring might trickle in to Q2 but by August, the first lull was in full force. September and October usually saw moderate activity with replacement hires, but by the time the holidays rolled around the crickets were chirping…Today, it’s a different ballgame. And the hiring activity remains generally constant throughout the year. Budgets are still set in Q1 and the beginning of the quarter still kicks off the hiring season. But hiring continues throughout the year. There is a modest slow down in August, but as a whole there’s far more activity than in years past. The following months are more active with new opportunities arising and interviews pushing through the holidays. So what accounts for the change?…”

Read: Is there a predictable hiring cycle for the in-house market? If so, what is it? at The Lawyer Whisperer