Legal Hiring Trends in 2025

The legal job market has always had its ups and downs, but 2025 is shaping up to be a strong year at the halfway point in June. Despite economic uncertainty in many sectors, hiring in the legal industry remains resilient and in many areas, red-hot. At Bonham Solutions, we've seen this firsthand. Demand for experienced attorneys, particularly in family law and other litigation areas, estate planning and personal injury law has remained high. This trend reflects a broader national pattern with all signs pointing to continued growth in the legal job market. It should be noted that while demand for experienced attorneys has remained high, the demand for more junior attorneys still appears relatively low.

Low Unemployment and Strong Demand

The numbers speak for themselves. According to recent data, the unemployment rate among lawyers in the U.S. is under 1%—a remarkable statistic in today’s job market. Paralegals and legal support professionals are similarly in demand, with an unemployment rate around 1.9%, well below the national average of 4.2%.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects steady growth for the legal field through 2033, with over 35,000 lawyer job openings expected each year. Much of this demand is driven by ongoing litigation, regulatory complexity, and the rising need for estate planning services as generational wealth shifts.

What Firms Are Looking For

Law firms and in-house legal departments are prioritizing candidates with:

• 5+ years of focused experience in their practice area. Candidates with less experience or less-focused experience tend to have a more difficult time in the job market.

• Strong client management and courtroom litigation skills

• Technological fluency, including comfort utilizing AI and other various tools

• Adaptability 

At the same time, many firms are upping their game with competitive compensation, flexible schedules (hybrid or remote), increased support and more to help retain top talent.

Salaries & Hybrid Work: New Norms in Legal Hiring

Top law firms continue to raise the bar on salaries, with first-year associate pay climbing above $215,000 at many AmLaw 100 firms. Partner compensation is soaring as well at these firms. At locally-owned, smaller firms salaries continue increase with many firms ranging from $100,000 to $150,000+ depending on experience. It is still very common for many of these firms to offer bonuses based on productivity metrics such as billable hours to add extra income on top of a base salary.

On the flexibility front, hybrid work is becoming increasingly normal, but many firms still prefer a fully in-person working environment. Some firms have been able to strike an ideal balance of remote work flexibility while still providing ample in-person working time. Many firms still prefer their staff to work fully in-person citing the collaboration, learning opportunities and relationship building between their staff. Legal professionals who can thrive in both environments are particularly desirable.

A Snapshot from the Field

At Bonham Solutions, we've helped several firms across the country find top legal talent in recent months. What we've observed is consistent:

• Firms are moving quickly to hire strong candidates, especially in family law and estate planning. Experienced candidates have multiple offers in a few weeks and are quick to accept the strongest options.

• Experienced attorneys are fielding multiple offers, and work-life balance is more important than ever in candidate decisions. 

• Smaller, locally-owned firms are competing effectively with large practices by offering meaningful work, flexibility, and team culture.
  
  

The Takeaway: The Legal Market Is Strong—and Getting Stronger

Legal hiring in 2025 is not only active—it's thriving. Despite shifts in other industries, the legal profession continues to grow in demand, prestige, and opportunity.

Whether you're a law firm looking to hire or a legal professional exploring your next move, now is an excellent time to be in the market. Our own experience mirrors what national data confirms: this is one of the most robust legal job markets we've seen in years.

Looking to hire or make a career move in the legal space?
We specialize in connecting law firms with top legal talent. Reach out to Bonham Solutions today to learn more about how we can help you navigate the current market with confidence.