The Accidental Laterals
As so many law firms either pared their ranks or dissolved completely in recent months, it's clear that not all the newcomers to the lateral market intended to be there. Call them accidental laterals. With so many lawyers job-hunting, the tenor of their experience was markedly different than that of the typical lateral itching to find a new home. The equation changed for law firms looking for fresh talent, too. What can firms and tomorrow's accidental laterals learn from this past year? On the recruiting side, the advice boils down to a maddening bromide: Move quickly -- but not too quickly!
