Connor Spicer
If you’re a fifth-year associate in the U.S., this could be the most defining period of your legal career. By year five, you’ve built credibility, gained meaningful experience, and understand how law firms truly operate, but you may also be wondering whether you’re on the right path. Should you stay the course toward partnership? Or is now the time to consider a lateral move?
Over the past year, legal industry analysts, recruiters, and trade publications have all zeroed in on one message: the fifth year of practice is when associates hold the most leverage to shape their futures. Here’s why, and what you should know before making your next move.
The Lateral Market Has Rebounded
After a slowdown in 2022–2023, the U.S. lateral market bounced back strongly in 2024 and 2025. According to the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), lateral associate hiring increased by roughly 25% in 2024, with firms eager to fill mid-level roles in transactional and litigation practices. Bloomberg Law and Reuters both reported that law firms’ confidence in deal flow and profitability led to a renewed appetite for lateral hires across major markets.
Recruiters note that this recovery has made fifth-year associates especially attractive. Experienced enough to be productive immediately, yet still junior enough to be integrated and trained within the firm’s culture and have a strong runway to partnership.
Why the Fifth Year Matters
The fifth year represents a unique inflection point. You’ve outgrown your junior status, developed specialized skills, and likely taken ownership of client work, but you’re still flexible and open to new systems, clients, and cultures. If you wait too long, firms may view you as too senior (and therefore too expensive or narrowly trained).
The Market Favors Certain Practice Areas
While most practice groups have seen renewed activity, the strongest demand for fifth-year laterals remains in:
- Corporate and M&A
- Commercial litigation
- Finance and restructuring
- Technology and data privacy
Regional variation is significant too. Markets like New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and Texas remain most active, while mid-sized regional firms continue to recruit in ESG, compliance, and employment law as clients demand more specialized advice.
How to Prepare for a Successful Move
If you’re a fifth-year associate considering your options, take a strategic approach rather than reacting to dissatisfaction. Recruiters consistently recommend the following:
- Audit your experience. Quantify your contributions, matters handled, billable hours, leadership roles, client exposure, or business development efforts.
- Clarify your priorities. Is your goal partnership prospects, culture, client exposure, or balance? Knowing your why makes your search targeted and effective.
- Research firms’ track records with laterals. Review retention rates and look into people who’ve made similar moves.
- Work with trusted recruiters. A good recruiter can position your experience correctly and discreetly test the market.
- Control your narrative. Frame your move around growth, not frustration. Firms want to hire ambitious lawyers, not escapees.
If you’re in your fifth year of practice and not entirely happy where you are, you’re not alone, nor are you out of options. The past year’s data shows that now is one of the most favourable times in recent memory to explore lateral opportunities.
But remember: the best move is not just about timing, it’s about clarity, preparation, and alignment with your long-term goals. Whether you stay or move on, use this pivotal year to take control of your career trajectory.
Contact Us
If you would like to discuss your next career move in the U.S., please contact Connor Spicer. E: connor.spicer@wearebuchanan.com
