Citi: Biglaw First-Year Associate Hiring Decline Forecasted

• Biglaw first-year associate hiring for the class of 2025 dropped by 7.5% compared to the class of 2024.
• Gretta Rusanow of Citi's law firm group noted a sharp decline in entry-level recruitment and increasing uncertainty about future staffing needs.
• A Citi survey indicates two-thirds of Biglaw firms anticipate hiring even fewer first-year associates in 2028 than in 2025.
• This downward trend is expected to continue, leading to smaller first- and second-year associate populations across most large firms.

A significant two-thirds of Biglaw firms anticipate hiring even fewer first-year associates in 2028 than they did for the class of 2025.

The Biglaw first-year associate hiring decline Citi has observed signals a significant shift in the legal industry's talent acquisition strategy. Recent data indicates a notable reduction in the number of entry-level positions being filled by large law firms. For the class of 2025, Biglaw hiring trends show a substantial 7.5% decrease in recruitment compared to the class of 2024. This downturn is not merely a temporary blip but rather an emerging pattern that suggests a sustained contraction in large law firm entry-level recruitment.

This evolving scenario means that a majority of prominent legal practices are poised to operate with smaller cohorts of first- and second-year associates in the coming years. The implications of this trend are far-reaching, affecting both aspiring legal professionals and the long-term workforce planning of these firms. The current environment points to a tightening associate job market Biglaw, making competition for available roles increasingly intense for new graduates.

The observations regarding the Biglaw first-year associate hiring decline Citi has highlighted come from Gretta Rusanow, who serves as the head of advisory services within Citi's law firm group. Her comments, shared with Bloomberg Law, underscore the gravity of the situation. Rusanow points to a growing level of uncertainty concerning the future staffing needs of these firms, particularly when looking several years ahead, such as towards 2028. This long-term ambiguity complicates strategic planning for both firms and law students.

Further reinforcing this outlook, a recent survey conducted by Citi provides a stark Gretta Rusanow Biglaw forecast. The survey revealed that a significant two-thirds of Biglaw firms anticipate hiring even fewer first-year associates in 2028 than they did for the class of 2025. This projection suggests that the current downward trajectory in Citi law firm group associate hiring is not expected to reverse course quickly, but rather to deepen over the next few years. The continued expectation of a decline in Biglaw hiring trends 2025 2028 paints a clear picture of a more constrained entry-level market.

The sustained Biglaw first-year associate hiring decline Citi has reported indicates a fundamental recalibration within the legal sector. This pattern of reduced large law firm entry-level recruitment is expected to lead to consistently smaller populations of junior associates across the industry. The ongoing downward trend, as projected by industry experts, suggests that firms are becoming more conservative in their intake of new talent, potentially in response to economic pressures or evolving business models.

For those considering a career in Biglaw, or for firms assessing their long-term talent pipelines, these Biglaw hiring trends 2025 2028 are critical. The shift implies increased competition for a shrinking pool of entry-level positions, demanding greater strategic foresight from both candidates and firm management. The insights from Gretta Rusanow and the Citi law firm group associate hiring survey collectively paint a picture of a legal landscape where entry into top-tier firms will likely become even more challenging in the foreseeable future.

Lawyers considering career moves or those in firm management should note the tightening Biglaw entry-level job market, indicating increased competition for positions and potential shifts in firm talent acquisition strategies and long-term workforce planning.

Source: Original reporting via Bloomberg Law, citing Citi's analysis.