Gridlines Newsletter

Advice on the legal job search and trends in the legal market.

Moving to Law Firms in Boston

The Boston BigLaw legal market is booming. There are more associate openings that there are qualified attorneys to fill them. So if you're a BigLaw associate that has been thinking about moving to Boston, now is the time.

Law firms in Boston cover lots of different practice areas, with much of the work driven by industries like financial services, technology and life sciences. Although Boston is not one of the largest cities population-wise in the country, it is one of the largest legal markets. This is because these key industries in Boston demand a lot of different types of transactional, regulatory and dispute-related legal services.

For BigLaw associates who are considering moving to Boston, I have created a FREE attorney relocation guide. The guide provides an overview of all the things that an associate needs to think about if they are looking at law firms in Boston including: practice area demands, specific firms, compensation trends, bar admission and attorney culture, as well as practical considerations for a geographic relocation. Here is an excerpt:

Much like New York and the Bay Area, the demand for lateral associates in the Boston legal market is highest in corporate and transactional practices. The needs within corporate work are fairly specialized, tied to the key industries and corporate entities in the city. Below are the most in-demand practice areas...

The pandemic has put geographic relocation on the minds of a lot of BigLaw associates. Some are moving back to their homes from when they are younger. Others are looking at the ideal places to start or raise families. Boston is a city that offers the charm, culture and comfort of living in New England with a very sophisticated and well-compensated legal market.

In order to make a successful geographic move as a BigLaw associate, you need a legal recruiter with an expert understanding of all the factors and complications. This includes issues regarding bar admission requirements, transferring and selling your specific practice, relocation costs and expenses. As a full-service recruiter and career advisor, I create detailed search lists for my candidates and assist each candidate on every step in the search: detailed and tailored material review, applications, interview preparation and offer evaluation and negotiation.

To start, download my Boston relocation guide and if you or someone you know needs advice on making a lateral move, please reach out to me at Gridline Search + Consulting.