ABA JOURNAL –Lateral hiring at law firms was up nearly 111% in 2021 following a 30% decline in 2020, according to the National Association for Law Placement. The 110.9% increase was the largest year-over-year increase since the NALP began tracking that kind of data 23 years ago, according to a March 30 press release summarizing results from the NALP’s Survey on 2021 Lateral Hiring. The previous year-over-year high was 48.5% in 2011, the NALP’s analysis found. Lateral hiring increased across all categories of lawyers, but it was highest for associates. Their lateral hiring increased by nearly 149% in 2021. Lateral hiring of partners increased by nearly 43%. “The fact that the lateral hiring market was red hot in 2021 does not come as a surprise to anyone working in the industry,” said James Leipold, executive director of the NALP, in the press release. “Even so, it is startling to see these numbers. … Lateral lawyer hiring at this level is likely unsustainable over time, and I expect the lateral market to cool a bit in 2022, or at least level off. But for now, it remains a volatile and fast-moving market. Coupled with rising associate salaries, it’s a bit of a battlefield out there for midlevel associate talent right now.”