Big Law Firms Begin Recruiting Law Students Earlier in the Race for Top Talent

Top US law firms are moving their recruitment timelines further forward, with some firms beginning the hiring process while students are still in their first semester of law school.

The shift is part of an increasingly competitive effort to secure promising young legal talent well before students are close to entering the workforce. Students beginning law school this month may be encouraged to prepare for summer associate applications for 2028, with potential full-time roles starting in 2029.

Several major firms began opening applications during the first semester last year, including Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Davis Polk, Gibson Dunn, Weil and Milbank. Paul Weiss, Simpson Thacher and Milbank have indicated that they will also begin their recruiting processes before Christmas this year.

The approach has attracted criticism from some within the legal industry. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton said it was receiving applications from students who were still unfamiliar with different legal practice areas. However, firms face pressure to follow the accelerated timetable because delaying recruitment could mean losing strong candidates to competitors.

The early hiring trend is also linked to expectations about artificial intelligence and the future demand for junior lawyers. Firms are considering whether AI could reduce the need for some entry-level legal work, while making highly capable lawyers with strong judgment even more valuable.

The development brings Big Law closer to recruitment practices already seen on Wall Street, where financial firms have increasingly sought to secure talented students years before they are expected to enter the workforce.