It’s January. That means it’s time for the first round of litigation trend forecasts from law firms and other industry players.
Recent reports looking ahead have come from Crowell & Moring, Covington & Burling and Seyfarth Shaw. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher has offered insights about what’s in store, and so has legal recruiter Major, Lindsey & Africa. Last month, Citi Private Bank and Hildebrandt Consulting weighed in.
Here’s what they all agree on: the future is uncertain.
Thank you and goodnight.
To be fair, this is an exceptionally difficult year to forecast. The federal government is a huge factor in shaping the legal market, and who knows what the Trump administration is going to do. I get the sense even the Trump administration doesn’t know.
Moreover, the forecasts at times can come across as a tad self-serving. For example, headhunter Major, Lindsey & Africa in its “Big Law 2017: A Look Ahead” released Friday suggests—wait for it—that the “most viable and expedient” way for firms to grow is through lateral hiring.
