Corporate Associates Lack Skills
 April 4, 2004

As transactional practices make a come-back, firms are finding a lack of mid-level associates with real experience. The problem is two- fold – lawyers admitted in 2000 and 2001 have not had the opportunity to work on the mergers and acquisitions necessary to hone their skills. At the same time, partners’ expectations of the skill level of mid-level associates remain at pre-recession levels. The result is a very strong, lateral hiring demand for senior associates who would normally be considered too close to partnership consideration to hire.