Placing the right attorney
in the right firm.
From first-year associates to senior equity partners, from AmLaw 100 firms to Fortune 500 in-house departments — we guide careers with precision, discretion, and an unwavering commitment to the right fit.
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Legal Search Consultants
"We don't just fill roles. We build careers — and the firms that depend on them."
Where legal expertise
meets data intelligence.
Forward Lateral's team consists of former Big Law attorneys who have sat exactly where you are sitting. We've navigated the associate grind, weighed the partnership calculus, and made our own lateral moves — and that experience informs every conversation we have with candidates and firms.
But what sets us apart goes beyond relationships. Forward Lateral was built by an engineer with a technology and startup background who saw a fundamentally broken process and rebuilt it from the ground up. Our platform uses data — not intuition alone — to match the right attorney to the right opportunity, every time. The result is a recruiting experience that is smarter, faster, and more precise than anything the traditional legal search industry has offered before.
Legal Expertise You Can Trust
Our recruiting team includes former Big Law attorneys with firsthand experience at the firms and in the practice groups that define the market — so the guidance you receive comes from people who have genuinely been there.
Nationwide Recruiting Network
We partner with a curated network of specialized recruiting firms across the country — each with deep expertise in specific industries, practice areas, or geographies. When your search calls for a niche specialist or a market we don't cover directly, we leverage those relationships so you never leave an opportunity on the table.
Built on Data, Not Just Instinct
Forward Lateral was founded by an engineer who recognized that legal recruiting had always relied on gut feel and rolodexes — and built something better. Our proprietary platform maps detailed candidate profiles against each role's specific requirements, surfacing only genuine matches and removing the guesswork from both sides of the search.
Radical transparency.
Full stop.
We believe that honest guidance — even when it's not what you want to hear — is the most valuable thing a recruiter can offer. Too many candidates have been burned by vague promises and hidden agendas. That ends here.
We operate with 100% transparency in everything we do. No hidden agendas. No misleading promises. No submitting your resume somewhere without asking first. Just candid conversations about your career and what opportunities truly align with your goals — whether that means moving now, waiting six months, or recognizing that you're already in the right place.
No Surprise Submissions
We will never submit your resume to a firm without your explicit, informed consent for that specific firm. Every submission is a decision you make, not one we make for you.
Honest Market Assessments
If the market isn't right for your search right now, we'll tell you. If your materials need work before you're ready to move, we'll tell you that too. You deserve accurate information, not flattery.
Clear Conflicts of Interest
We're paid by the firms that hire our candidates. We'll tell you that upfront — and explain exactly how we manage that dynamic so your interests remain protected throughout the process.
Feedback, Always
Whether an interview goes well or doesn't, we get you real feedback. No ghosting, no vague non-answers. You'll always know where you stand and why.
Absolute Confidentiality
Your search is your business. We will never contact your current firm, share your name with anyone without your permission, or submit your materials anywhere without explicit sign-off. Complete discretion is not a feature — it's a baseline requirement.
Career services for every stage of your legal journey
Whether you're exploring your options or ready to move, we're the partner your career deserves.
Your move affects
more than just you.
A partner lateral move is one of the most consequential decisions of your career. Your clients, your team, your compensation, and your trajectory are all on the line. You cannot afford to work with anyone who treats this as a transaction rather than a calling.
We understand the complexity of portable business, the anatomy of a strong lateral business plan, and the nuance of every firm's compensation structure. We have earned the ear of the most profitable, strategically-minded firms in the market — and we use that access carefully, on your behalf, with the confidentiality your search demands.
Your career is
worth protecting.
You spent three years in law school, passed the bar, and earned your seat at the table. Now you're picking your head up and asking: is this the right table? Whether you're a first-year wondering if you chose the right firm or a fifth-year realizing the partnership path isn't what you expected, we've been exactly where you are.
We listen first. We understand your practice area, your goals, your non-negotiables — and we work the market on your behalf with discretion. Then our proprietary matching platform goes to work, comparing your profile against the specific attributes of every open role in our network to surface only the opportunities that are a genuine fit. You'll never be submitted anywhere without your explicit consent, and you'll never receive a call from us that isn't worth your time.
Senior enough to know
what you deserve.
The title of Counsel means something different at every firm. At some, it's a stepping stone — an explicit bridge to partnership. At others, it's a permanent role with different expectations and rewards. And at others still, it's simply what happens when you survive long enough.
As a counsel, you've accumulated real value: sophisticated experience, trusted client relationships, and market-facing expertise. Our role is to make sure you understand what that value is worth — and to connect you with platforms that will reward and develop it appropriately. You've earned the right to be strategic.
Walk in
prepared. Always.
Getting an interview is only half the battle. How you show up — how you tell your story, articulate your goals, and connect with the people across the table — determines whether the opportunity becomes an offer. Our certified coaches work with you one-on-one to make sure you're ready before you ever step into a firm.
Every engagement begins with a discovery session to understand what you're looking for, what motivates you, and how to position your experience compellingly. From there, we do live interview prep calls that simulate the real conversation — including hard questions, follow-ups, and the moments that catch most candidates off guard. And before every single interview, we send you a detailed prep sheet: who you're meeting, their background, what they care about, and the specific questions you can ask them to make a genuine impression.
Building firms that
compete and win.
When you partner with us on a lateral search, you're not getting a pile of resumes. You're getting a thoughtfully curated, thoroughly vetted presentation of candidates we believe will thrive in your specific culture and contribute meaningfully to your practice's growth — now and for years to come.
Our process is powered by proprietary candidate-matching software that cross-references detailed candidate profiles against your firm's specific needs — practice area focus, deal size, client profile, culture, and compensation structure — before a single name is presented. The result: you only see candidates who are genuinely viable for your role, not just technically qualified.
Discuss Your Search →Targeted Candidate Delivery
Every candidate we present has been rigorously screened for qualifications, motivations, and cultural fit — so you're interviewing prospects, not sorting through possibilities.
Brand Ambassadorship
We serve as an extension of your firm's reputation in the market. How we speak about you to candidates reflects directly on your brand — and we take that responsibility seriously.
Confidential Search Management
Sensitive searches — practice group rebuilds, replacement searches, strategic hires — are handled with complete discretion and careful process management from start to finish.
Long-Term Partnership
We're not transactional. Our best law firm relationships span years and dozens of successful placements — because we become a trusted extension of your talent strategy.
Legal talent that
understands your business.
The in-house legal market operates on different dynamics than law firms — and your hiring process should reflect that. We've spent years developing relationships with attorneys who aren't just looking for an exit from private practice, but who are genuinely drawn to the strategic, collaborative nature of in-house work. We find them for you.
Corporate In-House Roles
From General Counsel to staff attorney, we place legal talent across the full spectrum of corporate structures — public companies, private businesses, startups, and everything in between. In-house attorneys bring a unique combination of legal rigor and business judgment, and we know how to identify candidates who will thrive in a corporate environment, not just survive it.
Whether you're a company searching for your first in-house hire or an established legal department looking to expand, we bring the same precision and discretion to corporate searches that we apply to law firm placements. We don't just match credentials to job descriptions — we find attorneys who understand your industry, fit your culture, and are genuinely motivated by the work your business does.
We place across all corporate roles: General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, Senior Counsel, Corporate Counsel, and Staff Attorney positions at companies of all sizes and industries.
From our team
to your career.
Lateral Partner Moves FAQ: A Comprehensive Guide
Everything partners need to know about lateral moves — business plans, LPQs, portable books, compensation structures, and making the right decision.
Read article →
Legal Recruiting FAQ: A Complete Guide for Associates
Everything you need to know about working with a legal recruiter — timelines, confidentiality, materials, interviews, offers, and when to make your move.
Read article →
Your Law Firm Interview: A Candidate's Guide to Preparation and Success
A complete guide to lateral associate interviews — what to research, what to expect, questions to ask, and mistakes to avoid.
Read article →What working with us looks like
Confidential Consultation
We start with a candid conversation. No commitments, no pressure — just an honest assessment of your situation and what's possible in the current market.
Strategic Positioning
We help you identify the right targets, refine your materials, and develop a submission strategy tailored to your practice, goals, and timeline.
Active Advocacy
We make calls, have conversations, and position your candidacy directly with decision-makers — not just HR portals. Your recruiter is your advocate in the room.
Negotiation & Beyond
From offer structuring to resignation advice, we stay engaged through the finish line — and well beyond it. Your success is what we're measured by.
Ready to have the right conversation?
Every search begins with a confidential call. No commitment required — just candid guidance from someone who knows this market.