The competition for first-year associates hit a fevered pitch 2023 as corporate law firms in Texas hired 503 brand new lawyers last fall to join their Texas offices — a 15 percent jump over 2022, according to exclusive new Texas Lawbook 50 data.
Twenty-six law firms operating in Texas increased their hiring of new law school graduates in 2023, while 15 firms reduced their first-year hires and nine firms hired the same number in 2023 as they did the prior year.
Sixteen of the 26 firms adding more first-year associates are national law firms based outside of Texas.
Kirkland & Ellis, a Chicago-founded law firm, added 74 first-year lawyers in its Austin, Dallas and Houston offices in 2023 — nearly double the number the firm hired in 2022 and more than any other two corporate law firms in Texas combined.
Houston-based Vinson & Elkins ranked second, adding 46 first-year Texas hires — down from 51 in 2022 but nearly double the 24 rookie lawyers hired by Haynes Boone in 2023. Sidley Austin ranks fourth with 23 first-year associate additions in 2023. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher ranks fifth with 20.
In all, 17 law firms added 10 or more first-year associates in 2023. The national law firms hired 322 newbie attorneys last year, while the Texas-headquartered law firms added 182.
One large corporate law firm, Norton Rose Fulbright, declined to provide its number of first-year hires.