Hottest Legal Practice Areas for 2026 Lateral Moves

Dear Ryan X.,

The Practice Areas Driving 2026 Hiring

Here's what most attorneys don't realize: the hottest lateral markets for 2026 aren't necessarily the ones getting the most attention in law school career services offices. While corporate M&A and securities work still command top dollar, the real action is happening in practice areas that didn't exist a decade ago — and in markets that many coastal attorneys overlook.

Technology and AI-Adjacent Practices Lead the Pack

Many Am Law 100 firms are actively building AI and technology transactions groups. The demand isn't just in Silicon Valley anymore — firms like Fenwick & West, Wilson Sonsini, and Cooley are expanding their tech-focused employment practices as companies navigate AI implementation, layoff litigation, and emerging regulatory frameworks.

Privacy and data security laterals often command premium compensation packages. This isn't just about GDPR compliance anymore — it's about AI governance, biometric privacy laws, and the growing web of state-level data protection statutes. If you can combine privacy expertise with employment law or corporate transactions, you're looking at multiple competing offers.

Employment Law: The California Gold Rush Continues

California employment law remains active (note: employment laws change frequently and require current verification). Employment litigation firms in LA and San Francisco are actively seeking experienced attorneys to handle significant caseloads. Wage and hour class actions continue to generate enormous settlements, making California-specific expertise incredibly valuable.

The Bay Area has seen a surge in tech layoff litigation, and AI employment law is emerging as its own subspecialty. Even if you're not in California now, developing expertise in Cal/OSHA, AB5 gig worker classification, and pay transparency laws creates portable skills that travel well.

The Charlotte Surprise

Here's insider knowledge that most lateral candidates miss: Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing legal markets in the Southeast, and lateral opportunities appear strong. Major firms like K&L Gates, Moore & Van Allen, Robinson Bradshaw, and Parker Poe are actively recruiting from DC, Atlanta, and even NYC.

Bank of America and Wells Fargo headquarters drive massive financial services practices, while insurance defense and commercial litigation are booming. The math is compelling — associate salaries typically run below NYC levels while cost of living is significantly lower. For attorneys willing to make the geographic move, Charlotte offers BigLaw-quality work without BigLaw-level stress.

Specialized Practices with Staying Power

White collar defense and healthcare regulatory work remain consistently hot, but these practices require specific experience that's hard to lateral into from unrelated areas. ESG and sustainability practices are growing, though they're often folded into existing corporate or regulatory groups rather than standing alone.

Bankruptcy and restructuring create periodic windows of intense lateral activity. These practices are notoriously cyclical, but when the market turns, experienced restructuring attorneys often have strong lateral opportunities.

Regional Opportunities Beyond the Coasts

Seattle and the Pacific Northwest offer unique dynamics. Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta drive massive corporate and IP practices at firms like Perkins Coie, Davis Wright Tremaine, and Lane Powell. Washington's approach to noncompetes has created employment law considerations (verify current law as regulations change), and immigration practice demand runs high due to H-1B-dependent tech employers.

Cannabis law and environmental/ESG practices are also growing in the region, though these remain relatively niche compared to mainstream corporate work.

Strategic Positioning for 2026

The attorneys who will have the most lateral options in 2026 are those developing hybrid skillsets. Pure generalists struggle in today's market, but attorneys who can bridge practice areas — like combining employment law with privacy expertise, or corporate work with technology transactions — create unique value propositions.

Don't underestimate the importance of bar admission strategy either. Check reciprocity requirements early if you're considering cross-border moves, especially between high-demand markets like California, New York, and emerging centers like Charlotte or Austin.

The Bottom Line

The 2026 lateral market rewards specialists with portable expertise, particularly in technology-adjacent areas. But geography matters more than many attorneys realize. While coastal markets still offer the highest absolute compensation, the best risk-adjusted opportunities may be in growing secondary markets where your big-firm experience commands premium positioning.

Focus on building expertise that travels well across jurisdictions and client types. The attorneys with the most options in 2026 will be those who saw these trends coming and positioned themselves accordingly.