Technology-adjacent practices, employment law, and privacy/data security lead 2026 lateral demand, with significant regional variations. High-growth markets like Charlotte and Seattle offer unique opportunities beyond traditional BigLaw strongholds.
BigLaw junior associate salaries follow the Cravath scale, with first-years earning $215,000 and second-years making $235,000 at top firms. Regional markets like Charlotte and Seattle may offer 10-20% adjustments, but cost of living differences often favor these markets.
San Francisco litigation associates typically earn 10-20% more in base salary than Seattle counterparts, but Seattle's lower cost of living and growing market demand are narrowing the gap significantly.
Charlotte's finance legal market is dominated by both national firms and regional powerhouses, driven by Bank of America and Wells Fargo headquarters. The market offers excellent training opportunities with 15-25% lower salaries than NYC but significantly lower living costs.