Junior lawyers leaving law firms in record numbers amid mounting pressures
updated on 02 September 2025
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An increasing number of lawyers are leaving the legal profession, with new research based on responses from more than 800 law firm leaders across the UK and US revealing that associate attrition has nearly doubled in the past year. According to BigHand’s 2025 Legal Talent & Resourcing Report, 16% of junior associates and 17% of senior associates left the profession in the past 12 months, up from 9% in 2024.
The research has dubbed the industry-wide associate attrition as the “million dollar problem”, with each departure costing firms up to $1 million in lost revenue, recruitment and training fees. The report also highlighted that rising attrition impacts not only client delivery and revenue, but also:
- negatively impacts client satisfaction and the likelihood of repeat business;
- increases the risk of burnout and further attrition, as remaining staff absorbs additional workload; and
- disrupts client relationships and slows project delivery due to the loss of institutional knowledge and experience.
The main reasons for attrition cited by respondents across firms are hybrid working (22%) and work/life balance (20%). In comparison, in 2024, the leading causes were professional development (26%) and salary (23%). The research also found that a growing number of associates are moving to in-house or corporate roles, or leaving the profession altogether. Notably, firms reported nearly twice as many junior and senior associates departing in the past 12 months due to no longer intending to practise law.
BigHand President Eric Wangler commented: “The cost of losing a third-year associate now exceeds $1 million, yet firms continue to overlook intelligent, data-driven work allocation as a way to keep their young lawyers properly utilised and engaged.
“Watching your talent walk out the door to a competitor because you weren’t giving them the right work or career opportunities is a recipe for disaster in today’s legal market.”
BigHand’s report has urged firms to adopt data-driven resourcing strategies to better match lawyers with suitable work, improve retention and boost profitability. Only 49% of firms reported having full data on the capacity and utilisation of their associates.
BigHand’s global director said: “Less than a quarter of firms have a structured, tech-supported, data-driven approach to resourcing. The talent gap between those who adopt this approach and those who don’t is already growing and will continue to widen quickly.”
