Hire your next associate attorney.
We recruit associate attorneys for mid-size and regional firms across the country, from insurance defense to corporate work. Tell us the role and the market, and within a few days you’ll have a short list of vetted candidates we’d recommend. Most searches close in about five to six weeks.
- A short list of vetted candidates within days.
- Deep litigation coverage, strongest in labor & employment, insurance defense, and commercial litigation.
- Screened on practice fit, real motivation, and courtroom experience before you meet them.
- No cost until you hire.
Most of the associates we present are litigators who are open to a move now.
Associate-level attorneys (roughly zero to seven years) already in our network, by practice. Coverage is deepest in labor and employment, insurance defense, and commercial litigation, with real mid-level depth in each.
- Labor & employment
- Insurance defense
- Commercial & civil litigation
- Corporate & transactional
- Family
- Real estate
- Construction
What an associate costs by practice area and experience
These base salary ranges come from ITG's 2026 data on accepted offers and candidate compensation at mid-size and regional firms. Use the range to set your band and the typical figure to check where your offer lands. They cover base only. Bonus structure varies far more: a discretionary performance bonus is the most common one we see. Firms also combine origination, performance, and signing money, tie the bonus to holding a billable pace through the year, pay a percentage of the fees an associate generates (sometimes up to about 5 percent), or pay quarterly instead of once a year.
Pick a practice area and years of experience. The range comes from the same data as the table below.
| Practice | 1–2 yr | 3–4 yr | 5–7 yr | 8–14 yr | 15+ yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance defense | $115–140K typical $130K | $125–170K typical $150K | $120–190K typical $150K | $135–215K typical $175K | $150–225K typical $200K |
| Commercial & civil litigation | $110–150K typical $135K | $110–170K typical $150K | $125–185K typical $150K | $125–180K typical $150K | $120–200K typical $155K |
| Labor & employment | $120–150K typical $135K | $115–170K typical $140K | $120–175K typical $150K | $140–240K typical $175K | $160–300K typical $200K |
| Corporate & transactional | $130–200K typical $155K | $100–180K typical $140K | $125–215K typical $180K | $130–205K typical $175K | $100–275K typical $165K |
| Real estate (directional, smaller sample) | $100–120K typical $105K | $100–175K typical $155K | $115–160K typical $150K | $150–160K typical $150K | $100–350K |
| Personal injury (plaintiff) | $100–140K typical $120K | $115–175K typical $125K | $130–180K typical $150K | $135–200K typical $170K | $150–250K typical $180K |
| Family law | $95–130K typical $100K | $100–150K typical $100K | $100–150K typical $120K | $115–160K typical $140K | n/a |
- * Directional: a smaller sample than the other rows.
- Commercial & civil litigation: Commercial litigation pay levels off after about year five unless the attorney moves to a larger firm, where senior associates and of counsel can reach $240K to $310K.
- Corporate & transactional: The 15+ year corporate band is directional.
- Real estate: Senior real estate of counsel and partners often sit at $275K and above. That's why the 15+ band runs so wide.
- Personal injury (plaintiff): Base understates total pay in plaintiff work; contingency and case bonuses often add materially on top.
What the numbers say
- Pay moves up one experience band at a time. Typical insurance defense base runs about $130K at one to two years, $150K at five to seven, $175K at eight to fourteen, and $200K past fifteen.
- Candidates ask 10 to 20 percent above what regional firms pay. A one to two year insurance defense associate asks about $128K and accepts about $115K. Firms should budget low to mid range.
- Labor and employment and corporate pay the most at the junior level, and insurance defense and personal injury catch up by mid career. Family law sits lowest in every experience band.
- The seniority premium is largest in labor and employment and insurance defense, where typical base at fifteen years and up reaches $200K. It's smallest in commercial litigation, which flattens after year five.
These figures come from our own placements and candidate conversations across Florida, Georgia, Texas, California, and New York. Pay varies by market and firm, so ask us about your city and practice.
How the shortlist gets to you.
Fast without cutting corners
First vetted candidates usually reach you within days. Most associate searches close in about five to six weeks.
Screened before you meet them
We check practice fit and the real reason a candidate is looking, and for litigation roles we confirm actual courtroom experience. A large share of the associates in our network have documented trial or courtroom time.
Rooted in your market
Associate depth by metro: Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, Orlando, Houston, Dallas, and New York. Feeder schools include Florida State, Miami, Florida (Levin), Emory, Florida A&M, South Texas College of Law Houston, Georgia State, John Marshall, Georgia, Suffolk, FIU, and Nova Southeastern.
Built for the roles you’re filling
Insurance-side litigation is the busiest associate demand right now, followed by general and commercial litigation, labor and employment, and real estate. Much of that hiring is growth rather than backfill. Firms are opening larger offices, setting revenue targets they need more attorneys to hit, or rebuilding a practice group around a new direction.
Associate coverage by metro
- Miami–Fort Lauderdale
- Atlanta
- Tampa Bay
- Los Angeles
- Orlando
- Houston
- Dallas–Fort Worth
- New York
How fast can you fill an associate opening?
You usually have a vetted shortlist within days, and most associate searches close in about five to six weeks.
What types of associates do you place?
Litigation of every kind (insurance defense, general civil, commercial and coverage), labor and employment, corporate and transactional, real estate, family, and more, from first-years through senior associates and of counsel.
What should we expect to pay an associate?
It depends more on practice area than city. At mid-size and regional firms, a one to two year associate typically lands near $130,000 in insurance defense, $135,000 in commercial litigation and in labor and employment, and $155,000 in corporate. A five to seven year associate runs about $150,000 in most practices and $180,000 in corporate. Budget at the low to mid part of the range for your practice and band, since that is where most accepted offers sit.
Do we have to offer remote or hybrid to compete?
Not for most roles. In-office is the most common arrangement across the searches we're running now, at just over half, with hybrid a bit over a third and fully remote around one in twenty. Offering hybrid puts you ahead of most firms hiring today. A fully in-office role is a normal ask, and it won't take you out of the running.
How do you vet candidates before we see them?
Every associate we send has been screened on practice fit, the real reason they're looking, and, for litigation roles, how much courtroom time they've had. You meet a short list we stand behind.
How does your fee work?
Contingency. There's no cost until you make a hire, and nothing up front.
Which markets do you cover?
Nationwide from our Tampa base, most active in Florida, Georgia, Texas, California, and New York.
Have a seat to fill?
Tell us the role and the market. We’ll give you a straight read on the search and get a vetted shortlist moving.