Guidance for Mid-Level Associates from Legal Recruitment Experts in the Vancouver and Calgary Markets
As a mid-level Associate in the Vancouver or Calgary legal market, you’ve hit your stride. You’ve gained strong foundational experience in your practice area, built good relationships with clients and referral sources, taken ownership of files, seen your skillset grow and started shaping your own legal style. But you might also be wondering: Is this firm still the right fit for the practice and professional life I want? Maybe you’ve been slotted into a practice area that wasn’t your first choice, or you aren’t getting the kind of work that you’d like to be doing. It could be there’s no place for you to grow or the firm doesn’t (or can’t) support the kind of professional development you think you need or want. There are all sorts of reasons for taking a step back and getting some perspective on how it’s all going.
At Edge Legal Recruitment, we speak with lawyers like you every day — mid-level Associates weighing whether it’s time to explore new opportunities in either Vancouver or Calgary’s lateral recruitment market. Sometimes it’s about career progression, sometimes it’s about getting a different mix of work, sometimes it’s seeking a better cultural fit. Whatever your “why,” a lateral move is a big decision — and one that deserves careful consideration.
We’ve been helping lawyers consider their options and make successful career moves for over 20 years. Here’s our take on how to navigate the process with clarity, strategy, and confidence.
1. Start With Your “Why”
Before polishing your CV, pause and reflect on how you are feeling and what’s prompting your thinking about change. Is it:
- Limited opportunities for advancement?
- Lack of work in a practice area that interests you?
- An absence of mentorship or support?
- High billable hours targets that don’t allow “life” or “balance” to enter the equation?
- Firm culture or leadership dynamics?
Getting clear on your motivations helps you identify what’s lacking in your current situation and whether or not it can be fixed. It also helps your recruiter guide you towards the best fit and provides a frame of reference for evaluating new firms and opportunities more objectively — the last thing you want is to invest time and energy into a move that simply trades one frustration for another.
2. You’re in Demand – But Timing is Crucial
If you’re a mid-level Associate, by now you have experience and know what you want (or at least what you don’t want). The good news is that your skills are highly marketable. Years 3 and 4 offer the best window to move and settle into a new team before those partnership conversations begin. At Edge, we consistently hear from hiring partners looking for Associates just like you. But finding the right opportunity is about learning the nuances between firms and focusing on potential roles that align best with your specific career goals.
Planning smart strategic moves is our specialty.
3. Know Yourself and What You’re Looking For
When you start exploring the market, it helps to identify your priorities early. Consider what matters most to you:
- Practice mix: Do you want to specialize or gain broader exposure? Some firms prefer that you stay broad early on and specialize in 5th year, whereas others require you to specialize after 1st year.
- Firm culture: What kind of mentorship, values, or leadership style do you thrive under?
- Size and structure: Are you drawn to an elite top tier, “big firm” with national or international reach, a western regional firm or a boutique environment?
- Flexibility & Location: Are hybrid or remote options important to you? Do you have family considerations that will come into play? Do you need to work reasonably close to where you currently live?
- Pathway to partnership: Do you know what the path looks like — and if it aligns with your goals?
- Is an in-house role a future goal: If your future includes moving from private practice to an in-house position, that may affect the kinds of firms that will benefit your career trajectory. Conversely, maybe you landed in a government role or in-house and you are thinking a move back to private practice would be a better fit.
We help candidates think through these questions before making a move — so you land somewhere that fits perfectly now, and offers the optimal flexibility for future growth.
4. Choose a Recruiter You Can Trust
Calgary and Vancouver’s legal communities are close-knit. Word travels fast, which is why discretion matters. Working with an established, trusted recruiter like Edge ensures:
- You “walk through the market” with a senior expert, who can share key knowledge about firms’ profiles and reputations – you’ll get the real low down.
- Your name and resume are only shared in confidence, always with your explicit consent.
- You get early access to roles that aren’t yet public – our clients like working with us and give us an early heads up before roles go live.
- Your trusted advisor will be highly responsive, and steer you through the process with integrity and transparency
We’ve built deep relationships with Partners, law firm management and their hiring teams by delivering excellent service, let us do the same for you.
You can learn more about our client service reputation here:
Our testimonials and on our LinkedIn profiles:
@LindseyPetherick and @JohnPetherick.
5. Get Ready Before You’re Ready
Even if you’re not actively job-seeking, now is a smart time to:
- Refresh your CV and deal sheet and send it to your recruiter for comment.
- Polish your LinkedIn profile and update your bio.
- Keep track of file experience, client-facing work, and billable hours.
- Reflect on your narrative: Why might you want to move — and what are you moving toward?
A quick check-in with a recruiter can help you prepare quietly and confidently — whether you’re moving in six weeks or six months.
Why work with Edge Legal Recruitment
At Edge Legal Recruitment, we’ve supported hundreds of mid-level Associates through successful, strategic career transitions in the Vancouver and Calgary markets. We’re not just here to help you change firms — we’re here to help you build a career that fits you: your goals, your values, and your future.
If you’re wondering whether it’s time to make a move — or just want to understand your options — we’re always happy to have a confidential conversation.
Reach out to John or Lindsey at Edge Legal Recruitment today
[email protected] or call 604 679 3835
[email protected] or call 778 996 2817