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Recent reporting from Bloomberg Law, Reuters, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms what firms on the ground already know: demand for experienced attorneys in Texas continues to exceed supply. Texas’s legal hiring market has shifted to intense competition as national firms expand rapidly. In addition, according to Staffing Industry Analysts survey, 66% of employers plan to increase headcount in the first half of 2026, up from 63% in both 2025 and 2024. With employment at record highs, building a strong legal team hinges on strategic hiring that attracts top talent. Texas Legal Market Expands  In the past year, several prominent law firms have entered Texas, increasing competition across major markets, according to Bloomberg Law. In January 2026, Dechert opened offices in Dallas and Houston, bringing more than 20 partners from McDermott Will and Schulte Roth & Zabel, signaling increased corporate, M&A, and complex litigation work in Texas. Offit Kurman opened its first Texas office in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in October 2025, focusing on corporate restructuring and bankruptcy. Energy-focused growth has accelerated. Sullivan & Cromwell began preparing for a Houston expansion in early 2026, targeting Texas’s energy sector and reinforcing Houston’s status as a national hub for energy and complex transactions. Regional firms are also expanding. In 2025, Balch & Bingham strengthened its Austin presence by combining with Duggins Wren Mann and Romero, enhancing its energy and regulatory capabilities.  Paul Hastings has expanded significantly, adding more than 20 partners in Dallas and Houston over the past two years through late 2025, showing long-term confidence in the Texas market. King & Spalding set the stage by opening a Dallas office in early 2024, focusing on intellectual property and litigation. Its presence continues to influence competition in North Texas. These developments show that Texas is now a primary destination for national law firm growth, not just an emerging market. In Texas’s market, Collier Legal Search delivers real-time market intelligence and proactive connections to outstanding candidates, enabling firms to hire top talent before others even realize they are available. Hiring Strategy and Speed Matter with Strong Employment and Limited Supply This expansion comes as legal employment remains tight. Reuters reports that U.S. legal employment reached a record high in late 2025, with over 1.2 million people working in legal services. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 4% growth in lawyer employment over the next decade, spurred by increased business activity, regulatory complexity, and litigation demand. In the short term, this growth does little to ease the competition for experienced attorneys in Texas. Firms are competing for attorneys who are selective, well compensated, and often considering multiple opportunities, rather than for unemployed candidates. Speed now defines the Texas legal hiring market. Firms that act quickly secure top talent, while those that hesitate often miss out. Highly qualified attorneys rarely remain available for long. Many are not actively searching. Instead, they become open to change quietly and briefly, often triggered by leadership shifts, client changes, or misalignment with long-term goals. By the time a role is publicly posted, the strongest candidates are often already engaged in conversations elsewhere. Consistency gives firms an advantage. Firms partnering with Collier Legal Search gain early, inside access to the market. Our established relationships allow us to alert clients to talent before a formal job search begins, giving our partners a strategic lead in securing the most sought-after attorneys. Speed is about preparation, insight, and decisive action. Collier Legal Search provides firms with current candidate expectations, internal alignment strategies, and informed guidance. Our process helps firms minimize risk, avoid drawn-out searches, manage counteroffers, and secure top talent ahead of competitors. Competing Beyond Compensation Although compensation in Texas continues to rise, salary alone is no longer enough to secure top talent. Candidates now consider other factors that influence long-term career satisfaction. Leadership stability, mentorship, workload expectations, flexibility, and clarity about opportunities for promotion are increasingly important to candidates. Firms that communicate their value proposition are well placed to compete, even against larger firms. Transparency is essential. Candidates expect explicit communication about bonuses, expectations, and growth paths. Firms that provide clarity early build trust and reduce the risk of late-stage withdrawals. Remaining Competitive within a Crowded Market To compete in Texas’s legal hiring market, firms should focus on these priorities: Plan ahead by anticipating growth, succession, and client-driven hiring needs. Move decisively with streamlined interview processes and empowered decision-makers. Differentiate clearly by communicating culture, leadership, and long-term opportunity. Work with an experienced legal recruiter like Collier Legal Search. With over 20 years of experience, we have relationships with top talent. Firms entering and expanding in Texas are acting deliberately and quickly. Those seeking to compete must do likewise. Texas remains one of the nation’s most thriving legal markets. Firm expansion, strong employment, and sustained client demand indicate that competition for talent will remain intense. To secure the talent your firm needs, partner with Collier Legal Search. Contact us to discuss your hiring strategy and take the next step toward building a stronger team. A Strategic Partner in Texas In 2026, Collier Legal Search marks 23 years in business. Over more than two decades, our success has been guided by a simple yet powerful principle: recruiting is most effective when rooted in relationships, local insight, and a deep understanding of a firm’s business objectives. Led by native Houstonians, Collier Legal Search brings a uniquely local perspective to a rapidly evolving Texas legal market. Our owners’ deep-rooted connections to Texas law firms and legal professionals shape how we engage with clients, particularly as national and international firms expand into Houston and other key Texas markets. As firms enter Texas, successful hiring requires more than market knowledge alone. It requires an understanding of leadership vision, growth strategy, and how a firm intends to position itself in a highly competitive environment. We spend time meeting directly with firm leadership to understand their business approach, practice priorities, and long-term goals. That insight allows us to align hiring strategy with where the firm is

As Thanksgiving approaches, we gratefully reflect on the blessings in our lives. Many of us work and thrive in the legal industry. Perhaps then it is appropriate at this time of year to briefly consider the Mayflower Compact, often referred to as the first legal document setting the framework for the settlers to both peacefully and productively contribute to their new community. Signed in 1620, the Mayflower Compact provided terms for the settlers’ system of self-government, accountability, and collective responsibility. Within the practice of law, at both law firms and in legal departments, these principles remain essential to build and sustain high-performing teams. At Collier Legal Search, we are truly thankful to our clients for the opportunity to support their growth while aligning our recruitment processes with these foundational principles. The Mayflower Compact Settlers arrived in the New World in November of 1620 after an arduous transatlantic crossing. Their intended destination was far south of where they landed, which meant their original governing charter no longer applied. Without a system of rules, the settlers faced the risk of disorder, fragmented leadership, and competing interests even before arrival. Recognizing its immediate importance, the Settlers swiftly drafted and signed the Mayflower Compact, which laid out the New World’s first legal framework for a system of civility and governance. This short but powerful document became: The first written agreement for self-government in the New World A framework for majority-rule decision-making An early example of authority derived from mutual consent A safeguard against disorder at a time when unity was essential A functional governing agreement that remained in place until 1691 The Compact emphasized fairness, shared responsibility, and the creation of laws that served the entire community. It provided stability, collaboration, and a common mission. These same principles are crucial even today in all industries, including the modern law firm or legal department. Team leaders can take a few notes from the Settlers: Shared Purpose Creates Stronger Teams The Compact provided clarity on a unified purpose for the Settlers. These individuals arrived with diverse backgrounds, strengths, and viewpoints. Despite differences, the Settlers were unified towards one common purpose to reside and thrive in a productive, peaceful community. In the context of legal hiring today, communicating a shared purpose is a defining factor in successful team building. At Collier Legal Search, we look well beyond the prospective hire’s resume to determine whether he/she is aligned with the legal team’s mission and value system. As the Settlers did, we understand that a unified legal team can thrive regardless of individual differences. Governance and Structure Drive Stability To avoid conflict, the Mayflower Compact provided a systemic structure for governance upon which the Settlers relied. Similarly, modern legal teams thrive when structure is intentional and clearly defined. Structure should include transparency in role expectations, clear reporting, consistent performance standards, and consistency in leadership. Without these elements, troubles can escalate quickly to conflict due to employee turnover, culture challenges, and operational inefficiencies. At Collier Legal Search, we work hard to consistently understand our clients’ structural goals, ready to source the right candidate when needed. Accountability Creates Trust and Professional Excellence The Mayflower Compact bound its signers to uphold the laws and decisions shaped by the group. It was more than an agreement; it was a commitment to accountability. Today, accountability remains central in the legal profession. In hiring a successful legal team, this means: selecting candidates who value integrity as much as substantive/technical skill encouraging teams to communicate openly and responsibly choosing strong leaders who inspire trust and loyalty The most effective legal teams are built on trust, and trust is built through accountability, which should be prioritized. By extension, Collier Legal Search adopts and applies these same principles. Our number one goal is to earn and build trusted partnerships with our clients. As we enter the Thanksgiving holiday, we would like to extend our gratitude to our clients, candidates, and partners for your continued trust in us. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

As the U.S. economy continues to evolve, the jobs report provides insight into hiring trends, workforce dynamics, and broader economic confidence. The June 2025 Jobs Report, released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and analyzed by Staffing Industry Analysts, paints a picture of moderate but meaningful progress for the legal industry. Here’s an analysis of the June 2025 Jobs Report and how labor market movements affect legal hiring today and in the months to come. Key Takeaways from the June 2025 Jobs Report 147,000 new nonfarm payroll jobs were added in June, surpassing market expectations of around 110,000. Unemployment edged down from 4.2% to 4.1%, signaling a relatively stable workforce environment. Average hourly earnings increased by $0.08, reaching $36.30—a 3.7% rise from the previous year. Job gains were concentrated in state and local government (+47,000), healthcare (+39,000), and social assistance (+19,000). Meanwhile, temporary help services declined slightly, by approximately 2,600 positions. These numbers confirm that, although the economy is not booming, it is steadily growing, and demand for skilled professionals, including legal talent, remains high. What This Means for Legal Hiring While the June 2025 Jobs Report doesn’t specifically break out data for the legal profession, broader hiring trends help illuminate where the opportunities lie. Here’s what our Collier Legal Search team is seeing in legal hiring right now:  1. Permanent Placement on the Rise With temporary roles slipping slightly, employers appear more confident in making long-term hiring commitments. This shift favors legal professionals seeking direct-hire roles, particularly those with experience in regulated industries such as healthcare, education, intellectual property, and the public sector. At Collier Legal Search, we’re seeing an uptick in law firms and corporate legal departments seeking permanent team members to support steady growth.  2. Competitive Compensation Is the New Standard Wage growth may appear incremental, but it actually represents a shortage of skilled, long-term talent. Legal professionals—especially those with in-demand specialties, such as litigation, regulatory matters, and employment law—are weighing multiple job offers and negotiating for higher compensation and more favorable benefit packages. To stay competitive, employers must streamline hiring timelines and offer compensation packages that reflect market realities.  3. Specialization in Public-Facing Sectors Is Growing The sectors showing the most job growth—healthcare, social services, tax law, and local government—are all highly regulated. That means an increased need for attorneys and legal staff who understand policy, compliance, contracts, and public law. This creates opportunities for legal professionals to bring niche expertise to organizations seeking operational and regulatory stability.  4. Steady Demand, But a Cautious Market Despite the job gains, underlying indicators such as stagnant hours worked, soft consumer demand, and selective hiring suggest that employers remain cautious. For law firms, this means carefully staffing, expanding where demand is strong, and avoiding overextension. The key is agility, and that’s where targeted legal recruiting makes the difference in locating the ideal candidates to join your firm. What’s Trending in Hiring In Houston Legal Our conversations with law firms, in-house legal teams, and candidates confirm much of what the June 2025 Jobs Report suggests—but with nuance. Here are some current trends we’re tracking in the legal sector:  Law firms are hiring again after a brief period of uncertainty, especially in corporate, healthcare, and education law. We are seeing an uptick in patent litigation, wealth preservation management/estate planning, as well as in-house corporate teams. There continues to be a conversation about the utilization of AI within the legal environment, which could result in a decrease in billable hours and ultimately lead to the need for additional staff. In-house teams are expanding to reduce outside counsel costs and gain direct control over compliance and regulatory issues. Paralegal and legal assistant roles are in high demand. Demand is high, and the supply of good, lasting talent is short, which has driven up legal salaries by 10-20% over the past five years. Partnering with Collier Legal Search If you’re responsible for hiring legal talent in today’s market, the June 2025 Jobs Report offers several lessons:  Act fast for the Top Candidates: Top candidates are in demand. Slow interview processes mean missed opportunities. Connect with our team and let us know of your hiring initiatives for the remainder of 2025 and 2026. Be transparent: Candidates appreciate clarity about your full compensation package, including benefits, expectations, and growth paths. Partner strategically: With over 20 years of experience in the Houston legal market, Collier Legal Search has established relationships within the Houston legal community. In addition, the Houston Business Journal just honored us as one of Houston’s top Direct Permanent Placement and Executive Search firms. Our partners, Kellie Collier and Kay Egger, are Houstonians deeply connected to the Houston legal community. At Collier Legal Search, we’re committed to helping firms connect with top legal talent in Houston, TX. Whether you’re looking to grow your team, pivot your legal hiring strategy, or secure your next role, we’re here to help. Contact our team today.