Lateral Moves
Your Next Lateral Move, Perfected
A lateral move isn’t just about switching firms — it’s about stepping into a role that better fits your ambition, values, and long-term trajectory.
At Smith Legal Search, we help you see the full picture before making your next move.
While most lawyers ultimately stay within their home market, the best outcomes often come from thinking beyond it. We’re the only search partner in Canada with a truly national lens — embedded in Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver — which means we bring you not just local insight, but comparative market perspective. Trends in one city often foreshadow shifts in another. Compensation, firm positioning, associate leverage, practice demand — we map the bigger picture so you can move with sharper context, even if you’re staying close to home.
Where You Go Next Matters
And when the right move does mean changing markets? You’ll be working with the team
that makes those transitions seamless.
- 98% retention among the lawyers we place — because we prioritize alignment,
not just placement. - 45% of our moves cross regional lines, reflecting our ability to unlock
opportunity beyond borders. - Platform-first strategy across top-tier firms and high-performing boutiques.
Whether you’re just starting to explore or ready to make a move, we work at your pace — with discretion, strategic framing, and straight-up insight. Where you go next matters.
Where you go next matters.
Our perspective helps you focus on the outcomes that do too.
The Four-Step Lateral Framework
We’ve refined our approach to what matters most: discretion, fit, and forward momentum. Whether you’re testing the waters or ready to move, our process adapts to your timing — while keeping every step purposeful. And when you’re ready to act, we commit to securing live interviews within 30 days. Guaranteed.
Align
A curated list of firms filtered by platform strength, cultural compatibility, and long-term opportunity — not just open seats.
Assess
A confidential deep dive into your goals, practice metrics, and timeline — so we understand the motivations driving your next move.
Advance
We guide you through offers, navigate resignation strategy, and stay involved post- move to ensure a strong integration.
Advocate
We present your profile only with your explicit permission. Every conversation is discreet.
Whether launching in a new market or deepening your bench in a key region, Smith Legal Search is the trusted partner behind some of the most significant legal team expansions in Canada. We’ve supported multiple U.S. firms in opening Canadian offices — quietly and effectively — navigating cross-border complexities with fluency. We’ve also led major partner and group transitions in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver, managing every layer: from portable books and internal politics to platform alignment and cultural fit. Just as importantly, we’ve helped Canadian firms expand into new cities and execute strategic mergers — locally and nationally — pairing regional insight with a truly national lens.
Our combined experience in the Canadian legal market is unmatched. Whether you’re moving one partner or an entire practice, we bring the judgment, discretion, and scale to make it count.
How do legal recruiters work—and how is Smith Legal Search different?
We connect lawyers with opportunities—including many that never appear online. But more than
that, we build relationships. With lawyers, with firms, and with the market itself. Our offices operate as a fully integrated national team, offering both regional nuance and a national perspective. We’re not just intermediaries—we’re trusted advisors who help you navigate the landscape with clarity, context, and discretion.
Why use a recruiter instead of applying directly?
Lateral moves are infrequent and high-stakes—you may make one or two in your career. We do
this work every day. We help shape how your story is told, prep you for interviews, debrief after
meetings, and support you through offer negotiation and resignation strategy. Just as
importantly, we offer a candid read on the market and help you understand the real differences
between firms, practice groups, and platforms. We're in your corner every step of the way.
Do I have to pay for your services?
No. Our professional fees are paid by the hiring firm.
Is my job search confidential?
Yes—always. We never share your materials or identity without your prior written consent. Full stop.