BigHand Report Reveals Costly Associate Attrition Rates

BigHand, a leading provider of legal software solutions, released new industry research on matter resourcing and talent management. Navigating the Million Dollar Problem: Resourcing for Profitability, Client and Talent Retention is a comprehensive analysis of current challenges and industry blind spots.

It reveals a rising level of attrition across all seniority levels from junior associate to equity partner, and a steep increase in the number of lawyers leaving the legal profession altogether. One major factor identified is matter resourcing, which remains widely driven by partner preferences rather than capacity, skill sets, and career interests.

“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,” said Eric Wangler, President, Global Legal Market at BigHand. “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.”

Key findings from the report include:

• Industry exodus: The number of associates (junior and senior) leaving the legal profession has increased significantly in the last 12 months, from 9% in 2024 to over 16% in 2025.
• Firm-wide attrition: Lawyer attrition has worsened at all seniority levels, reaching an average of 27% firm-wide. The resulting service quality and disruption significantly affect firm profitability.
• Replacement struggles: Lateral hiring for non-equity partners is providing little, no, or negative impact among about half (49%) of respondents, suggesting retention efforts must be prioritised over recruitment.
• Subjective work allocation: Over one-third (37%) of legal matter resourcing decisions are based on personal preference over merit, creating unsustainable lawyer utilisation curves that cause burnout and dissatisfaction.
• Data debt: Fewer than half (49%) of firms report having full data on the capacity and utilisation of their associates, and 57% do not consider profitability in resourcing matters.

“This new attrition data is proving that an industry often criticised for being slow to adapt needs to pick up its pace,” said Dave Cook, Global Director, Resource Management at BigHand. “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.”

The report is based on insights collected in Q1 2025 from over 800 senior law firm leaders, operations and HR professionals, and support services managers across firms with 50+ lawyers in North America and the UK. First-hand accounts, case studies, and internal data support its conclusions.

Download the full report to explore additional talent management statistics, resourcing recommendations, and industry benchmarks.

About BigHand

BigHand is a leading global provider of technology solutions for busy legal professionals. Its product suite helps law firms improve lawyer and support staff management, document production, financial performance, and matter pricing.