Are You Moving Too Often? The Hidden Cost of Job Hopping for Attorneys

I’m seeing a lot of resumes lately where attorneys have left jobs after six months, eight months, or ten months.

Some attorneys who are just three years out of law school have already worked at three different firms. I’ve even encountered 2025 law school graduates who are in their second job and already looking for their third.

Here’s the problem: Many of my law firm clients won’t even consider candidates who have moved that frequently. And, in some cases, it doesn’t matter why they left.

Fair or not, that’s the reality of the legal hiring market.

A Candidate’s Biggest Career Regret

Last week, I spoke with an attorney who told me that if he could go back and do it all over again, he would have stayed at his first job out of law school for five years.

That was his biggest career regret.

His comment stuck with me, particularly because I’ve seen so many attorneys this year struggle to land their next opportunity because of frequent moves earlier in their careers.

I’m not suggesting that every attorney needs to stay in a job for two years, three years, or five years. And, I’m certainly not suggesting anyone should remain in a miserable work environment that’s negatively impacting their physical or mental health.

There are plenty of legitimate reasons to leave a job.

But, I do think attorneys, particularly those early in their careers, need to understand how frequent moves can be perceived by prospective employers and how those moves can limit their options down the road.

Sometimes, You Just Have to Push Through the Boredom

I recently listened to a podcast episode from Codie Sanchez titled The #1 Skill Every High Performer Has (And Every Quitter Lacks).

Codie made a statement that caught my attention: If you’re someone who jumps from one job or business to another every two or three years, you’re unlikely to build significant wealth.

Her broader point was about boredom and the ability to push through it.

High performers, she argues, have learned how to keep going even when the excitement of something new has worn off. They don’t necessarily move on just because the work has become repetitive, difficult, or less interesting.

She shares a four-part framework for pushing through that boredom rather than constantly chasing the next new thing.

That message resonated with me because of what I’ve been seeing in legal recruiting this year.

There’s a natural excitement that comes with a new job. New colleagues. New clients. New work. New opportunities.

But, eventually, the novelty wears off. The work becomes routine. You encounter frustrations. You begin to wonder whether there’s something better out there.

And, sometimes there is.

But, sometimes, the better opportunity comes from staying where you are long enough to develop deeper skills, build relationships, earn trust, and establish a track record.

Are You Running From Something or Toward Something?

This is a question I often encourage attorneys to consider when they’re thinking about making a move:

Are you running from your current job, or are you running toward a better opportunity?

There’s an important difference.

If you’re running toward something—a stronger practice, better training, more sophisticated work, a different career path, or an opportunity that aligns more closely with your long-term goals—that may be a very good reason to make a move.

But, if you’re simply frustrated, restless, or bored, I’d encourage you to think carefully before making another change.

Could you improve your situation without leaving? Could you ask for different work, seek out a mentor, develop a new skill, or take on more responsibility?

Could staying another year or two put you in a significantly stronger position for your next move?

Remember, every move becomes part of your professional story. And, at some point, prospective employers will start looking for a pattern.

You may have a perfectly reasonable explanation for every move on your resume. But, that doesn’t mean every prospective employer will give you the opportunity to explain.

My advice? Be intentional about your career moves. Don’t stay simply for the sake of staying, but don’t underestimate the value of sticking around long enough to build something meaningful, either.

Sometimes, the best career move is the one you don’t make.