Following our Midsize Season Overview + Big Law Updates webinar on April 28, 2026, Flo analyzed live polling responses from attendees to better understand how student recruiting teams are navigating this stage of the cycle in real time. While the webinar focused on a deeper data dive into midsize hiring trends, and how they compare to broader BigLaw activity, these poll results provide additional context on how firms and law schools are reacting as the season progresses.
The responses reflect a market where midsize recruiting has moved quickly alongside BigLaw, with many firms already making key decisions while others continue to evaluate hiring needs into the spring. Below, we break down the full poll results and key takeaways from webinar participants across law firms and law schools.
Please note: Poll responses likely include duplicate results from organizations with multiple team members in attendance. Poll results should be read as indicators – not hard data. Total poll participation included: 64 law firm professionals, 99 law school professionals, and 141 attendees responding to our all-audience questions on Class of 2029 recruitment expectations.
Among the 64 law firm professionals who participated in the webinar polls, the majority came from BigLaw and larger midsize firms. Firms with 500+ attorneys made up 39% of respondents, followed by 100–249 attorney firms (33%), 250–500 attorney firms (25%), and firms with fewer than 100 attorneys (3%). This mix gives a useful read across the BigLaw and midsize segments that were the focus of the webinar.
Two-thirds of law firm respondents (67%) reported they had stopped interviewing or extending offers for 2L Summer 2027. The remaining third was split fairly evenly between firms still actively hiring (18%) and those nearly finished (16%) indicating that the bulk of 2L Summer 2027 hiring is closed, while a smaller share still remains open to hiring.
Breaking those responses out by firm size shows where the remaining activity is concentrated. The largest firms (500+ attorneys) were more likely to have stopped at 72%. The 250–500 attorney segment looked similar in their "stopped" share (69%) but reported a higher share of firms wrapping up (25% almost finished vs. 16% in the 500+ group). Midsize firms in the 100–249 range were the most likely to still be actively hiring at 30%, which is roughly double the rate of larger firms.
When asked about a second round of hiring later this spring or summer, 56% of firms said no. However, 30% said yes and another 14% said maybe, meaning roughly four in ten firms view additional hiring as possible or planned.
On the law school side, 99 attendees responded to our live webinar poll about Class of 2028 interview programming. Just over half (53%) reported they have an interview program coming up, and another 16% have a document collect open or upcoming, meaning roughly seven in ten schools have active or imminent law firm engagement on the calendar. About 22% reported their programs are complete, and 9% are still considering whether to add something.
We also asked all webinar attendees what they expect for Class of 2029 recruitment, with 138 respondents weighing in on a multi-select question. The strongest expectation by far was a repeat of Class of 2028 timelines, with 1L and 2L applications opening in the fall and winter (86%).
Perspectives were split among other predictions: 40% anticipate more 3L and/or judicial clerk hiring, and 38% expect more 1L Summer and 2L Summer jumbo offers. On the other side, 23% expect less 1L Summer hiring, and 22% anticipate less overall law student hiring. Only 12% expect a shift back to post-grade-release 2L Summer recruitment, suggesting the early-recruiting pattern is broadly expected to hold.
A handful of attendees added their own predictions in an open-text response. A few themes emerged from these answers:
Several respondents pointed to possible changes in how recruiting incentives are structured, including the idea that stipends could evolve into signing bonuses or scholarships.
Others anticipated more market-by-market variation in application timing, fewer jumbo offers, and a continued push toward earlier application openings.
One respondent also noted hearing about firms hosting 0L summer receptions.
From the law school side, a few participants expressed a hope that the cycle eventually shifts back toward requiring two semesters of 1L grades before recruiting begins.
At this stage in the law student recruiting cycle, the market shows that the majority of midsize firms at 2/3, along with BigLaw, have already concluded 2L Summer 2027 hiring while a smaller segment remains active or nearing completion, according to the webinar polls. The webinar poll responses also highlighting that a smaller share of firms are still considering or planning for additional hiring later this spring or summer, pointing to the potential for continued, if more limited, activity beyond the initial wave.
We’ll continue monitoring how these dynamics play out, particularly as second-round hiring decisions, law school programming, and acceptance trends come into clearer focus. For additional context behind these poll results, including a deeper, data-backed look at midsize recruiting trends and how they compare to recent BigLaw developments, you can download the full slide deck and Firm Leadership Summary from the webinar.
Thank you to our poll participants for joining the webinar and sharing your perspectives!