In this turbulent economy the number of law firm partners moving laterally to other firms is rising to record-breaking levels. That increase in partners jumping ship has caused even more lawyers to ask themselves: Should I be making a move?

Making a lateral move can be great for your career, but only if you are doing it for the right reasons and with the right strategy in mind. If you know why you want to move and you know what you want to accomplish with that move, then and only then will it be worth the time and effort necessary to be successful.

Having the right reason to move and a sense of what you want to accomplish is more important than ever in order to cut through the clutter of people who are just shopping around. The right reasons should be grounded in your personal business strategy and your sense of where you fit in the world of law firms.

You also need the support of a professional who can help you assess the financial health and prospects of your firm as measured against other firms that might bid for you. That professional should also help you to assess the prospective future for your practice development in the various firms of possible interest.

A good placement pro should also help you to assess whether you should be considering a lateral move now. My suggestion to good lateral candidates is that they should ask themselves the following questions.

Does “the Plan” for my firm include me? If your firm does not consider your practice area to be an important part of the strategic plan going forward, that’s a very good reason to consider moving. The management teams at most firms are drawing clear lines around the practice areas and sometimes even the client industries to which they are most committed. These choices will not benefit everyone and you must know how they will affect you. If, for example, your management team views your labor and employment practice as an adjunct service that is not part of the core competencies they are selling to clients, then you probably should be thinking about a move.

Am I happy with the money here? If your compensation has been cut, not because you have been less productive, but due to a reallocation of compensation credits that seems unfair to you, then it might be the right time to move. Similarly, you may want to move if you are making the same amount of money for more and more work. Nobody wants to continue working harder to make less over time, and compensation is often a sign of how much your practice is valued. Ideally, you want to be in an environment that places the maximum value on what you do and those clients for whom you do it.

Are we losing “beauty contests” that we should be winning? If your practice is growing and you are developing a strong reputation in your field of expertise, you should be winning out in head-to-head competitions for clients. If clients or prospects have indicated that your firm does not have the bench strength, the breadth, the technology or other tools necessary to sway in-house decision-makers, then you might want to consider other firms that can offer the missing support you need.

Are my rates too high because of billing pressures? If your clients are unhappy with rates you have been pressured to bill, then you really have to consider a move in order to avoid churning through clients and forever running on a marketing treadmill to get new ones. Upward pressure on rates not only affects your current client relationships, it can affect potential relationships as well.

Is my firm poorly managed? If you think your firm is poorly managed and is unlikely to change, then it is probably time for a move. Nothing spells doom for an organization like bad management, and you don’t want to be the last to jump ship because you are likely to be left holding a bag of liabilities. In fact, good management can be the differentiator that determines which firms survive the inevitable shakeouts of hard times. If you have a superb management team, that is a rare asset and one that must be weighed heavily against making a move. But if you have a poor management team, then all of your past personal success is in jeopardy, and a move should be considered.

Does my seniority status work against me? If you are an active senior lawyer whose status is jeopardized by a mandatory retirement policy or a simple generational shift in power, then you might want to consider moving to a firm that values your experience. Conversely, if you are a young star in a firm where energetic lawyers of all ages are carrying too much senior partner deadweight, then you might want to look for another professional home.

Once you have established whether your reasons for moving are sound, then you will need the help of a solid, experienced recruiting professional to determine the best strategy and approach for shifting your practice.

A good placement pro knows that nearly every law firm has incorporated into its plans the addition of appropriate lateral partners, and can analyze the market for your practice. Such a pro also knows that competition for these slots is thicker than ever. The very task of moving may seem daunting in this environment, but the right person can make it much easier and may leave you wondering why you have waited so long.