Legal Recruitment
Key Segments in Legal Recruitment
Private Practice
We work with law firms from boutiques to large international businesses Roles include Solicitors, Associates, Partners, Paralegals, Legal Executives Focus on disciplines such as corporate, litigation, real estate, family, IP, employment, regulatory, and private client.
In-House Legal
Recruiting General Counsel and legal teams within corporates, banks, start-ups, tech companies, NGOs Roles include Legal Counsel, Compliance Officers, Heads of Legal, Company Secretaries Often requires broader commercial or sector-specific knowledge (e.g. fintech, pharmaceuticals, energy).
Interim / Contract Legal
Growing demand for locum solicitors, contract counsel, and document reviewers Often used for maternity cover, project overflow, or regulatory changes.
Key Characteristics of Legal Recruitment
Highly Qualification-Driven
Candidates must meet strict educational, training, and practising certificate standards (e.g. SRA, Bar Council) For senior roles, reputation, client following, and billings often carry as much weight as credentials.
Precision and Sector Knowledge Required
Recruiters need to understand practice areas deeply—what differentiates a construction litigator from a commercial one, or a City firm from a regional one.
Relationship-Led Hiring
Especially in partner and in-house roles, cultural fit and long-term trust are key Many placements (particularly at senior level) happen via retained search or networks.
Trends in Legal Recruitment
In-House Expansion: More companies are building internal legal teams to reduce external legal spend Rise of Legal Tech: Demand is growing for lawyers familiar with AI, automation tools, e-discovery platforms, and contract lifecycle management software Flexible & Remote Working: Firms are offering hybrid models to attract talent, especially post-pandemic Diversity & Inclusion: Law firms are under increasing pressure to diversify their workforce and leadership, leading to more inclusive hiring practices Alternative Career Paths: More legal professionals are moving into compliance, risk, policy, ESG, and consulting roles.