Litigation Opportunities Q2 2026

Litigation recorded the highest number of advertised vacancies of any practice area during the second quarter of 2026, with 110 associate and PSL roles active across the firms covered by the Rackle Legal Hiring Index. Recruitment activity increased from 91 active vacancies in Q1, demonstrating continued demand across a broad range of contentious disciplines.

Despite these headline numbers, Litigation recruitment was actually slightly below what might have been expected relative to the size of the practice area. Litigation partners account for just over 20% of all London partners across the firms covered by the Rackle Legal Hiring Index, yet Litigation vacancies represented around 18% of all advertised opportunities during the quarter.

The overall figures also mask a variation within the wider Litigation market. While Commercial Litigation recruitment remained relatively measured, Insurance Litigation teams recruited more actively than their relative size would suggest, reflecting more demand in this area.

This review is based on recruitment activity across the 80 law firms that form the basis of the Rackle Legal Hiring Index. These firms comprise UK international, US and City/regional firms that consistently accounted for around 80% of the associate and PSL roles advertised directly in the London market.

The report examines the firms recruiting during the quarter, the vacancies they advertised and how those opportunities evolved between April and June.

Executive Summary

• 110 Litigation vacancies were active during the quarter.

• 55 new roles were advertised during Q2.

• Recruitment activity increased from 91 active vacancies in Q1.

• 50 vacancies closed during the quarter.

• 60 vacancies remained open entering Q3.

• 40 firms advertised Litigation opportunities.

Recruitment Activity

The 110 advertised vacancies covered a broad range of contentious practice areas, illustrating the diversity of the Litigation market.

Commercial Litigation and Investigations accounted for 28 vacancies, matching the 28 opportunities advertised in Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation. Personal Injury, including defendant work, represented 23 vacancies, while Specialist Litigation disciplines, (including Media lit, Cyber lit, Trusts Litigation and others), accounted for 21 roles. A further 10 vacancies focused on Real Estate Litigation.

The distribution of vacancies demonstrates that recruitment demand was spread across the Litigation market rather than being concentrated in a single discipline. However, Insurance Litigation appeared particularly active relative to the size of its practice areas within the wider London market.

Vacancy Duration

Fifty Litigation vacancies closed during the quarter, while 60 remained open entering Q3.

Most continuing vacancies were relatively recent, with 44 having been advertised for three months or less. However, 12 vacancies had remained on firms' careers pages for more than six months, suggesting that either firms have an ongoing need or they are having more difficulty finding the right candidates for their roles. 

Overall, the figures suggest a market where firms continue to recruit steadily while maintaining a relatively healthy flow of newly advertised opportunities.

Level of Opportunities

Litigation recruitment covered the full range of post-qualification experience levels.

There were 11 vacancies suitable for newly qualified lawyers, with six of those opportunities remaining available entering Q3. Most of the NQ opportunities were concentrated within claimant and defendant Personal Injury teams.

Demand was strongest at the mid-level, with almost 60 vacancies suitable for lawyers with between two and five years' PQE. A further 24 vacancies were aimed exclusively at lawyers with more than five years' experience.

There were four advertised PSL opportunities during the quarter. Three focused on Commercial Litigation while one related to Insurance Litigation. Two of these vacancies remained open entering Q3.

Which type of firms were recruiting

Forty firms advertised Litigation vacancies during the quarter.

• 24 were UK international firms,

• 14 were City or regional firms

• Two were US firms.

Thirty firms opened at least one new Litigation vacancy during Q2, illustrating that recruitment activity was spread across a broad cross-section of the London market rather than being driven by only a handful of firms.

The Rackle View

Litigation remained the largest advertised practice area during Q2, both because of the breadth of the discipline and the number of firms recruiting. Recruitment activity increased from Q1, perhaps indicating improved confidence across the contentious market.

However, once adjusted for the size of the Litigation partner population, advertised recruitment was slightly lower than might have been expected. This contrasts with areas such as Employment and Construction, where recruitment activity significantly exceeded their relative market size.

Perhaps the most interesting finding is the variation within Litigation itself. Commercial Litigation recruitment appeared relatively measured, whereas Insurance Litigation teams advertised vacancies at a proportionately higher rate. Insurance Litigation roles represented almost 8% of all advertised vacancies during the quarter, despite Insurance Litigation partners accounting for just under 5% of the partner population covered by the Index.

This suggests that while the overall Litigation market remains stable, there is slightly greater demand for lawyers with insurance litigation backgrounds. 

The analysis focuses on firms that advertise vacancies directly through their career’s pages. Some firms do not advertise vacancies through their career’s pages. Consequently, this report should be viewed as an analysis of the advertised Employment market, rather than the entirety of Employment recruitment in London.

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