London Legal Jobs Overview - 1st August 2025 (Private Practice)

Legal Recruitment Market -  Flatlining, Not Bouncing

After a slightly subdued June, we were hoping to see a bit bounce in July, which in 2024 was the month that saw the highest number of new roles being posted on firms career sites.  However, it was not to be.  In fact, the number of new roles (105) was just below the 106 of June and was the second lowest number of the year so far.  The number of new roles advertised by UK international firms was the lowest so far this year.

Corporate & Banking: Holding Steady, But Fewer Opportunities Overall

Corporate continued to lead the market with 11 new roles, and Banking & Finance saw a modest rise to 12. However, with more roles being removed from firm websites than added, the total number of available roles in both areas fell in July.

This suggests that while firms are filling roles, they’re not opening new ones at the same pace.

Employment and Construction: Niche Practice Areas, Strong Activity

Employment once again stood out, with 10 new roles added and 25 live roles on offer throughout July. For a practice area that accounts for just over 3% of lawyers across the firms we track, its share of active roles — around 8% — is striking. Whether this reflects increased client demand or continued attrition to in-house roles, the result is the same: employment lawyers have options.

Construction also continues to perform well, with 6 new non-contentious and 1 contentious role advertised. Like employment, construction lawyers make up roughly 3% of the market, but the area consistently accounts for more than 7% of open roles — a healthy signal in an otherwise cautious environment.

Litigation: A need for specialists

Litigation hiring eased again in July, with fewer new roles and a declining pool of available positions for the second month running. Generalist litigation hiring remains muted, but there is some demand in niche or sector-specific areas such as media Lit.

Outlook: Soft Market Conditions Persist

July’s numbers point to a market that’s still stuck in first gear. The slight drop in new roles — particularly among UK-based international firms — suggests continued caution heading into the summer slowdown.

Unless transactional and market confidence picks up meaningfully in Q3, we’re likely to see hiring remain flat.

---

Breakdown by Practice Areas

Transactional Roles:

At the beginning of August, we identified the following number of London based roles that were being advertised by law firms on their careers’ pages in the below practice areas:

• Banking & Finance:  27 roles (six with US firms, 19 with UK international/global firms and two with City/regional firm).  There were 12 new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during July.

• Corporate:  26 roles (four being PSL roles) (seven with US firms, 11 with international firms and eight with City/regional firms). There were 11 new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during July.

• Restructuring/Insolvency:  Four roles (two with US firms and two with City/regional firm). One of the roles was new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of July.

Number of live London transactional roles advertised directly by firms

Advisory Practice areas:

At the beginning of August, we identified the following number of London based roles being advertised by law firms on their careers’ pages in the below practice areas:

• Antitrust/EU/Competition: Four roles (including two competition litigation roles). One with a US firm and three with international firms. There was one new role added to firms’ careers’ sites during July.

• Employment - 25 roles. 12 with top tier international firms and 13 with City/regional firms. There were 10 new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during July.

• FS/Regulatory - Five roles.  Three with international firms and two with City/Regional firms. There was one new role added to firms’ careers’ sites during July.

• Incentives - Four roles.  Three with UK international firm and one with a City/regional firm.  There was one new role added to firms’ careers sites during July.

• Funds - Six roles.  One with a US firm and  five with international firms.  Two of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of July.

• Pensions - 11 roles (including 2 PSL roles). One with a US firm, six with international firms and four with City/regional firms.  One of the roles was new, having been added to a firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of July.

• Tax - 14 roles (including three tax litigation).  Three with US firms, seven with international firms and four with regional/City firms. There were two new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during July.

Number of live London Advisory roles advertised directly by firms

Litigation:

At the beginning of August, we identified the following number of London based roles being advertised by law firms on their careers’ pages in the below practice areas:

• Commercial Litigation - 13 roles (including one PSL roles). Two with US firms, five with international firms, six with regional/city boutiques). Five of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of July.

• Real Estate Litigation - Nine roles.  One with an international firms and eight with City /Regional firms).  Three of the roles were new, having been added to firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of July.

• Insurance Litigation - 11 roles. 10 with international firms and one with a regional firms. Three of the roles were new, having been added to firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of July.

• Personal Injury (including clinical negligence) - Nine roles.  Five with international firms, four with City/Regional firms).  Four of the roles were new, having been added to firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of July.

• Specialist Litigation - 15 roles.   Three with international firms and 12 with city boutiques.  Six of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of July.

Number of live London Litigation roles advertised directly by firms

Construction, Planning and Real Estate:

At the beginning of August, we identified the following number of London based roles being advertised by law firms on their careers’ pages in the below practice areas:

• Construction – 21 roles. Two with US firms, six with international firms, 13 with City/regional firms).  Six of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of July.

• Construction Litigation - Two roles.  One with an international firm and one with a City/Regional firm).  One of the roles was new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of July.

• Planning - Six roles.  Four with international firms and two with City/regional firms).  One of the roles was new, having been added to a firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of July.

• Commercial Real Estate - 15 roles (including one PSL role). Seven with international firms and eight with City/regional firms).  Six of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of July.

Number of live London Construction, Planning and Real Estate roles advertised directly by firms

To see which firms are advertising roles and explore these opportunities use the job search feature on www.therackle.com