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

Legal Recruitment Market – A Stronger Month with Broader Activity

October saw an improvement in the number of new roles being posted by firms in the London legal market. A total of 134 new roles were posted during the month, this is an improvement on the 113 new roles in September, but slightly lower than August’s busy total of 154.

Activity varied across practice areas, but there were relatively strong showings of new roles in Corporate, Employment, and several specialist litigation areas.

Banking & Finance: Holding Steady, With Momentum Easing

Banking & Finance saw 11 new roles posted in October, down slightly from 18 in September but still similar to the levels seen in earlier months. However, with 24 roles closed during the same period, it remains to be seen whether these filled positions translate into renewed hiring activity in the near term.

Corporate: Continued Improvement

Corporate hiring strengthened further in October with 14 new roles, following 13 in September. This marks one of the most active months for Corporate roles so far this year and continues the gradual improvement seen since late summer.

Employment: Matching Corporate as One of the Busiest Areas

Employment also recorded 14 new roles, doubling September’s total of 7. This made it one of the most active practice areas in October, and still the most active practice area throughout 2025.

Real Estate: Moderate but Consistent

Real Estate saw 6 new roles in October, alongside 1 in Residential and 3 in Real Estate Litigation. While below the levels seen during the summer,  activity in this area has remained busier through the second half of the year compared to H1.

Litigation: Strong Activity in Specialist Areas

Litigation recruitment was mixed but active in October. Commercial Litigation recorded 6 new roles, while specialist areas saw higher levels of activity.  Insurance Litigation (7), and Construction Litigation (5) were both relatively busy whilst there were 8 new roles for more specialist areas of litigation such as technology disputes, cyber disputes, product liability and sanctions.

Private Client: One of the Stronger Areas

Private Client saw an increase, with 10 new roles in October — one of the highest figures this year and continues the consistent demand for private client lawyers throughout 2025.

Restructuring & Insolvency: Easing Back After a Strong Run

Restructuring & Insolvency recorded 3 new roles in October, following 5 in September and 7 in August. While lower than recent months, activity remains ahead of early-year levels.

Outlook

With 134 new roles posted, October was among the stronger months of 2025. Following a quieter September and the peak activity observed in August, October’s figures suggest that while the market isn’t necessarily gaining momentum, it remains stable as we head into the final months of the year - a period that is typically slower.

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Breakdown by Practice Areas

Transactional Roles:

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

• Banking & Finance:  35 roles (two being a PSL roles) - five with US firms, 26 with UK international/global firms and four with City/regional firm.  There were 11 new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during October.

• Corporate:  34 roles (three being PSL roles) - 10 with US firms, 13 with international firms and 11 with City/regional firms. There were 14 new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during October.

• Restructuring/Insolvency:  10 roles (one being a PSL role) - two with US firms, five with UK international/global firms and three with City/regional firms). Three of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of October.

Number of live London transactional roles advertised directly by firms

Advisory Practice areas:

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

• Antitrust/EU/Competition: Seven roles - four with a US firms and three with UK international firms. Five new roles were added to firms’ careers’ sites during October.

• Employment - 34 roles - four with US firms, 11 with top tier international firms and 19 with City/regional firms. There were 14 new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during October.

• FS/Regulatory - Five roles - one with a US firm, three with international firms and one with a City/Regional firms. There was one new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during October.

• Incentives - Six roles.  Five with UK international firm and one with a City/regional firm.  Three new roles were added to firms’ careers sites during October.

• Funds - Four roles (including one PSL role)  Two with US firms and  two with international firms.  Three of the roles was new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of October.

• Pensions - 11 roles (including two PSL roles) - seven with international firms and four with City/regional firms.  Two of the roles were new, having been added to a firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of October.

• Tax - 15 roles (including one tax litigation role) - two with US firms, 10 with international firms and three with regional/City firms. There were six new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during October.

Number of live London Advisory roles advertised directly by firms

Litigation:

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

• Commercial Litigation - 15 roles. Nine with international firms, six with regional/city boutiques). Six of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of October.

• Real Estate Litigation - Six roles. Two with international firms and four with City /Regional firms).  Three of the roles were new, having been added to firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of October.

• Insurance Litigation - 11 roles. Nine with international firms and two with city/regional firms. Seven of the roles were new, having been added to firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of October.

• Personal Injury (including clinical negligence) - Five roles.  One with an international firm, four with City/Regional firms).  One of the roles was new, having been added to firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of October.

• Specialist Litigation - 14 roles - five wit international firms and nine with city/regional firms.  Eight of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of October.

Number of live London Litigation roles advertised directly by firms

Construction, Planning and Real Estate:

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

• Construction – 23 roles (including two PSL role). Four with international firms, 19 with City/regional firms).  Four of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of October.

• Construction Litigation - 11 roles.  Seven with international firms and four with City/Regional firm).  Five of the roles were new since the beginning of October.

• Planning - Six roles.  Two with international firms and four with City/regional firms).  None of the roles were new since the beginning of October.

• Commercial Real Estate - 18 roles. One with a US firms, 10 with international firms and seven with City/regional firms).  Six of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of October.

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

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