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

Legal Recruitment Market – Mixed Signals, Practice Area Specific Momentum

After a subdued June and a flat July, August brought a more nuanced picture. Recruitment for most practice areas appears to still be soft, but there were clear signs of life in Banking & Finance, Restructuring and Real Estate.

Banking & Finance: Back in the Spotlight

Banking & Finance was the undisputed front-runner in August, with 27 new roles — more than double the next most active area. It was the practice areas strongest month of hiring so far this year, with five of those roles pitched at the NQ level, a welcome signal for newly qualified lawyers.

Real Estate: Strongest Month of the Year

Real Estate also showed renewed strength, with 16 new commercial property roles — the highest monthly total this year. Over half of these opportunities were with international firms, and two targeted NQ lawyers. For a practice that had been steady but unspectacular in recent months, this jump marks a notable shift.

Litigation: Niche Areas Driving Activity

General commercial litigation continues to underwhelm, holding steady at 7 new roles, broadly in line with the monthly average of the past six months. Yet beneath the surface, specialist areas are providing momentum: Insurance Litigation (8 new roles) and Construction Litigation (4 new roles) were notably busier.

Employment: Cooling Off?

Employment hiring, once a standout, slowed significantly in August with just 3 new roles compared to an average of 10 in the first half of 2025. That said, only seven roles closed during the month, leaving 22 active vacancies live on firms’ websites at the start of September. So while the pace of new openings has eased, opportunities still remain for those looking to move.

Restructuring & Insolvency: A Clear Uptick

Perhaps the most eye-catching development came in Restructuring & Insolvency. After averaging just 1–2 new roles per month in the first half of 2025, August saw a sharp rise to 7 new roles. Five of these were with international firms, and one was a PSL position — pointing to a broadening of demand in this area.

Outlook: A Market of Contrasts

August delivered encouraging signs for Banking & Finance, Restructuring/Insolvency, and Real Estate. By contrast, Corporate failed to show the same momentum, and the slowdown in new Employment openings may signal that whilst there are still opportunities the prime window for moves may be closing.

As we move into September, we will be looking to see what happens with the Corporate practice area.  Will confidence return to drive hiring in a similar way to Banking & Finance, or will this market still remain relatively flat?

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Breakdown by Practice Areas

Transactional Roles:

At the beginning of September, 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:  46 roles (one being a PSL role) - nine with US firms, 29 with UK international/global firms and eight with City/regional firm.  There were 27 new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during August.

• Corporate:  30 roles (three being PSL roles) - eight with US firms, 14 with international firms and eight with City/regional firms. There were 10 new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during August.

• Restructuring/Insolvency:  11roles (one being a PSL role) - three with US firms, five with UK international/global firms and three with City/regional firms). Seven of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of August.

Number of live London transactional roles advertised directly by firms

Advisory Practice areas:

At the beginning of September, 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: Two roles - one with a US firm and one with a UK international firm. No new roles were added to firms’ careers’ sites during August.

• Employment - 22 roles - 10 with top tier international firms and 12 with City/regional firms. There were three new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during August.

• FS/Regulatory - Eight roles - Seven with international firms and one with a City/Regional firms. There were four new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during August.

• Incentives - Four roles.  Three with UK international firm and one with a City/regional firm.  No new roles were added to firms’ careers sites during August.

• Funds - Five roles.  One with a US firm and  four with international firms.  One of the roles was new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of August.

• Pensions - 11 roles (including 3 PSL roles) - seven with international firms and four with City/regional firms.  Three of the roles were new, having been added to a firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of August.

• Tax - 17 roles (including one tax litigation and one PSL role) - three with US firms, 11 with international firms and three with regional/City firms. There were four new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during August.

Number of live London Advisory roles advertised directly by firms

Litigation:

At the beginning of September, 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 - 16 roles (including one PSL roles). Two with US firms, seven with international firms, seven with regional/city boutiques). Seven of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of August.

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

• Insurance Litigation - 16 roles. 11 with international firms and five with city/regional firms. Eight of the roles were new, having been added to firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of August.

• Personal Injury (including clinical negligence) - 10 roles.  Six with international firms, four with City/Regional firms).  Two of the roles were new, having been added to firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of August.

• Specialist Litigation - Eight roles - all with city/regional firms.  Four of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of August.

Number of live London Litigation roles advertised directly by firms

Construction, Planning and Real Estate:

At the beginning of September, 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 – 20 roles (including one PSL role). Two with US firms, four with international firms, 14 with City/regional firms).  Six of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of August.

• Construction Litigation - Six roles.  Four with international firms and two with City/Regional firm).  Four of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of August.

• Planning - Five roles.  Three 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 August.

• Commercial Real Estate - 23 roles (including three PSL roles) - two with US firms, 11 with international firms and 10 with City/regional firms).  16 of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of August.

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

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