London Legal Jobs Overview:1st April 2025

The start of 2025 has brought a modest but promising increase in the number of new legal roles advertised in the London market. Comparing Q1 2025 to Q4 2024, law firms have seen a slight uptick of 3.5% in new private practice roles. On the in-house side, the growth is even more significant, with a 27% increase in new roles appearing on LinkedIn.

Private Practice: A Strong Start Followed by Stability

January set an optimistic tone for the private practice market, with over 130 new roles being advertised – the second-highest number of roles in the past two years (only surpassed by July 2024’s 146 new roles). However, February and March, while still relatively busy compared to the previous year, did not continue the momentum of January's surge.

Despite this, the year-on-year comparison is encouraging: Q1 2025 recorded 36% more roles compared to Q1 2024. Banking and Corporate practice areas led the way, with both sectors experiencing double the number of new roles compared to the same period last year.

In-House Roles: Building Momentum

The in-house market is maintaining a positive trajectory after a strong start in January, which saw just over 300 new roles. February followed with 290 roles, and March kept the momentum going, surpassing the 300 mark with 303 new roles.

This growth is driven by increased hiring across Financial Services, Commerce & Industry, and Government/Not-for-Profit sectors. Notably, Financial Services experienced the most significant rise, with 32% more roles in Q1 2025 compared to Q4 2024.

For a more detailed breakdown of practice areas and hiring trends in both private practice and in-house markets, check out our in-depth analysis below. Stay updated with the latest legal job opportunities by visiting the job search page on The Rackle.

Private Practice

Transactional Roles:

At the beginning of April, 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:  33 roles (one being a PSL roles) (nine with US firms, 20 with UK international/global firms and four with City/regional firm).  There were 10 new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during March.

• Corporate:  31 roles (two being PSL roles) (nine with US firms, 17 with international firms and five with City/regional firms). There were 10 new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during March.

• Restructuring/Insolvency:  Seven roles (three with US firms, two with international firms, two with a City/Regional firms). One of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of March.

Number of live London Banking, Corporate and Restructuring jobs advertised directly by Firms

Advisory Practice areas:

At the beginning of April, 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: 10 roles. Five with US firms and five with international firms. There were four new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during March.

• Employment - 28 roles (including one PSL role).  One with a US firm, nine with top tier international firms and 18 with City/regional firms. There were 12 new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during March.

• FS/Regulatory - Eight roles.  Five with international firms and three with City/Regional firms. There were four new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during March.

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

• Funds - Nine roles (one being a PSL Role).  Three with US firms and six with international firms.  Four of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of March.

• Pensions - Eight roles. One with a US firm, five with international firms and two with City/regional firms.  Four of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of March.

• Tax - 18 roles (including two tax litigation).  Two with US firms, 10 with international firms and six with regional/City firms. There were seven new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during March.

Number of live London Advisory roles advertised directly by firms

Litigation:

At the beginning of April, 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 - 20 roles. Two with a US firms, three with international firms, 15 with national/regional/city boutiques). Six of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of March.

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

• Insurance Litigation - 17 roles. 12 with international firms and five with regional firms. Four of the roles were new, having been added to firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of March.

• Personal Injury (including clinical negligence) - Six roles.  Four with international firms, two with City/Regional firms).  There were no new roles added in March.

• Specialist Litigation - Eight roles.  Two with international firms and six with city boutiques.  Four of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of March.

Number of live London Litigation roles advertised directly by firms

Construction, Planning and Real Estate:

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

• Construction - 18 roles. Three with international firms, 15 with City/regional firms).  Five of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of March.

• Construction Litigation - Seven roles.  Three with international firms, four with City/Regional firms).  Three of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of March

• Planning - Six roles.  Five with international firms and one with a City/regional firms).  Three of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of March.

• Commercial Real Estate - 10 roles. Four with international firms and six with City/regional firms).  Four of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of March.

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

In-house Market:

During March we identified 303 new unique In-house roles being advertised directly by firms/organisations on LinkedIn. This is the second time in 2025 that there has been over 300 new roles in a month and suggests that the strong start to the year on the inhouse side has managed to continue.

Of the 303 roles:

• 1% were for GC's/Head of Legal

• 50% were relevant for senior lawyers (5+ pqe)

• 11% were relevant for Junior lawyers (NQ to 2)

The majority (58%) of the roles were for organisations that could be classified as Commerce & Industry, 32% for Financial Services organisations and 10% for Government/Not for Profit organisations.

Number and type of London In-house roles advertised directly by firms

There were 112 roles that had been added prior to March but were reposted by organisations in March.  Of these roles, 59% were with Commerce & Industry, 36% with Financial Services organisations and 5% with Government/Not for Profit.

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