London Legal Jobs Overview: 1st March 2025

Summary

Whilst January got off to a busy start, with more new legal jobs advertised in the month than had been advertised in any of the preceding six months, February proved to be a little slower.

We identified just over 90 new legal roles advertised by law firms on their career sites. This was quite a lot lower than the 130 identified in January and was lower than the 110 monthly average of H2 2024. However, the market appears to be busier than this time last year as there were 20% more new roles, compared to February 2024.

On the inhouse side, February was just as busy as January. We identified were just shy of 290 new In-house legal roles, posted in February on LinkedIn.  This is the second highest number of roles in a month since we first started following the market, and only eclipsed by the 300 roles in the previous month. 

Below is more in-depth analysis around practice areas and types of firm hiring on the private practice and Inhouse side. To see which firms are advertising legal roles, visit the job search page on The Rackle.

Private Practice

Transactional Roles:

At the beginning of March, 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:  43 roles (two being a PSL roles) (10 with US firms, 30 with UK international/global firms and three with City/regional firm).  There were 13 new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during February.

• Corporate:  32 roles (two being PSL roles) (six with US firms, 21 with international firms and five with City/regional firms). There were eight new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during February.

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

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

Advisory Practice areas:

At the beginning of March, 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: Nine roles. Six with US firms and three with international firms. There was one new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during February.

• Employment - 27 roles (including one PSL role).  One with a US firm, eight with top tier international firms and 18 with City/regional firms. There were ten new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during February.

• FS/Regulatory - Five roles.  Four with international firms and one with a City/Regional firms. There were two new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during February.

• Incentives - Two roles.  One with a UK international firm and one with a City/regional firm.  No new roles since the beginning of February.

• Funds - Six roles (one being a PSL Role).  Three with US firms and three with international firms.  Two of the roles was new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of February.

• Pensions - Five roles. Three with international firms and two with City/regional firms. No new roles since the beginning of February.

• Tax - 18 roles (including four tax litigation).  Two with US firms, 11 with international firms and five with regional/City firms. There were two new roles added to firms’ careers’ sites during February.

Number of live London Advisory roles advertised directly by firms

Litigation:

At the beginning of March, 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 - 24 roles. One with a US firms, seven with international firms, 16 with national/regional/city boutiques). Six of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of February.

• Real Estate Litigation - 10 roles.  Three 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 February.

• Insurance Litigation - 21 roles. 16 with international firms and three with regional firms. Nine of the roles were new, having been added to firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of February.

• Personal Injury (including clinical negligence) - Seven roles (Including one defendant led roles).  Five with international firms, two with City/Regional firms).  One of the roles was new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of February.

• Specialist Litigation - 11 roles.  Four with international firms and seven with city boutiques.  Three of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of February.

Number of live London Litigation roles advertised directly by firms

Construction, Planning and Real Estate:

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

• Construction - 17 roles. Four with international firms, 13 with City/regional firms).  Two of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of February.

• Construction Litigation - Four roles.  Three with international firms, one with City/Regional firms).  No new roles since the beginning of February.

• Planning - Four roles.  Three with international firm, one with a City/regional firms).  None of the roles were new.

• Commercial Real Estate - 16 roles (10 with international firms and six with City/regional firms).  Three of the roles were new, having been added to the firms’ careers’ site since the beginning of February.

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

In-house Market:

During February we identified 288 new unique In-house roles being advertised directly by firms/organisations on LinkedIn. This is the second highest number in a month that we have recorded since we started following the market at the beginning of 2024, January 2025 being the only month to have had more new roles.

Of the 288 roles:

• 3.5% were for GC's/Head of Legal

• 62% were relevant for senior lawyers (5+ pqe)

• 70% were relevant for Junior/Mid-level lawyers*

The majority (59%) of the roles were for organisations that could be classified as Commerce & Industry, 30% for Financial Services organisations and 11% for Government/Not for Profit organisations.

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

There were 74 roles that had been added prior to February but had been reposted by organisations in January.  Of these roles, 57% were with Commerce & Industry and 43% with Financial Services organisations.

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

*Note there is overlap in roles that are for mid-level/senior level lawyers and this is why the percentages will not add up to 100.