Here is our summary of the current state of the legal job market:
Locum Recruitment – Busy
Although it seems that a lot of firms have resigned themselves to the fact that there is no external conveyancing support still available at the moment unless you can accommodate remote or flexible working, the locum market is still busy. Private client is a particularly strong area and assignments are coming in for roles around the UK on an increased basis to usual.
Commercial contracts and corporate commercial roles still cropping up regularly. Litigation – has remained steady and not particularly busy at the moment.
Locum assignment updates here: https://www.interimlawyers.co.uk/category/locum-solicitor-updates/
Permanent Recruitment – Busy
Permanent recruitment has dropped down to normal levels again after a crazy start to the financial year. Recruitment waves often coincide with work levels at firms, so when firms are busy new roles drop off.
Vacancies can be viewed here: https://ten-percent.co.uk/vacancies/
Law Firms for Sale – Busy
The same has applied for law firm sales. The market has been boiling away this year but has dropped off a little bit over the last few weeks. We are seeing an increased number of new firms coming to market – mainly retirement sales of established firms.
Full list at https://www.jonathanfagan.co.uk/law-accountancy-firms-for-sale/. For a confidential discussion please ring 01824 780937 and speak to Jonathan Fagan or email jbfagan@ten-percent.co.uk.
Ten Percent Legal Recruitment Statistics
General Statistics for May 2021 (bracketed number is for May 2020)
New permanent vacancies added: 30 (5)
New locum vacancies added: 35 (11)
New candidates registering: 54 (49)
REC/KPMG UK Job Market Report
(we are members of the panel contributing to this report)
Key Findings
Rapid increases in permanent placements and temp billings
Vacancy growth hits highest since January 1998
Supply of workers drops at quickest rate for four years
KPMG Partner Comment:
“With demand for workers in May increasing at the fastest rate in 23 years, the jobs market
seems to be firing on all cylinders, and we need this momentum to continue for our
economy and businesses to fully bounce back. But the deterioration in staff supply intensified this month, with overall candidate availability declining at the quickest rate since May 2017. This is a worrying trend and the message is clear: we need businesses and recruiters working alongside Government to urgently address the skills gap by supporting candidates and employees to upskill and reskill to move into new roles. This will be crucial to our recovery from the pandemic and the levelling up of opportunities across the UK.”
