Legal Job Market Report 2nd August 2011
Still blowing hot and cold, the job market in July is still showing conflicting signs. One day we get 3-4 vacancies posted for similar fields (for example last week we had four litigation posts in the South West all posted on the same day) and others we get nothing. Locum assignments have been quiet this year as well, as a number of firms simply make do without cover over the summer to save costs. To a certain extent this is assisted by better remote working solutions, which means a partner can go away for two weeks but stay in touch with the office via remote access, but there is definitely a reluctance to pay locums to cover at some firms.
Conveyancing still seems to be picking up in some areas – central London has attracted a number of vacancies, together with other South East locations. Corporate fields still very quiet and a number of firms seem to change their spec every few weeks, particularly in larger regional practices. Following remains a strong requirement, and we are still getting this as part of a lot of job specifications.
Corporate commercial posts still picking up, litigation appears to be getting stronger, but certain fields are not seeing very much movement at all. Crime and other LSC funded fields appear to be on hold whilst the latest stream of directives from the Ministry of Justice sink in and cuts start to be specific rather than generally referred to. Support staff posts continue to come in steadily. Ten-Percent has been developing a niche in legal cashiers for some time and we see plenty of vacancies coming on stream.
In July the Ten-Percent Legal Recruitment Service had over 25 vacancies registered and 58 candidate registrations (solicitors, fee earners and legal support staff candidates). A number of new firms and existing clients have now signed over to the new £60 a month scheme and we anticipate reaching 100 member firms before Christmas.
Jonathan Fagan, MD Ten-Percent Legal Recruitment. www.ten-percent.co.uk
