Here is our summary of the current state of the UK legal job market.
Locum Recruitment – Busy
Locum assignments are busy again for this time of year, with a good number of assignments now going unfilled as locums go on holiday themselves! Hourly rates for conveyancing solicitors remain higher than we anticipate are affordable for a number of smaller law firms, but the time of year is going to mean they remain high for the next few months.
Locum assignment updates here.
Permanent Recruitment – Quiet
Permanent recruitment is steady, with a good number of new roles into us over the last few weeks. We think a number of these are efforts by some firms to avoid paying locum rates, so will inevitably end up as locum assignments – its much, much harder to recruit permanently at present – candidates are still hesitant about moving unless there is significant professional or monetary benefit.
Permanent vacancies can be viewed here: https://www.ten-percent.co.uk/vacancies/
Law Firms for Sale – Steady
Law firm M&A activity always drops down in the summer and this year is no exception. We expect it to pick up again in September as usual, when partners return from their holidays refreshed and either with plans to take a lot more holidays and retire, or to conquer the world and expand their businesses through acquisition! Valuation and Exit Strategy services remain busy with no sign of dropping off just yet (unfortunately for our staff team looking for a quiet few weeks this summer).
Full details of firms currently for sale on our website available here – list updated daily. For valuations, exit planning or a confidential discussion about a potential sale or acquisition generally please call 0800 246 5016 or email jf@jonathanfagan.co.uk. You can also download our free detailed guides on Buying a Law Firm and Selling a Law Firm.
Ten Percent Group statistics for June 2026 (2025 figures in brackets)
- New locum roles added – 19 (24)
- New permanent roles added – 15 (23)
- New candidates added – 57 (60)
- New law firms listed for sale: 3
- Law firms for sale: 44
- Deals going through (heads of terms signed): 6
KPMG & REC Report on Jobs UK – July 2026
This is a monthly report prepared by KPMG following a questionnaire sent to over 400 UK recruitment consultancies, including ourselves.
- Temp billings growth hits highest for over three years
- Downturn in permanent staff appointments eases notably
- Pay trends improve, but redundancies continue to push up labour supply
Commentary from Lisa Fernihough, KPMG UK
“It’s encouraging to see some of the hiring data improve in June. Although permanent placements are still falling, the pace of decline is easing and back to a rate we were seeing before the Iran conflict put a pause on active recruitment for many companies. But the story of the past few months has been the pivot to temporary work. With chief execs still facing into global uncertainty, this preference for a flexible approach to hiring means they have been able to progress shorter term projects and investments without longer term commitments. With oil prices steadying, business leaders will be hoping that the coming months bring a period of stability and improved economic conditions where they can start to build momentum again.”
Commentary from Neil Carberry, REC CEO
“After a long recruitment winter, these figures show truly hopeful signs. Temporary and contract work once again leads the way, as firms react to demand without yet feeling confident enough to commit to larger scale permanent hiring. Though that too looks like it may change.”
