Here is our summary of the current state of the UK legal job market.
Locum Recruitment – Quiet
Locum assignments are lower than we would expect for September and it has been a quiet summer. We are still a little frustrated that even though there is limited work, quite a few locums have not adjusted their hourly rates. This means that at times we are putting forward candidates knowing that there are going to be cheaper alternative comparable options. Hourly rates for residential conveyancing and commercial property solicitors remain high and above the budget of a number of SME law firms; we are in a fairly unique position to know this because we undertake a significant number of law firm valuations, which gives us full access to accounts and salary levels for a wide range of different firms. View the locum hourly rates guides on the Interim Lawyers website.
Locum assignment updates here.
Permanent Recruitment – Steady
Permanent recruitment is busy – this year we have had 24 new vacancies in September (50% increase on the previous year) with some roles more fillable than others. Candidates are still hesitant about moving unless there is significant professional or monetary benefit. Looking at the September list, there was quite a mix of work, including less of a property emphasis.
Permanent vacancies can be viewed here: https://www.ten-percent.co.uk/vacancies/
Law Firms for Sale – Busy
Law firm M&A activity is now high as we move into the winter period. A number of shell law firms are coming to market and there is the usual level of interest after PII renewal dates at the end of September. Deals are progressing albeit as slowly as is often the case with law firms. One of our directors is about to take a sabbatical travelling in Australia, so the remainder of us are hoping forlornly for a quiet few months!
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 September 2026 (2025 figures in brackets)
- New locum roles added – 16 (16)
- New permanent roles added – 24 (16)
- New candidates added – 51 (41)
- New law firms listed for sale: 3
- Law firms for sale: 48
- Deals going through (heads of terms signed): 6
KPMG & REC Job Market Report October 2026
Jon Holt, Group Chief Executive and UK Senior Partner at KPMG: “..this remains a fragile recovery”.
Maxine Bligh, Interim Chief Executive at the REC: “the permanent jobs market is revving its engine”.
Hiring improved slightly in September 2026. Permanent placements rose for the second consecutive month, recording their strongest growth in four years, although the increase remained marginal. Temporary billings also edged upwards.
Vacancies continued to fall, but the decline slowed. Overall demand for staff contracted at its weakest rate in over two years. Private-sector permanent vacancies increased for the first time in more than two years, while public-sector demand remained weak.
Candidate availability continued to increase. Recruiters linked this to redundancies and limited job opportunities, although the overall rise in available candidates was the slowest in three years.
Pay growth eased. Starting salaries and temporary pay rates continued to rise, but employers’ cost concerns and a larger pool of candidates moderated increases.
Performance varied considerably between sectors. IT and engineering led growth in permanent vacancies, while retail and hospitality recorded the sharpest declines.
Legal skills shortages remained selective. Recruiters reported shortages in corporate commercial &, IP.
