Expert guidance for legal careers
2025 REGIONAL MARKET FOR NEWLEY QUALIFIED SOLICITORS
If you are qualifying as a solicitor in 2025 this helpful guide will provide you with an insight to the current legal market, to qualifying as a solicitor and to working offshore. It will also give some helpful pointers on how to run a successful recruitment process and more. This guide will provide advice and information to help set you on the right path for a successful, long-term career in the legal profession.
2024 continued to see the levelling off in the demand for external NQ’s that we experienced in 2023. 2024 was another challenging year with very few high-quality opportunities and NQ roles. This is due in part to strong retention rates however, many trainees had to face the difficulty of finding out late in their training contracts about the availability of opportunities with their firms. With a government change and the impact of the recent budget these job market conditions could continue into 2025
2024 Late decision making
2024 was another volatile year for those qualifying into the legal profession. In comparison to the boom year of 2022 which saw law firms carry a record number of vacancies 2024 has been tough. The biggest challenge NQ’s have faced this year is late decision making. Many law firms have kept trainees second guessing about opportunities to stay on. Sometimes up to 4 weeks before qualification and on a few occasions the week before qualification. For an NQ trying to take control of their qualification and remain at their training firm this has been challenging. On a positive note, retention rates were pretty high and many NQ solicitors have been able to secure a position on qualification. Many NQ’s have been able to find a job in their chosen practice area.
In 2024, the number of practising solicitors in the UK continued to grow. There are approximately 160,000 practising solicitors in England and Wales, marking a steady increase from previous years. In Scotland, the figure is around 12,000, and in Northern Ireland, it is approximately 2,500. Together, this puts the total number of practising solicitors across the UK at around 174,500
The number of solicitors “on the roll” (those qualified but not necessarily practising) in England and Wales is significantly higher, at about 216,000, reflecting the broader legal profession’s scope
Law firm Performance 2024
Following a successful few years of delivering growth against a challenging economic backdrop and global market volatility, UK law firms have continued to display positive financial performance, according to PwC UK’s latest Law Firms’ Survey for 2024.
UK offices of top 100 law firms achieved a record year in 2024, with 97% of all firms surveyed posting UK fee income growth, including 100% of the top 50 surveyed. This was in addition to measures taken to control costs, including staff costs in larger firms, leading to positive impacts upon UK profitability. Of the top 100, 84% reported increases in profit, compared to 56% last year.
Political background
Predicting trends in the profession is always difficult but broadly speaking firms face the prospect of significantly increased employment costs which will undoubtedly lower profit margins if no remedial action is taken. Tightening belts and cutting overheads generally impacts on hiring particularly at the entry level. So, it is possible this could cause a reduction in NQ hires taking into account the significant NQ rate increases over the last three years.
Larger, commercial firms will still need to maintain the balance of junior to senior fee earners to remain competitive with other firms so it is likely that the pinch for NQ roles will be more smaller practice based.
UK law firms have continued to display positive financial performance.
Retention rates
Retention rates for newly qualified solicitors at UK law firms have shown strong performance across various types of firms. Statistically overall retention rates typically hover between 80% and 90%, depending on the firm and the location. 2024 data suggests that firms maintaining high retention rates often combine competitive remuneration with strong career development pathways and a supportive workplace culture. For a more detailed breakdown of specific firms and their retention rates, sources like Legal Cheek providing regular updates.
NQ Route
Interestingly, 88% of top 100 UK law firms are concerned that a shortage of talent could stop them achieving their ambitions, so there is still a will to continue searching for this talent.
There continues to be a widening of pathways for NQs to take. Alongside the traditional route of qualification into law firms we have seen an increasing number of lawyers taking positions, on qualification, in-house. We have also seen an increasing number of lawyers deciding to work offshore (starting in Jersey and Guernsey)
We always advise when choosing a law firm to start your career at to take time and make a fully considered decision. Weighing up the available options we always challenge our candidates to consider where they hope to be in 3-5 years’ time and to try and shape their future career based on those early decisions.
Solicitors want to understand what a law firm is like, its values, its flexible work policy, support network, social side and its attitude to mental health and wellbeing. Training and development, quality of work and quality of clients have always been important but solicitors now what to really see what life will be like before they decide to accept a job.
It is important to take all the factors into account before making any decisions and, with sometimes a £10,000/annum difference in salary between opportunities, it’s incredibly important to take all into account, good and bad.
We always advise when choosing a law firm to start your career at to take time and make a fully considered decision.
Questions to ask yourself
What is my preferred area of law?
What type of law firm do I want to be at?
What are my long-term career aspirations?
Do I have any geographical boundaries?
Should I consider in-house?
What is my back up option?
What is my personal timeline?
As mentioned earlier some law firms have discussed retaining NQ’s very late in their training contact. This causes doubt and stress and has forced many NQ’s into an external search when they hadn’t wanted to. We recommend you can talk to your firm as soon as you feel comfortable to do so and try to get some indication on the chance of being retained and the opportunities on the table.
We have always said if you are able to secure a position in the spring it will provide you an opportunity to influence your final seat and will be beneficial to your new position (whether at your current firm or a new employer).
If you have been successful in securing a double seat in your chosen practice area this should give you a clear advantage during the process of getting your first position. Alongside a greater level of experience, you should benefit from greater technical knowledge and confidence when you start.
If your training firm does offer you a role on qualification and you are comfortable that it is the best place for you to develop in your chosen practice area there is a real value in this in a contracted market.
As mentioned, benchmark any offer you receive against the questions above. The early years of your career are vital in shaping your future.
The early years of your career are vital in shaping your future.
First the simple bit. Why might you want to make an international move on qualification? At work…cross-border matters, smaller teams, bags of responsibility, more client contact, and a fast-track to professional development. Outside of the office? Easy…more time, less tax, and just maybe, a proper summer.
Before you tear up your plans for a local job though, let’s deal with the not so easy question. How do you go about finding one of these great roles?
Well, for those tempted by an offshore move there is a clear route in via the Channel Islands. The world’s leading offshore law firms dominate the Jersey and Guernsey markets and with few trainees on the islands, the demand for good NQs in corporate, funds, finance and commercial litigation is consistent. Private client lawyers with a taste for trusts and private wealth will also have a decent shot. Many will fall for the place and stay long term, but it works as a platform for the future too, with experience gained here being valued across the offshore world, as well as in the City and international legal markets.
If the Channel Islands tick most boxes but lack a bit of exotic appeal, the British Virgin Islands might fit the bill, with all the above plus a Caribbean climate. A note of caution though, whilst NQ roles do come up here, there tends to be a preference for a bit (even just 1 year) of post-qualification experience.
For those drawn to a more urban environment there is potential for an NQ role in any location with Common Law foundations. Most years see vacancies open in the key markets of the Middle East and Asia, but we would advise against putting all your eggs in this particular basket. The level of demand and the timing is unpredictable, so when roles do arise, they often hit the market late, after firms complete their own internal processes. This is only exacerbated if the outlook in London remains challenging. Practice areas can also be unpredictable, but these firms typically work across the corporate and finance spectrum, field decent sized commercial litigation teams and will also often have sector specialism in areas such as energy, projects or construction.
Elsewhere in the world, Australia and New Zealand are a possibility, albeit firms prefer a bit of experience; Continental Europe perhaps, but it is the proverbial needle in a haystack (languages and an EU passport would help); the US and Latin America, tricky with experience, let alone without, so the longest of long shots.
Of course, every application, every location, and every NQ round is different but as it stands this is a fair assessment of what we expect in 2025. Really, the best advice we can give to anyone with an interest in working overseas is to get in touch. We have lots of resources aimed at trainees and junior lawyers with international aspirations so even if we can’t find the dream move now, we can begin to lay the groundwork for a real crack at it when you have a year or two under your belt.
If you would like more information about the international market for NQ lawyers, please contact Ameena, Charlotte or Jason at [email protected]
You can also view our Guide to Building an International Career here https://www.originlegal.co.uk/resources/international-resources/international-moves/a-guide-to-building-an-international-legal-career/
We have lots of resources aimed at trainees and junior lawyers
NQ Planning Market
Planning & Environment more than ever is at the forefront of the present governments plans for economic growth and this means that opportunities for lawyers over the next term are likely to be as good as they have ever been. I suspect few will have considered a career in this sector while at law school, but if you are looking for a legal career that offers a technical challenge, variety and leaves a legacy then I believe there is something for everyone. Below are some of the sectors that as an NQ you might get to work on:
- Energy: including renewables such as solar and wind, nuclear, energy from waste, heat networks, interconnector projects and grid upgrades
- Urban regeneration.
- Housing and strategic land, tall buildings, commercial buildings.
- Retail and logistics and date centres.
- Transport: road schemes, ports, rail and metro schemes, airports.
- Sports stadia.
- Utilities such as water including reservoirs and pipelines.
If you enjoy the challenge of a fast-moving sector that involves politics and socio-economic challenges then a legal career in planning might for you.
Stuart Phillips is a Managing Consultant with responsibility for covering Planning Law and can be contacted on 07725 246 857 or [email protected]
February/ March
Engage a good and experienced recruitment consultant. Ask friends for referrals; speak to previous year trainees and find out who they would recommend; look for specialists in your market. LinkedIn is a great tool for checking your recruiters background if they are unknown to you. Check their online LinkedIn recommendations to see if they have moved candidates similar to you and have experience of your chosen practice area and location. A good recruiter will be able to advise you on the range of opportunities available and the best way of going about securing a position. Try to start the process of making internal applications to the jobs you want at your training firm.
Start thinking about the area of law that you would like to practice and the locations you would like to work in. Also try and engineer discussions with your training firm about your final seat. Aim to make that seat work for you and your chosen practice area on qualification.
Prepare your paperwork. Work with your recruiter to produce a strong CV that is tailored to the roles and locations you are targeting. Consider including a profile that highlights your motivations and career ambitions. Also consider who you will use as referees and make sure your academic certificates are accessible in case needed.
April / May
Continue to investigate internal applications. Ensure you have a strong LinkedIn profile which can be viewed by potential employers to support your application. Add a professional picture to your LinkedIn profile if needed and try to ensure you have good, professional content on your page. Your LinkedIn profile is the main access point to your information alongside your CV. It is equally as important.
Try to focus on the geographical areas and specific discipline you are looking for. Make applications and attend interviews in these areas. Hopefully with some detailed interview coaching and support from your recruitment consultant you can secure the position you want.
June/July
If you have not secured a position in your chosen location / discipline continue to keep a watchful eye on your local market. Also, this is the time to widen the search into different geographical areas or a 2nd choice discipline.
August
If you are still available in August widen your search with recruiters to ensure you are visible for when those final September positions are released.
September
Start your new position.
For a confidential conversation about the NQ market Please contact Jason Nottage
Origin Legal is a specialist legal recruitment company launched in January 2005 by a management team that first came together in 1996. Origin Legal is recognised as one of the UK’s leading providers of legal jobs at all levels for lawyers, legal executives, solicitors and paralegals. The company’s primary goal is to deliver the highest quality of service and through successful legal recruiting develop and maintain long term client relationships.
