For years, the legal profession has treated London as the centre of the universe – the place to be if you wanted to work on headline deals, climb the ladder, and build a prestigious career. But things are changing. Fast.

We’re now seeing top-tier national and international law firms making significant investments in regional hubs across the UK – and not just to trim overheads. Cities like Bristol, Southampton, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester are attracting and retaining serious legal talent, and firms are responding by building out their practices accordingly. These aren’t back-office satellite teams either – they’re delivering high-value, complex work, often for major clients who don’t care where their lawyer is based, so long as the job is done well.

From a recruitment perspective, this shift is a game-changer. More and more lawyers are waking up to the fact that you don’t have to give up high-quality work to gain a better quality of life. The idea that a fulfilling, top-flight legal career has to come with a London postcode is quickly becoming outdated. We’re regularly placing lawyers in regional roles where the calibre of work matches anything you’d find in the capital – but with shorter commutes, more affordable housing, and a much more sustainable work/life balance.

So, what’s behind this shift?

A big part of it is client-driven. General Counsel and in-house teams are increasingly pragmatic. They want efficient, excellent service, and they’re far less focused on the geographic location of the person delivering it. If a senior associate in Bristol or a legal director in Southampton can offer the same insight and experience as someone based in a glass tower in EC2, at a better rate, then it’s a win all round.

Hybrid working has also played a massive part. The pandemic broke down many of the old assumptions about where legal work has to be done, and while a full remote model won’t suit every practice area, flexibility is now an expectation, not a perk. Regional offices are often the best of both worlds – giving lawyers access to top-tier clients and work, but with the option to live somewhere that feels more manageable and more affordable.

Salaries are shifting too. For a long time, pay disparity between London and the regions was stark. But that gap is narrowing. Firms are recognising that if they want to compete for top people, they need to offer competitive packages – and they’re stepping up.

Of course, this doesn’t mean London is finished – far from it. It will always be an important legal and financial centre. But the idea that it’s the only place where you can build a meaningful legal career is being challenged like never before.

So, is the “London or bust” mentality finally on its way out?

At Origin Legal, we’ve been guiding lawyers through career moves for over 20 years. If you’d like an honest, informal conversations about your own career direction, we’d be delighted to help.