UK legal jobs market on the rise

New yearly and quarterly figures suggest a renewed growth in the legal jobs market, according to research from recruitment consultancy, Robert Walters.

The recruiter's UK job index shows that, for the year to date, the total number of advertised legal vacancies increased by 23 per cent from 2013/14.

As well as the year-on-year increase, the index also highlighted an 8 per cent growth in vacancies between the second and third quarters of 2014.

The index tracks changes to the volume of jobs added to online boards and websites.

London generated the biggest year-on-year increase of any region in the country at 27 per cent. Firms across the Midlands delivered an 18 per cent boost in legal roles, while hiring in the North West remained the same.

Colin Loth, director of legal recruitment at Robert Walters, commented: "Many of these increases can be broadly linked to the scale of the economic recovery. Rising business confidence has delivered a positive 'rippling effect' throughout much of the legal sector, boosting demand and prompting legal professionals to consider new career opportunities.

"Hiring across transactional disciplines, including property, corporate and banking and finance, has been particularly robust. To establish clear blue water from the competition, employers are advised to speed up hiring and demonstrate greater flexibility on benefits and bonuses to fill vacancies with their first choice candidates."