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In-house market needs ‘strong, experienced’ lawyers for regulation and compliance
New research suggests that businesses looking to increase their permanent staff in the legal department require practitioners who can help respond to the “intensifying” parameters in the wake of the banking royal commission.
Jerome Doraisamy
According to global recruitment firm Hays, almost one-half (47 per cent) of employers intend to increase their permanent staff levels, which — in the in-house market — means a focus on regulation and compliance.
This is creating, it surmised, “strong job opportunities” for candidates with experience across all areas of legal practice.
“Financial services advisory lawyers and litigation and dispute resolution lawyers are sought by banks, professional services organisations and regulatory bodies following the banking royal commission too,” Hays said.
As companies cut down on outsourcing, “demand will continue for paralegals, legal counsel, senior counsel and general counsel”, Hays continued, particularly across the commercial, commercial property, and banking and finance industries.
“Construction litigation lawyers with five to eight years of post-admission experience remain in high demand due to the number of current and planned transport and infrastructure projects,” it said.
“Within Queensland and Western Australia, the resurgence of the resources, mining, oil and gas industries has fuelled increasing demand for in-house lawyers and company secretaries.
“Greater demand also exists for legal counsel with relevant industry experience. For example, a mining organisation will request a lawyer who has worked on mining accounts previously.”
The remarks follow the findings of the FY 2019–20 Hays Salary Guide, which found that more legal professionals will get pay rises this year than last, but those rises will not be as high as hoped for.
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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