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Stefanie Garber
Demand is on the rise for in-house and government lawyers, but certain skillsets are more desirable to employers than others, a new report has found.
Demand is on the rise for in-house and government lawyers, but certain skillsets are more desirable to employers than others, a new report has found.
In its quarterly report for July to September 2016, recruitment company Hays identified a spike in activity for legal teams within certain areas of expertise, particularly large-scale development.
Lawyers with mergers and acquisitions expertise may also find a number of opportunities in company legal teams.
“Demand for in-house and private practice Corporate and Commercial Lawyers with solid mergers and acquisition backgrounds, particularly mid to senior Lawyers, is also buoyant,” the report said.
The major drivers of this uptick in demand include “new contracts, changes in contracts and new projects,” according to the report.
Lawyers with M&A and commercial property experience are also sought after in private practice, the report found, as the number of high-value transactions in the market increases.
For lawyers interested in roles outside of the legal team, the report noted that “company secretary candidates are in short supply”.
In the government sector, activity is also on the rise, though most recruitment is centred on contract and temporary roles, the report found.
In particular, freedom of information lawyers are needed, to respond to “increasing demand from the media and public for access to government information”.
However, the report notes that these roles tend to be stressful, resulting in higher-than-average turnover.
