Legal Salary Guide
Discover essential salary trends, sought-after skills, and industry insights to inform your hiring strategies or career choices.
Your guide to salaries and trends
This guide brings you the latest insights in the Legal field across the UK. Whether you’re a professional aiming to understand your market value or an employer looking to attract top talent, our guide provides a clear, straightforward view of salary expectations and trends. Built on responses from our candidate and client surveys, it’s designed to support informed decisions and strategic career moves.
In our guide, you’ll find:
- Key insights from our sentiment survey: Discover current trends, job satisfaction levels, and motivators in the Legal industry, gathered from our latest survey of professionals and hiring managers.
- Salary tables by region: Gain a clear picture of salary levels across the UK for a range of roles in the Legal sector, helping you make informed decisions on compensation, no matter where you’re based.
Key findings
- Salary dissatisfaction: 33% of professionals express dissatisfaction with their current salary.
- High job mobility: 62% of candidates plan to change roles within the next 12 months.
- Salary expectations: 50% of candidates anticipate a 5-10% salary increase when changing roles.
- Work-life balance concerns: 60% rate their current work-life balance as "Poor" or "Very Poor."
- Primary motivator: 29% cite work-life balance as their top motivator when seeking new opportunities.
Market overview
2025 hiring landscape
The hiring landscape for the Legal sector in 2025 is shaped by increased demand for specialists in compliance, data privacy, and corporate law.
Hybrid work arrangements remain an attractive feature for candidates, while organisations investing in Legal technology solutions to streamline operations are gaining a competitive edge. Firms are also prioritising diversity and inclusion initiatives, creating opportunities for underrepresented talent.
Candidate sentiment
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- Prioritising flexibility: 77% of UK professionals prefer roles offering hybrid or remote work options.
- Career growth focus: 66% of candidates rate clear progression opportunities as a top factor in their job search.
- Work-life balance: 3 in 5 candidates highlight work-life balance as their primary motivator when seeking new roles.
Employer sentiment
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- Skill gaps: 59% of employers report challenges in hiring skilled professionals due to increased competition.
- Retention pressures: 50% of employers feel they are losing talent to firms offering higher salaries or better flexibility.
- Salary increases: Over half of UK employers expect to raise salaries by 5-10% to remain competitive in the hiring market.
-
1 in 3
professionals report dissatisfaction with their current salary.
-
1 in 2
candidates expect a salary increase of 5-10% when changing roles.
-
3 in 5
rate their current work-life balance as “Poor” or “Very Poor.”
-
3 in 5
consider work-life balance as their top motivator for seeking new opportunities.
Soft skills in demand
In the Legal sector, professionals with exceptional communication and interpersonal skills are highly sought after, as effective client communication and clear, precise language are vital in legal contexts.
Problem-solving skills are also in demand, allowing Legal professionals to analyse complex cases and navigate challenging situations. Additionally, emotional intelligence is becoming increasingly valued, as it enhances client relationships and aids in managing high-stress situations.
Building on these skills can help Legal professionals thrive and advance in an increasingly client-focused industry.
Top employer challenges
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- Adapting to flexible work models: Balancing employee preferences for hybrid/remote work with organisational demands remains a challenge.
- Upskilling needs: 71% of employers identify skill gaps, particularly in digital and technical roles, as a barrier to growth.
- Retention struggles: High turnover rates persist, with 62% of professionals considering job changes within the next year.
Top external factors
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- Economic Uncertainty: Ongoing inflation and market instability influence hiring decisions and candidate confidence.
- Technological Changes: Rapid adoption of AI and automation is creating both opportunities and anxieties in the professional services sector.
- Regulatory Shifts: Changing compliance and reporting standards, particularly in finance and legal sectors, require constant adaptation.
Looking ahead
The Legal sector continues to evolve, with growing expectations for adaptability and client-centred approaches.
As technology and regulatory frameworks shift, legal professionals who can combine traditional expertise with emotional intelligence and flexibility will find themselves well-positioned for success.
Henderson Scott remains committed to supporting legal professionals in developing these skills and accessing roles that align with the industry's dynamic needs, ensuring both clients and candidates are equipped for the future.
