This report analyses banking law hiring trends in 2025, examining how the Leeds Reforms and wider regulatory changes are reshaping demand across firms and financial institutions. It highlights the surge in in-house counsel recruitment, regional expansion beyond London, and the growing influence of AI and compliance on legal workforce planning.
Employment law hiring saw sharp contrasts in 2024, with leading firms significantly expanding recruitment to meet rising demand, while others scaled back amid declining legal aid and fewer trade union disputes.
Amid political transition and economic recovery, 2024 proved largely positive for the UK legal sector, with vacancies rising 14.2% across England and Wales. A post-election surge in M&A activity, especially large-cap buyouts, drove demand for legal professionals, aided by falling interest rates.
The general election’s immediate impact has, unsurprisingly, led to record recruitment, particularly in July. Moreover, Labour’s focus on employment law reforms has driven a surge in demand for employment lawyers, with August also seeing record levels of legal recruitment.
