My Next Move: What opportunities are available in the in-house market?
This week we ask our resident expert, Kelly Roberts, an in-house recruitment consultant at Randstad Legal, about the prospects for lawyers who want to move in-house, but are finding that there
This week we ask our resident expert, Kelly Roberts, an in-house recruitment consultant at Randstad Legal, about the prospects for lawyers who want to move in-house, but are finding that there seems to be less opportunities available than when the have moved in private practice. Is this due to the current market conditions?
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There are always going to be fewer opportunities available within the in-house legal market. It is a finite market and as such, teams generally run a lean headcount with a reasonably flat structure. When working in private practice, lawyers are producing money for the business but within the in-house environment, legal teams are a cost to the business. In-house teams can't expand for the sake of it.
Given the current market conditions there has been a cautious approach towards recruitment. However, we have still seen a positive increase in the number of roles available, compared with last year, at the more junior end of the market. This is a good sign of market repair and confidence returning to the market.
Going into the new financial year we expect the senior end of the market to show signs of movement, although naturally there are less senior opportunities - the air gets thinner the higher you climb!