header-logo header-logo

Will the party end in 2022? Not before it gets a whole lot louder

25 February 2022 / Seamus Hoar
Issue: 7968 / Categories: Features , Career focus , Profession
printer mail-detail
73207
Cash is king and lawyers are in demand, writes Seamus Hoar
  • Market expectations in 2022: salaries, jobs, office-working and culture.
  • What to expect when the market inevitably corrects.

Many of the top law firms have experienced serious increases in revenue over the course of the pandemic, as client demand has, arguably, been at its greatest over the past two years. In fact, according to MLA’s recent Global Law Firm Report, demand from clients is up 15-25%. As a result of this uptick, firms have been ferocious in their efforts to acquire both partners and teams. The pandemic has ultimately given rise to a near ‘perfect storm’, with appetite from firms, principally US, coupled with a lateral market at its most receptive to new opportunities. Ultimately, firms are paying more than they ever have for the top talent and cash is certainly still king.

As the market charges ahead, we can expect some stand-out factors to keep law firms up at

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Freeths—Ruth Clare

Freeths—Ruth Clare

National real estate team bolstered by partner hire in Manchester

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Partner appointed head of family team

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

Firm strengthens agriculture and rural affairs team with partner return

NEWS
Conveyancing lawyers have enjoyed a rapid win after campaigning against UK Finance’s decision to charge for access to the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a recruitment drive for talented early career and more senior barristers and solicitors
Regulators differed in the clarity and consistency of their post-Mazur advice and guidance, according to an interim report by the Legal Services Board (LSB)
The dangers of uncritical artificial intelligence (AI) use in legal practice are no longer hypothetical. In this week's NLJ, Dr Charanjit Singh of Holborn Chambers examines cases where lawyers relied on ‘hallucinated’ citations — entirely fictitious authorities generated by AI tools
The Solicitors Act 1974 may still underpin legal regulation, but its age is increasingly showing. Writing in NLJ this week, Victoria Morrison-Hughes of the Association of Costs Lawyers argues that the Act is ‘out of step with modern consumer law’ and actively deters fairness
back-to-top-scroll