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30 July 2025
Issue: 8127 / Categories: Legal News , Career focus , Legal services
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Corporate challenges for in-house lawyers

In-house legal teams want more defined career pathways and professional support, according to a report by Flex Legal and Barbri

Some 70% of 120 in-house lawyers taking part in the report, ‘Inside In-House: 2025 Legal Talent Outlook’, published this week, said their top concern was managing their workload with limited resources. Asked to identify skills gaps beyond law, 78% said tech proficiency, 68% said leadership and management capability, and 65% said commercial acumen.

Only 16% said they have structured learning and development frameworks, despite demand for more defined career pathways and support such as mentoring, the report found.

Spencer Davis, chief legal officer at Lifezone Metals, said: ‘In-house roles are demanding. People often expect more flexibility and less pressure, but the reality is, you’re still accountable to boards, C-suite, and cross-border teams.’

Issue: 8127 / Categories: Legal News , Career focus , Legal services
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: John McElroy, London Solicitors Litigation Association

NLJ Career Profile: John McElroy, London Solicitors Litigation Association

From first-generation student to trailblazing president of the London Solicitors Litigation Association, John McElroy of Fieldfisher reflects on resilience, identity and the power of bringing your whole self to the law

Clarke Willmott—Elaine Field

Clarke Willmott—Elaine Field

Planning and environment team expands with partner hire in Manchester

Birketts—Barbara Hamilton-Bruce

Birketts—Barbara Hamilton-Bruce

Firm appoints chief operating officer to strengthen leadership team

NEWS
A landmark Supreme Court ruling has underscored the sweeping reach of UK sanctions. In NLJ this week, Brónagh Adams and Harriet Campbell of Penningtons Manches Cooper say the regime is a ‘blunt instrument’ requiring only a factual, not causal, link to restricted goods
Fraud claims are surging, with England and Wales increasingly the forum of choice for global disputes. Writing in NLJ this week, Jon Felce of Cooke, Young & Keidan reports claims have risen sharply, with fraud now a major share of litigation and costing billions worldwide
Litigators digesting Mazur are being urged to tighten oversight and compliance. In his latest 'Insider' column for NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School provides a cut out and keep guide to the ruling’s core test: whether an unauthorised individual is ‘in truth acting on behalf of the authorised individual’
Conflicting county court rulings have left landlords uncertain over whether they can force entry after tenants refuse access. In this week's NLJ, Edward Blakeney and Ashpen Rajah of Falcon Chambers outline a split: some judges permit it under CPR 70.2A, others insist only Parliament can authorise such powers
A wave of scandals has reignited debate over misconduct in public office, criticised as unclear and inconsistently applied. Writing in NLJ this week, Alice Lepeuple of WilmerHale says the offence’s ‘vagueness, overbreadth & inconsistent deployment’ have undermined confidence
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