Nearly one in five solicitors works in-house
The number of solicitors working in-house has doubled in the last 13 years, according to Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) research.
Nearly one in five solicitors now works in-house—a total of more than 25,000. The majority work in the private sector.
The research, carried out among 2,000 in-house counsel, suggests financial pressures have contributed to the expansion. Respondents reported a better work-life balance, and involvement in strategic decision-making rather than purely advising on compliance.
However, Richard Collins, SRA executive director, says there are indications that in-house solicitors are “experiencing conflicts between their organisation’s decisions and their own professional obligations”, and it was “important to ensure that regulation in this sector remains relevant, effective and proportionate”.
