The jobs market in private practice firms is picking up after the pandemic slump, according to research by the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo), the trade body for recruiters.
The figures for legal recruitment showed hiring fell 89% quarter-on-quarter during the first national lockdown a year ago, but by the end of 2020, the numbers had improved and hiring was down 44%.
However, lawyer vacancies were less impacted than other legal jobs, ending 2020 down 39% year-on-year.
In January, there were signs of momentum in private practice hiring, which accounted for 62% of legal vacancies.
Ann Swain, global CEO at APSCo, said: ‘The initial drop in vacancies at the beginning of the pandemic comes as no surprise. Looking at the data, the legal sector is beginning to see signs of positivity.’
