The legal industry is currently in flux driven by a shift in hiring expectations that follow the digital transformation and overall shifts from other sectors.
While some areas within the legal industry will likely remain cautiously optimistic for 2025, others like data privacy, employment and general commerce reported growth in the tail end of 2024, coming as a relief after restructuring of talent and key skills needed from the past few years.
We also anticipate increasing hiring activities within private practice as they strengthen their capabilities in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and litigation. Employers hiring for these positions are particularly focused on attracting partner-level talent, a trend supported by an increased supply of qualified candidates following the exit of several law firms from the Greater China market in 2024.
Download the 2025 Job Market and Salary Guide report to find out more about the key trends influencing the job market, in-demand specialised and soft skills as well as the latest salary benchmarks to attract the right talent in the legal industry.
changes in the legal landscape steering hiring activities
We have seen increased hiring activities for legal professionals at private equity and wealth management firms to
support expanding operations and regulatory compliance matters. As financial institutions adapt to the increasing complexity of financial instruments and customer bases, there is a demand for legal expertise in areas such as equity derivatives, FICC, prime brokerage, and ISDA negotiation.
With changing fintech regulations in Hong Kong and the emergence of new firms, there has also been an increased demand for compliance, litigation, and product lawyers.
Within the commercial sectors, we have seen increasing regulatory changes to employment laws across the region which has in turn bolstered appetites to hire lawyers able to navigate through these challenges. As in previous years, many legal professionals are enhancing their technological skills and taking additional data privacy qualifications, as this area remains critical for corporations expanding operations across the Asia Pacific region.
adaptability, agility and digital proficiency drive legal hiring practices
There is a change in talent hiring practices as legal professionals adjust their expectations in the job-seeking market. Employers increasingly prioritise cost management and in-demand skills when hiring, whether for replacement roles or team expansions.
Given the significant differences between private practice and in-house work environments, legal teams increasingly prefer candidates who work in-house to ensure a better cultural fit and improve retention.
Digitalisation continues to be a priority for transformation within the sector. Companies are integrating technology with legal expertise to ensure compliance and ethical data management practices. There will be more job opportunities for legal professionals with relevant experience in legal tech and process optimisation, as many companies in the commercial sector incorporate legal operations work into job scopes to enhance overall compliance capabilities and operational efficiencies.
Many companies are increasingly focusing on junior hires to fill positions once held by more senior lawyers. This comes with a rapid learning curve and higher expectations for younger talent, encouraging career growth and mobility within the business while encouraging them to build relationships with senior stakeholders. Meanwhile, senior lawyers face challenges in finding comparable roles or salary packages, leading them to adjust their overall expectations, whether salary, industry, or role type.
As lawyers are frequently required to navigate complex situations, agility has become a key trait that employers look for during interviews. To stand out in this competitive market, many lawyers are actively learning to enhance their technical skills through additional courses in accounting, finance, and fintech.
Despite ongoing uncertainties, there are positive signs of recovery as businesses adapt to changing conditions. As we keep a close eye on how the global economy will grow in 2025, companies will carefully manage their legal costs, resulting in more selective hiring decisions to ensure they find the right candidates.
download randstad hong kong’s 2025 job market and salary trends report
Our 2025 Job Market and Salary Trends report cuts through the complexity to deliver actionable insights and expert analysis for insurance firms. In our annual report, you can find salary benchmarks for roles in private practices and in-house legal teams, ranging from fresh graduates to Partners or Head of Legal with multinational corporations.
The report examines key talent expectations as well as current industry trends and salary benchmarks in the following industries:
- Accounting and finance
- Banking and financial services
- Business support
- Construction, property and engineering
- Human resources
- Insurance
- Legal
- Life sciences and healthcare
- Luxury and retail
- Supply chain and logistics
- Sales and marketing
- Technology
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