Overcoming Inertia

Legal professionals in England and Wales are less likely to relocate for a new job than last year, with 49% stating they would consider a role in another part of the country compared to 57% in 2017 and a similar figure in 2016.

Unsurprisingly, there is a difference across generations with 57% of Millennials up for a move to another region in the UK compared to 48% of older legal professionals. But even Millennials are being made to feel their age as 69% of Younger Millennials, those born in 1989 or after would relocate for the right legal sector job.

London knocked the South West of top spot when it comes to regional attraction, Yorkshire and the North East retained their crown as the regions least likely to lose talent.   

We surveyed 3,000 Solicitors, lawyers and legal professionals across England and Wales as part of our research.

London >>

Attraction is up, 29% of London based legal professionals surveyed had relocated to the region compared to 17% in 2017. Retention is up with 34% of lawyers not prepared to move from the city for a new role.

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South Eastern >>

Bit of a bounce back with in attraction with 23% of Solicitors and lawyers relocating to the region for a new role compared to 1 in 5 in 2017 and 1 in 4 in 2016. 33% of lawyers are settled and would not consider a role outside of their region compared to 31% in 2017.

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South West <<

Last year’s most attractive region has been knocked off top spot with 24% of South West based legal professionals having relocated to take a role, and the second successive year of decline from 26% in 2017 and 28% in 2016. 31% of legal professionals based in the South West of England would not entertain a role in another region, down from 40% in 2017.

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Midlands ><

Attraction up a few points from 2017 with 21% of lawyers having relocated to take a role in the Midlands compared to 19% last year 24% in 2016. 33% of legal professionals based in the Midlands are not considering roles outside of the region compared to 36% in 2017.

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North West ><

A step in the right direction for the North West with 14% of respondents stating they had relocated for their new legal job compared to 9% in 2017 and 11% in 2016. The North West’s ability to retain legal talent has dropped dramatically from 48% in 2017 to 29% in 2018.

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Yorkshire and the North East ><

The biggest jump in attraction throughout all the regions with 24% relocating to take up their new legal job compared to 15% in 2017 and 19% in 2016. Yorkshire and the North East have retained top spot in the retention stakes with 35% not interested in relocating for a new role, down from 43% in 2017.

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If you are considering a relocation you could do worse than get on touch with multi-award winning legal recruitment specialists Douglas Scott. We have all the relationships and considerable experience in securing moves for Solicitors and Lawyers looking to relocate and take a new legal job.   

Contact your local Douglas Scott office and ask to speak to a senior recruitment consultant about your options.