Are lawyers in high demand in UK?
Asked by: Dr. Christophe Bruen IV | Last update: September 24, 2025Score: 5/5 (45 votes)
Corporate lawyers are in high demand, driven by the UK's dynamic business environment. Companies, both large and small, require legal expertise to navigate complex regulations, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, and corporate governance.
Is there a shortage of lawyers in the UK?
However, there are now growing concerns about whether there are enough qualified solicitors and barristers to ensure its proper functioning. Recent analysis and reports highlight that the system is strained by a combination of workforce shortages, funding constraints, and structural inefficiencies.
Is it easy to get a job as a lawyer in UK?
The legal profession is really competitive in the UK as there are so many pathways to entry and many foreign students/qualified lawyers want to practice in the UK.
Is law a good career in the UK?
Employers throughout the world have long favoured UK law graduates, so a UK law degree can open doors wherever you intend to work. A UK law degree also opens up a wide number of professional opportunities, whether students wish to work in justice and criminology, journalism, or politics.
Is law oversaturated in the UK?
Over-Saturation of the Market
Let's face it: The UK, and London in particular, is overburdened with lawyers. This over-saturation has resulted in increased competition, stagnated wages, and diminished opportunities for upward mobility.
This Is How Much UK Lawyers Make - Solicitor And Barrister Salaries REVEALED!!
Are lawyers well paid in the UK?
Job site Indeed reports the average salary for a solicitor is just under £50,000 a year, based on almost 11,000 reported salaries. Of course, this figure can vary significantly based on the factors mentioned earlier, with some London based, Magic Circle firms paying experienced professionals well over £100,000 a year.
Is law saturated in Canada?
Another misconception is that if you get a law degree, you are guaranteed a job as a lawyer. In actuality, this is false. Canada's legal market is highly saturated. That means there are more law school graduates than articling positions.
What type of lawyer is most in demand UK?
According to recent insights from the LexisNexis GLP Index, property, immigration, restructuring, and insolvency law are projected to experience the strongest demand growth in 2025. This mirrors the increasing demand across several core practice areas, each driven by unique economic and social factors.
Do lawyers earn more in the UK or US?
At a glance. Trainees in London earn more than those working outside the capital. You'll earn less in smaller firms but will likely rise up the ladder quicker. USA based firms pay the highest trainee and newly-qualified salaries, followed by Magic Circle then City firms.
How hard is a law degree in the UK?
Legal concepts can be quite intricate. You'll need a deep understanding of various areas of law, such as common, criminal, intellectual property, commercial, family, labour, and more. Yes, this can seem overwhelming.
Do UK law firms hire foreigners?
Unfortunately, there is little support out there for foreigners entering the London legal market, and therefore I have seen many bright international students struggling with writing good applications. In other words, it's often not the case that big law firms prioritise local candidates over international candidates.
How much do beginner lawyers make in the UK?
The average lawyer salary in the United Kingdom is £50,000 per year or £25.64 per hour. Entry level positions start at £40,559 per year while most experienced workers make up to £78,000 per year.
How many hours do lawyers work UK?
And what impact do super-sized workweeks have on solicitors, personally and professionally? For solicitors, a full-time role rarely means working 9-to-5. In the UK, solicitors commonly exceed a 40-hour work week, often extending into evenings and weekends to accommodate client needs and meet billable hour targets.
Can Canadian lawyers work in the UK?
From September 2021, lawyers from abroad and overseas students who wish to qualify in England and Wales can sit the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). The SQE allows you to qualify as a solicitor by taking the same exam as domestic candidates.
What percentage of lawyers are white in the UK?
And 77% of lawyers are from White groups, down from 78% in 2021. The Office for National Statistics employment figures from 2023 showed that 15% of the workforce in England, Scotland and Wales were from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds (6% Asian, 4% Black, 2% Mixed/Multiple and 4% Other) and 85% were White.
What are lawyers called in the UK?
The term lawyer is a generic term used to describe anyone who is a Licensed Legal Practitioner qualified to give legal advice in one or more areas of law. A solicitor and a barrister could both be considered a 'lawyer' in the UK.
Which country needs lawyers the most?
Which country has a demand for Lawyers? The United States of America, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Ireland and Switzerland offer many jobs for Lawyers.
Who earns more doctors or lawyers UK?
Lawyers are earning an average of £92,606 each year; they are the second highest earners and beaten only by chief executives, who earn an average of £130,734, according to the ONS' 2021 data. By contrast, doctors took home £74,588 this year and dentists £59,669.
Is law a good career in England?
The UK is home to hundreds of national and international law firms, including some of the world's biggest. These offer excellent opportunities for work experience and career development.
Are lawyers underpaid in UK?
As part of its annual salary research, Realm Recruit found that on average, pay for legal professionals has been outpaced by inflation and has increased by two per cent since 2023. However, firms are still willing to pay more for lawyers with the 'right level of experience', according to the research.
What is the highest paying job in the UK?
1. Chief Executives and Senior Officials. Unsurprisingly, chief executives like CEOs and Managing Directors have the best-paying jobs. After all, they're the highest-ranking individuals in an organisation.
What is the richest type of lawyer in the UK?
The most profitable legal area is commercial and corporate law, where solicitors can easily earn over £100,000 a year. Commercial lawyers provide business-related advice to companies, making sure that they comply with regulation and a particular country's legal system.
Are lawyers underpaid in Canada?
As in many other countries, lawyers in Canada are considered a prestigious, stable, and lucrative career. Lawyers are one of the most highly paid professions in the country, along with doctors, accountants, and engineers, with a yearly average of $126,595.
How hard is law school in Canada?
Law school is hard – and that's a fact. But before you count how many sleepless nights you may have in the future, you must first prepare your Canadian law schools' requirements. This might be the initial obstacle you would have to face in achieving your dreams of becoming a lawyer.
Is there an oversupply of lawyers in Canada?
The report says lawyers and other legal professionals remain in high demand in Canada. Robert Half's recently released “Demand for Skilled Talent Report” found there is still a lot of mobility in the legal sector.