At Realm, we know that happy people drive successful businesses. As we step into 2025, it’s more important than ever for law firms to take a proactive approach to attracting, recruiting, and retaining the right lawyers. With only 5% of legal professionals actively looking for new opportunities, the competition for talent is fierce. But with the right strategy, your firm can stand out and secure the people it needs to thrive.
Drawing on insights from our 2024 annual report, here’s how your firm can get ahead this year.
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Refine Your Employer Value Proposition (EVP)
Your EVP is the foundation of your attraction and retention strategy. It communicates why legal professionals should choose your firm and sets you apart from the competition.
- Understand what lawyers value: Work-life balance, career progression, and firm culture are top priorities for legal professionals. Showcase how your firm excels in these areas.
- Keep it real: Your EVP should reflect the authentic experience of working at your firm. Overpromising will only lead to disengagement later.
- Promote your strengths: Whether it’s flexible working, a collaborative culture, or leadership opportunities, make sure your EVP highlights what makes your firm unique.
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Build and Maintain a Talent Pipeline
Don’t wait for vacancies to arise to start recruiting. Building a talent pipeline ensures you’re always connected to the right people.
- Engage early: Stay on the radar of passive candidates by sharing value-added content, hosting networking events, or offering insights into your specialist practice areas.
- Stay in touch: Regularly communicate with potential candidates through newsletters or updates to keep your firm top of mind.
- Leverage your network: Use your relationships within your specialist community to identify talent ahead of time.
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Harness Technology to Streamline Recruitment
Technology can help your firm save time and improve outcomes during the recruitment process.
- Data-driven decisions: Use analytics to track the effectiveness of your job adverts, candidate engagement, and recruitment timelines.
- Smart tools: Invest in recruitment technology like applicant tracking systems to streamline candidate management.
- Clear communication: Optimise your job descriptions and adverts with inclusive language and highlight the benefits of working at your firm.
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Focus on Retention as Much as Recruitment
Attracting great people is only half the battle. Keeping them engaged and happy is just as important.
- Growth opportunities: A lack of career progression remains one of the top reasons lawyers move on. Create clear pathways for development and promotion.
- Prioritise wellbeing: Offer benefits that promote work-life balance and support mental health, such as flexible working or access to counselling services.
- Listen to feedback: Regularly gather input from your team and take action to address concerns.
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Commit to Diversity and Inclusion
Building an inclusive culture isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s essential for attracting top talent.
- Inclusive hiring practices: Review your recruitment process to ensure it’s free from bias and inclusive for all candidates.
- Diverse policies: Offer benefits like enhanced parental leave, cultural flexibility, and support for underrepresented groups.
- Walk the walk: Showcase your firm’s commitment to diversity through visible actions, not just words.
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Stay Informed and Adaptable
The legal recruitment landscape is constantly evolving. Staying ahead means staying informed.
- Market insights: Use resources like Realm’s annual report to understand trends and benchmark your firm.
- Be agile: As the market changes, be prepared to adapt your approach to meet new challenges and opportunities.
- Partner with specialists: Collaborate with experts, like our team at Realm, who have deep knowledge of the practice areas you work in to gain a competitive edge.
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Deliver a Seamless Recruitment Experience
A smooth and engaging recruitment process can make all the difference in securing top talent.
- Communicate clearly: Keep candidates informed at every stage of the process.
- Be timely: Move quickly to avoid losing candidates to other offers.
- Showcase your culture: Use the recruitment process to give candidates a sense of what it’s like to work at your firm.
2025 is an opportunity to refine your strategy and position your firm as a destination for top legal talent. By focusing on your EVP, building strong relationships, and prioritising retention, you can ensure your firm is well-placed to attract and retain the right people for your business.
At Realm we specialise in helping law firms to attract, recruit, and retain the right lawyers. If you’d like tailored advice or support in shaping your strategy for the year ahead, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can help your firm thrive in 2025 and beyond.
Get in touch on 03300 245 606 or email hello@realmrecruit.com