Increase in salaries as companies compete for top legal professionals

The legal market in Dublin went from strength-to-strength in 2018, according to the latest Robert Walters European Salary Survey.

Legal market trends in 2019

The legal market in Dublin went from strength to strength in 2018 as a result of a number of international law firms setting up European headquarters in the city. There was also an influx of UK law firms making Brexit-related moves to Ireland.

The appearance of these new firms resulted in an increase in salaries, as both established and new firms competed to retain and attract top talent. We have seen an increase in salaries for candidates at the two to five years' PQE level, including those working within property, corporate, investment funds and commercial industries.

In addition, there was an increased demand for company secretaries across all industries. Candidates with an ICSA qualification and two to six years’ experience were highly sought after as companies looked to expand and increase their headcount in Ireland.

With the continued expansion of companies in Ireland, office space is becoming increasingly difficult to come by, which has resulted in a common theme of flexible hours and working from home. In 2019, hiring managers will be seeking top talent with expertise in their respective industries. 

Company secretaries and legal support staff will be in short supply in 2019. In order to attract professionals, salaries will need to be competitive and companies will need to offer alternative options, such as working from home.

The consistent need for solicitors in private practice will continue – namely within the property, banking, technology and construction sectors. Those with in-depth knowledge and experience in specific sectors will be able to command premium salaries. As workloads increase due to new regulations and increased sales, we expect to see an increase in recruitment levels in-house for lawyers at the one to three years' PQE.

The legal division at a glance:

Our legal division recruits for the following positions in law firms and in-house across all industries:

• Legal secretaries
• Paralegal’s
• Company secretaries
• Solicitors
• Legal counsels
• Senior legal counsels
• Head of Legal 

Contact us

To discuss any of your legal hiring needs, please contact one of our experienced consultants on dublin@robertwalters.com or 01 633 4111.

And if you are looking for a new opportunity, see our latest legal roles in Ireland.