A third of all moves by Corporate & Commercial Solicitors have been to Manchester from other regions in the UK
Written by Paul Wingfield
New insight suggests there has been a surge in Corporate and Commercial Lawyers moving to Manchester and the wider North West.
In the last several months we’ve seen a massive influx of lawyers moving to top 50 law firms in Manchester and the Greater Manchester area. In particular, around a third of Corporate and Commercial Lawyer moves in the last year have been to Manchester. [1] Across all specialisms, lawyers are moving to Manchester predominantly from Southern regions in the UK like Greater London and the South East as well as other Northern regions like Merseyside, and Yorkshire.
Why are we seeing this move?
Rising salaries in the North
With Talent shortages rocking the industry, law firms have increased salaries to attract and retain talent. The salary bracket still remains higher in London & the South compared to Northern law firms - however, pay is rising in the regions.
Legal Cheek found that the city pay war has had a knock-on effect on regional pay with some Newly Qualified Solicitors in Manchester law firms being paid up to and above £65,000.
Although NQ lawyers outside of the capital are still faced with a lower salary bracket, there may be other factors that are impacting their decision to move.
Work-life balance
Up until the last decade the legal career has been fairly synonymous with the buzz of the city and full-time office. However, the 9-5 office grind is no longer being glamourised in the legal sector and many lawyers are moving to Northern law firms for the quality of the lifestyle and the cheaper cost of living.
With increasing flexibility, some lawyers are choosing to base their job search on whether or not the firm offers hybrid or remote working options. In fact, a recent study by Legal Futures found that nearly 50% of lawyers would look for a new job if they had to attend the office full-time.
The recent train strikes might also be the last nail in the coffin for the death of the commute. The increased likelihood of travel disruptions, increasing fuel prices, and a general push for better work-life balance could mean more lawyers will be attracted to local firms within a smaller radius to them.
More diverse practice areas
For many lawyers, moving up North could bring longer-term career progression, particularly if they are pursuing more niche areas. Examples of the kinds of niche practices that thrive in Manchester, Chester, Liverpool, and the Lake District include Property Litigation, Agricultural Law, Private Client Trusts & Tax Law.
In terms of the kinds of areas people are relocating for, Atlas found that out of nearly 700 moves in the last year, Personal Injury was the biggest specialism that Solicitors moved to Manchester for. This was closely followed by Commercial Property and Commercial Litigation.
Whilst the reasons people look to move jobs or regions varies heavily depending on circumstance, we are currently seeing a higher number of moves up North in the legal sector.
As the cost of living rises and recession looms, resilient practices like restructuring and dispute resolution will continue to grow. Big practices in the North West dealing with these areas include Addleshaw Goddard whose Manchester-based team deals with ‘big ticket’ litigation and DLA Piper’s Manchester team which excels in M&A disputes and corporate reorganisation.
Paul Wingfield is the CEO of William James Recruitment. For the last 20 years, he has worked with an extensive network of the best law firms in the UK. He leads our team of nationwide recruitment experts who have consistently placed the very best candidates with leading law firms across the UK.
Working with City Law firms as well as regional practices, our team can help you to find your ideal working environment.
[1] Data from Atlas by Codex Edge: Don't Forget Us! (codexedge.com) 2022
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