The number of major projects moving forward in Hong Kong has resulted in increased demand for employment lawyers to work with in-house legal departments and construction or energy & resources practice groups, according to one major recruitment firm. “We’ve definitely noticed an increase in employment roles. Currently at least two Magic Circle firms and two large UK international firms are losing candidates to in-house organisations. This has sparked an increase in related vacancies in litigation, dispute resolution and energy & resources,” said Ricky Mui, manager of the legal division for Robert Walters Hong Kong.

On top of vacancies for fee-earners, a number of firms are recruiting for ‘knowledge development’ roles and non fee-earning positions. Support staff and non fee-earners are usually only engaged by firms when there is a steady flow of guaranteed work and adding extra staff is economically viable, Mui added. “It is a key indicator of improving economic conditions when firms start recruiting non fee-earners.” Mui said he noticed the spike in non fee-earning position over the past few months and his suspicions were confirmed in the latest salary survey to be released by Robert Walters.

The news is as good for private practice lawyers as for those with in-house experience, according to Mui, because those with in-house experience are easily able to move into a role within an organisation but in instances where suitable candidates aren’t available, private practice lawyers are getting the chance to cross over to in-house  and are leaving vacant roles within law firms. Those roles can be filled by junior lawyers ready for the next step or foreign qualified solicitors, Mui said.