The Midlands Solicitor Shortage: Where Talent Is Moving & Why

Overview:

The Midlands legal sector is facing a growing solicitor shortage, particularly in commercial, corporate, and real estate practices. Firms in Birmingham, Nottingham, Leicester, and surrounding areas are competing not only with each other but with London and other major hubs for experienced talent.

women looking at a laptop

Where Talent Is Moving

  1. Regional Rivals: High-performing solicitors are increasingly moving to competing Midlands firms that offer clearer career progression or better work-life balance.
  2. London & National Firms: Some candidates are drawn to the capital for exposure to larger clients and more lucrative packages.
  3. In-House Roles: Corporates in the Midlands are attracting solicitors seeking a more predictable workload and competitive benefits.

Why This Matters

The shortage isn’t just about open seats, it impacts client delivery, billable hours, and firm growth. Firms that can’t secure experienced solicitors risk losing clients to competitors or overloading existing teams.

Strategies to Stay Competitive

    • Proactive Talent Pipelines: Work with specialist recruiters to continuously identify and engage potential candidates.
    • Retention Focus: Competitive salaries are important, but career development, mentoring, and culture often drive long-term loyalty.
    • Flexible Working Models: Hybrid arrangements, flexible hours, and career breaks are increasingly important to solicitors.

The Midlands solicitor shortage is real, but firms that understand where talent is moving and why can stay ahead. Proactive hiring, strong retention strategies, and understanding candidate motivations are key to maintaining a competitive edge.

 

About The HST Group

We find the best talent, across all sectors

Hiring well is simply a process, which can span a whole range of sectors. This winning process is  one we like to think we’re very good at!

We have unique technology offerings

Our bespoke technology enables us to get your job ads in front of the very best talent out there, which in turn enables us to give brilliant ROI to our clients.

We have an excellent track record

We’re incredibly proud of our track record, and the fact that 80% of our clients are repeat or ongoing customers!