Sponsored briefing: Recruiting top talent

The last two years have been a steep learning curve for the jobs market, and never more so than in the legal sector. Post-pandemic, the market has changed drastically- and while things are certainly starting to get easier, challenges still remain.

Here at LR Legal, we’re acutely aware of the struggles employers face right now, and we know how vital it is to recognise the impact of the changes that are taking place in the legal industry. So how can LR Legal help law firms not only secure the top talent in today’s difficult market but keep them too?

We know the importance of being flexible

Flexible working is here to stay, and employers need to embrace this. More and more candidates want to work for a firm that can move away from the traditional 9-5 routine, and employers need to be ready and willing to accommodate this massive shift in the market.

Here at LR Legal, we’ve always taken a flexible approach with our team, and post-pandemic we’ve adapted further to ensure that our employees feel valued and supported- not to mention able to do their job well. Offering a flexible working solution to prospective candidates helps to widen the talent pool exponentially and opens up vast new opportunities for exciting collaborations.

Flexible working in the legal industry is more than just a buzz word and the importance of candidate care is at the top of the list, starting even before the interview. Think about how you can show support to employees before they sign on the dotted line.

Be open to flexible working solutions from the outset; ultimately, adopting this way of working will allow you as an employer to reap the benefits of more motivated and productive staff. It also helps iron out teething issues so that you can get this right for your firm. When it comes to recruitment, the top talent are more likely to come to you if you recognise this.

We know employers need to offer great benefits

It’s not just flexible working hours that employees are demanding right now. What you offer as an employment package matters too- a lot. Almost every industry is being forced to increase their salary offers right now, but in many cases that just isn’t enough.

According to our 2023 salary survey, 61% of those we spoke to said that they secured a new role with a pay rise, but overall the most popular benefit that employers could offer was the opportunity to work from home. Other top benefits were more holidays, an attractive bonus scheme, and private medical/ dental care. Only 34% of those we spoke to reported being happy with their current benefits package- and with 28% saying they’ll be looking to change jobs this year, it’s clear that employers need to be taking these findings seriously. Take a look at the full salary survey here.

Employees are motivated by opportunities to progress within their career too- so what does the career path look like to potential candidates joining your firm? Continued professional development is vital to show new employees that you’re as invested in their success as they are; of course, the added bonus for employers is a team of highly skilled and efficient staff who are ready and willing to take on future challenges. A great career progression package is just as attractive to existing staff as it is to prospective candidates.

So, are you open to discussing more than just salary?