Mid-Year Market Review – Dublin Legal & Professional Services Recruitment
As we pass the halfway mark of 2025, the Dublin recruitment landscape remains a complex and evolving space, shaped by a changing economic landscape, cultural shifts within firms, and candidate motivations that continue to move beyond salary alone. Here’s our take on the key trends shaping the market so far this year.
Candidate Market
A striking feature of the first half of the year has been the increased activity at the senior end of the candidate pool. We’ve seen a notable rise in senior professionals reaching out for market insights, indicating not just passive curiosity but a growing readiness to explore new opportunities. Much of this movement is being driven by internal shifts: changes in firm leadership and evolving firm cultures are prompting individuals to re-evaluate their current roles. There’s also a consistent focus on work/life balance, particularly as some positions in firms are experiencing a rollback in hybrid working in favour of more in-office presence. This has led to the ongoing motivation of candidates seeking roles that offer greater flexibility, particularly those with family commitments, long-standing remote routines post-COVID, and those who have moved outside of Dublin.
Importantly, we have noticed that firms are showing a greater willingness to diversify their talent pools. As an example, we have observed several high-profile lateral hires into law firms, coming from other industry sectors. We have also noted firms having a willingness to hire talent who can work for the Dublin office but sit in other locations.
Roles
The hiring landscape across lawyer and business services opportunities is still feeling the effects of a static market. While firms continue to hire, a significant proportion of roles—particularly at junior-to-mid-level—are fixed-term contracts covering maternity or other types of absences. There are pockets of strategic activity, however. Business Development & Marketing (BD&M), Legal PA, and risk and compliance roles continue to be in steady demand. Notably, there is a growing trend among firms to hire mid-to-senior BD professionals with a strategic focus.
Salaries
Salary trends remain a talking point across the market. The arrival of global firms into Dublin in recent years has pushed up some salary expectations across a multitude of disciplines. For hiring managers, their priority is to ensure that internal salary bandings are not out of kilter. Counter-offers remain consistent as the market continues to be tight for exceptional talent. We’re seeing a greater consideration from employers around the value and importance of potential hires and what value-add the person can bring to the table. What constitutes value for money, particularly in a market where high salaries no longer guarantee talent mobility.
Looking Ahead
As we move into the second half of the year, we expect the Dublin market to remain selective and candidate-led, with firms needing to be clear on their value proposition beyond salary. Career progression, flexibility, and firm culture will continue to be critical levers in attracting and retaining talent.
If you'd like to discuss how your firm can best position itself in this evolving landscape, or are a candidate considering your next move, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with gillianweir@tylerweir.ie in complete confidence.
