5 trends and tips for recruitment in the legal sector in 2025

Looking for a lawyer or legal professional? Then you're not the only one. Recruiting lawyers can be quite a challenge. But did you know you might be making it harder for yourself if you don't move with the times? We'll bring you up to speed on 5 trends in legal recruitment and selection for the year 2025.

1. Looking for tech-savvy lawyers

Technology is taking over: in the legal sector too. Digital tools, cybersecurity and data analysis are becoming more and more important here as well. That's why more and more legal employers are looking for lawyers who feel at least somewhat at home in this area. A risky development for the older generation of lawyers, because it's mainly the millennials and Gen Z among us who generally keep up better with technological developments.

Tip:
Want to recruit lawyers? Then don't fixate on this technological knowledge in your search. Someone who isn't so tech-savvy can add value to your team in plenty of other ways, and many lawyers are open to learning. Does your recruitment team want to move with the times a bit more too? Then try using AI in your recruitment campaigns!

2. A growing hyperfocus on ESG

ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) is a growing branch of the legal sector. Anyone who knows a lot about these criteria has a head start in 2025. They allow companies to do their bit for a sustainable and inclusive future. ESG reports are full of data showing how a company deals with the environment, society and the way it is run and managed itself. Get this right and you quickly put your organisation in a good light.

Tip:
Do you think ESG is important? Then it can definitely be smart to invest in new employees who know about it. If you find it hard to find these niche colleagues, change your mindset. Think instead: "Does this person have what it takes to take on the ESG side within my organisation?".

3. The more flexible, the better

Flexible and hybrid working models are becoming more popular every year in almost every sector, especially since the pandemic. The legal sector has caught on too. Legal staff can often do their work perfectly well from home or on site at a client. Want to recruit lawyers in 2025? Then make flexible and hybrid working normal within your organisation. It's not only an attractive factor for potential new colleagues; it also shows that you trust your employees. Another plus: studies show that employees who work hybrid are often more productive and more satisfied.

Tip:
Most legal professionals say they'd like to work from home 2 or 3 days a week. To make that possible, there are two things you as an employer will need to invest in: a good home workspace for your employees and secure, efficient platforms and tools.

4. Diversity, equality and inclusion

Lawyers know everything about rules and laws, but don't forget: they're people too. A sense of diversity, equality and inclusion at work is therefore essential when recruiting in the legal sector. And because diverse teams often serve the communities they represent better, this is an especially important development in the legal sector.

Tip:
A shift like that in your mindset may call for a change in your company culture, and that doesn't happen by itself. In any case, start with your recruitment tactics. By recruiting inclusively, you're already creating more diversity in the workplace.

5. Look for legal talent across borders

The talent pool you fish in can be much, much bigger if you dare to look across the border. For some profiles this can be the solution, especially when you combine it with tip 3. If someone can do their work from their home country, you don't even need to bring them to the Netherlands. In that case, though, make sure there are other ways for this new colleague to bond with your organisation and the rest of the team.

Tip:
Note: recruiting lawyers abroad isn't always the most practical option. For some profiles it's crucial that someone understands local laws and regulations, and language or cultural differences can also be a barrier. So think carefully about whether this is a suitable option for the specific vacancy you want to fill.

New mindset, new possibilities

By thinking differently and taking less obvious steps in your search for new staff, you can really give your recruitment in the legal sector a boost. What do you need for that? A healthy dose of guts and a rock-solid strategy! Could you use some help with that? Get in touch, because Pro Contact is happy to help you recruit in the legal sector.