2023年上半年，受趋缓的复苏势头、疲软的全球经济大环境等因素影响，同时在欧美法律服务行业裁员、冻薪消息的持续冲击下，中国的法律招聘市场呈现出缓慢攀升势头，市场在一季度可谓寂静无声，二季度则有零星律所表现出活跃的招聘态势。ALB邀请法律招聘专家分享过去半年的招聘市场动向，以及他们对下半年的预判。
冰冻三尺非一日之寒，同样，寒冰解冻也无法一蹴而就。2022年，受各种因素影响，服务于中国市场的律师事务所在人才招聘上采取了谨慎态度。2023年初，虽然疫情措施放缓，但全球经济及政治局势滑入了后疫情时代的“秩序重构”时期，整个世界仍旧处于某种不确定之中，对于大幅度恢复人才招聘，律所依旧不愿操之过急。
今年第一季度，中国法律招聘市场可谓寂静无声，到了第二季度，市场活跃度则出现缓慢回升。3个月中，ALB在中国市场共录得了约70起合伙人级别的横向招聘。
在中国所方面，部分处于快速发展阶段的律所，例如植德、安杰世泽，在吸纳人才方面尤为活跃，国枫、汇业、竞天公诚、汉坤、浩天等也迎来了多位合伙人加盟。
地域上，北京、上海、深圳依旧最为活跃，长三角也录得9宗招聘，川渝地区有2宗，伴随香港重构其区域金融中心地位，中国所加紧布局，其也录得2宗招聘。
其中，传统的资本市场、PE/VC、投资并购、银行金融等依旧是最活跃的招聘领域；其他展现出较高活跃度的领域则包括争议解决、知识产权、私人财富，以及破产重组及不良资产处置。
此外，第二季度市场还出现了几宗管理合伙人/总法律顾问级别的招聘，外资所律师“回流”也成为一股小趋势。
外资所方面，ALB在第二季度也录得12宗招聘，除香港外，部分律所也在内地的北京、上海办公室招兵买马。不过各家律所的招聘人数较为零星，基金、私募股权、并购、重组等领域最为热门。
仍需时间恢复
陈明敏是全球法律市场咨询和人才解决方案公司SSQ的副总监，据她观察，伴随着经济的下行趋势与国际政治环境的影响，今年上半年，法律招聘市场依旧保持着相对谨慎的发展态势：“从招聘方的角度来看，相对于去年或者前年，律所的招聘数量是有一些下滑。”
伴随着律所成本的升高和利润的降低，陈明敏也观察到了律师的薪酬变化。上半年，通过她招聘的律师薪酬和往年相比不具备较强的竞争性，甚至有所下滑，且“多数是较为初级或者是付费能力不强的岗位”。
“中国所和外资所在现在的市场环境下都面临着较大的财务压力，甚至一些中国顶尖律所也采取了所谓‘冻薪’或是‘微涨幅’的做法，有些律所则采取不续约劳动合同的方式来缓解财务的紧张状况。”陈明敏告诉ALB。
谈到上半年的招聘市场，猎头公司Ethos BeathChapman香港法律事务负责人Brian Chan观察到，“与前几个季度相比，合伙人横向招聘的数量有所增加，其中包括从国际所跳槽至中国所以及中国所之间的合伙人变动”。
“但是，大多数律所在做出招聘决定时通常非常谨慎，他们希望寻找具有强大的客户开发能力的合伙人，而交易型团队的律师招聘仍然保持着缓慢的态势。”他说。
实际上，不光是律所谨慎，候选人在选择横向跳槽时也有着更为深度的考虑。对此陈明敏观察到，“稳定性”目前成为了候选人最重要的考量因素之一。“许多律师朋友在选择换工作时会将稳定性放在首要位置，其次才是业务领域、兴趣度、薪酬水平和个人职业成长空间等等因素。”
较受欢迎的领域
基于市场的需求驱动，以及某些业务领域的“抗周期”特点，Chan观察到诉讼业务 (包括涉及到美国法律和美国证监会的诉讼和破产纠纷)、调查与合规（例如内部调查、FCPA相关调查、政府调查）、重组、知识产权（包括数据隐私、网络安全、数字资产和金融技术咨询）四大领域的横向招聘活动较为活跃。
陈明敏也有着相似的观察。她指出，诉讼仲裁、知识产权和专利诉讼、合规监管特别是出口管制和制裁领域的招聘活动相对比较活跃，另外，律所对于“行业专家”也十分欢迎。
她继而指出：“受制于国际政治环境，合规监管，特别是出口管制和制裁领域的法律人才的需求缺口较大，最近不乏一些外资所和中国所希望通过我们去聘请这样的专家型法律人才。但目前来看这样的人不是很多，尤其缺乏拥有丰富执业经验的候选人，这些或许将成为发展前景较好的业务领域。”
此外，随着投融资基金业务的稳步恢复，两位专家也都观察到了该领域招聘活动的回温趋势。
后半年展望
谈及下半年的法律招聘市场，陈明敏依旧持保留和谨慎态度，认为“从目前的迹象来看，并没有看到会有很大的变化”。她呼吁法律人可以更多地关注热门业务领域，例如诉讼仲裁、知识产权、合规监管等，为下一步的职业发展积累更多筹码。
在Chan看来，未来市场对具备跨境、多司法管辖区工作能力，以及深耕合规领域的律师需求将会不断增长，特别是具有很强的中英双语能力的中年级及以上律师。其次，由于国内人才储备式微，中国所或将进一步吸纳海外归国人员的加入。
此外，除了上海、北京等强势市场，伴随大湾区法律业务的不断发展，近期一些国际所，特别是精专于知识产权，以及科技、电信和媒体相关业务领域的律所开始进军深圳，获许会构成新的招聘机会。
最后，Chan指出，法律需求将继续随着商业趋势的变化而变化，其中，生命科学、科技、电子商务应该是法律人重点关注的行业领域。
总而言之，虽然上半年的法律招聘市场相对谨慎，但某些业务领域仍存在机会。对于希望寻求新发展的律所及律师来说，了解市场环境、把握业务发展趋势将有助于他们更好地规划律所发展，以及个人职业生涯。
The Legal Recruitment Market in the First Half of 2023: Stability Above All
During the first half of 2023, the legal recruitment market in China experienced a gradual uptick. This was primarily driven by a sluggish recovery trend, a weak global economic outlook, and the ongoing impact of layoffs and salary freezes in the legal services industry in Europe and the United States. Although the market remained relatively subdued in the first quarter, the second quarter showed sporadic signs of increased hiring activity from law firms. ALB interviewed two legal recruitment experts to gain insights into the preceding six months and predictions for the second half of the year.
Similar to the gradual process of ice melting, the thawing of the market also requires a considerable amount of time. Due to various factors, law firms catering to the Chinese market approached talent recruitment cautiously in 2022. In early 2023, despite the relaxation of pandemic measures, the global economic and political landscape entered an "order restructuring" period in the post-pandemic era. Uncertainties persisted, prompting law firms to exercise caution when increasing their recruitment efforts significantly.
The first quarter of this year witnessed a notable lack of activity in the legal recruitment market in China. However, as the second quarter progressed, there was a gradual resurgence in market activity. ALB recorded approximately 70 lateral partner-level recruitments during these three months in the Chinese market.
Some fast-growing Chinese law firms, such as Merits & Tree and Anjie Broad, displayed notable activity in talent acquisition. Additionally, Grandway, Huiye, Jingtian & Gongcheng, Han Kun, and Hylands saw the addition of several new partners to their firms.
Regarding regional activity, Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen have remained the most active. Nine recruitments were recorded in the Yangtze River Delta region and two in the Sichuan-Chongqing area. With Hong Kong reclaiming its position as a regional financial centre, Chinese law firms expanded their presence in the city, resulting in two recorded recruitments there.
More specifically, traditional capital markets, private equity/venture capital, investment and mergers, and banking and finance continued to exhibit the highest levels of recruitment activity. Additionally, sectors such as dispute resolution, intellectual property, real estate, private wealth management, bankruptcy restructuring, and non-performing assets also showed significant activity levels.
In the second quarter, several instances of recruitments for managing partner/chief legal counsel positions occurred. Another emerging trend observed in the market was the "return" of foreign lawyers to Chinese law firms.
Regarding foreign law firms, ALB recorded 12 recruitments in the second quarter. In addition to Hong Kong, some law firms actively sought new talent for their offices in Beijing and Shanghai in mainland China. However, the number of hires across various law firms was relatively limited, with the most notable activity occurring in fields such as funds, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and restructuring.
RECOVERY TAKES TIME
According to Betty Chen, deputy director at recruitment firm SSQ, the legal recruitment market exhibited a cautious sentiment in the first half of this year, likely due to the economic downturn and the international political landscape. "From the perspective of employers, there has been a slight decline in the number of hires by law firms compared to last year or previous years," she says.
Chen has also observed changes in lawyer salaries associated with the increasing costs and decreasing profits of law firms. During the first half of the year, the salaries of lawyers recruited by Chen were relatively less competitive compared to previous years and even showed a decline. She notes that "most of these positions were for junior lawyers or those with limited earning potential."
"Amidst the present market conditions, Chinese and foreign law firms are encountering substantial financial pressures. Some top Chinese law firms have resorted to strategies like 'salary freeze' or 'minimal salary increments.' Certain law firms have chosen not to renew employment contracts to mitigate financial strain," Chen tells ALB.
When discussing the recruitment market in the first half of the year, Brian Chan, Hong Kong-based head of the legal and governance practice at another recruiter, Ethos BeathChapman, notes that "recruitment activities within legal private practice in Mainland China are picking up in the second quarter. We observed more lateral partner moves than previous quarters, including partner moves from international law firms to PRC firms and those within PRC firms."
"But most law firms are being cautious in making hiring decisions, particularly in the search for partners with strong client origination abilities, while associate-level recruitment for transactional teams remained slow," he said.
Indeed, it's not only law firms that exercise caution; candidates are even more diligent when considering lateral moves. Chen has observed that "stability" has emerged as one of the most crucial considerations for candidates when making job decisions. When contemplating job transitions, stability takes precedence for many lawyers, followed by considerations such as practice areas, personal interest, salary levels, and opportunities for personal career growth.
POPULAR FIELDS
According to Chan's observations, there is significant lateral recruitment activity in four specific areas: contentious practice, including U.S. and SEC litigations and insolvency disputes; investigations and compliance, such as internal investigations, FCPA-related investigations, and government investigations; restructuring; and a broader intellectual property practice, including data privacy, cybersecurity, digital assets, and fintech advisory. Market demands and the ability of certain industries to counter-cyclical trends primarily drive this surge in recruitment.
Chen also shares similar observations. She highlights a significant recruitment activity in litigation and arbitration, intellectual property, patent litigation, and compliance regulation, particularly in export control and sanctions. Additionally, law firms highly value the expertise of "industry experts."
She further states, "Due to the international political environment, there is a substantial shortage of legal professionals in compliance regulation, especially in export control and sanctions. We have recently witnessed an increasing number of foreign and Chinese firms seeking our assistance in recruiting legal professionals with expertise in these fields to meet the rising demand. There is a scarcity of individuals who meet these requirements, particularly those with extensive practical experience in the legal field. These sectors present promising opportunities for legal recruitment."
Furthermore, both legal recruitment experts have noticed increased recruitment activity in investment and financing funds as the industry gradually recovers.
