Tokyo, Mar 26, 2012 - (JCN Newswire) - One in four (26 per cent) legal firms are seeking to fill a legal position, while almost one in three (31 per cent) have grown their headcount over the past two years, according to recruiting experts Hays Legal.
The recruiter's survey of 65 legal firms explored current hiring trends. It found that when they recruit, employers consider industry specific knowledge to be the most important criteria. This was followed by Japanese BAR, local market knowledge and global experience.
The survey also found that global mobility is yet to be embraced by Japan's legal firms, with just six per cent of firms looking not only within Japan but also overseas when they need a qualified legal professional. 14 per cent will look across the country, while most will only consider talent that lives within the commutable area.
The survey also found that 37 per cent of firms plan to expand their specialty and service offering in Japan. This is despite most believing that their specialty and service offering has a low level of awareness in the Japanese market.
Commenting on the findings, Christine Wright, Managing Director of Hays in Japan, said: "Japan's legal market is showing increased signs of recovery, with one in four firms looking to recruit and more candidates now willing to explore their options.
"The demand for experienced lawyers with a book of business or significant client coverage is very high as certain law firms seek to reposition themselves in the market to provide greater services to listed Japanese companies. Some firms also have ambitious plans to expand globally and within the region, and this is creating recruitment needs.
"The drive for overseas M&A's is also creating new opportunities for law firms to hire seasoned professionals.
"Another factor impacting today's legal recruitment market is the continued movement of candidates from private practice law firms to in-house roles. For many candidates, this remains an attractive career path, and firms have continuous back-fill vacancies as a result.
"When they do recruit, firms remain very demanding in their requirements and have higher expectations of candidates.
"They also have tighter budgets, which is why those who are currently employed are moving for nearly the same package. Our 2012 Hays Salary Guide shows that compensation has remained relatively flat in Japan's legal market. Candidates are instead moving for more interesting roles and future growth potential," said Christine.
The full results were:
- When looking for qualified legal professionals (including lawyer, paralegal, compliance and legal assistants) geographically, 51 per cent only look within the commutable area, 14 per cent look within Japan and 6 per cent look within Japan and overseas. The remainder were unsure or indicated another option.
- From both a global and local perspective, in the past two years, 31 per cent said their headcount has increased, 26 per cent said it has decreased, and 60 per cent said it has remained the same.
- 26 per cent are currently seeking to fill a legal position; 74 per cent are not.
- When looking for a qualified professional, the most important criteria for selecting candidates are (multiple mentions were allowed): Industry specific knowledge (65 per cent), Japanese BAR (43 per cent), global experience (11 per cent), local market knowledge (11 per cent) and US BAR or any equivalent designation from overseas (3 per cent).
- When asked what percentage of qualified staff are female, 29 per cent said less than 10 per cent, 23 per cent said between 10 and 25 per cent, 25 per cent said between 26 and 50 per cent, 11 per cent said between 51 and 70 per cent, and 12 per cent said more than 71 per cent.
- 34 per cent offer continued professional development to staff; 66 per cent do not.
- When asked about the level of awareness the firm has in the Japanese market for their specialty and service offering, three per cent said 75 per cent or more, 17 per cent said 50 per cent, 14 per cent said 25 per cent, 14 per cent said 10 per cent, and 52 per cent said 5 per cent.
- 37 per cent plan to expand their specialty and service offering in Japan; 63 per cent do not.
Hays, the world's leading recruiting experts in qualified, professional and skilled people.
About Hays
Hays, the leading global specialist recruiting group, is expert at recruiting qualified, professional and skilled people worldwide.
Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays") has been operating for more than a decade and is the largest foreign recruitment company in Japan. Hays operates across the private sector in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. Hays are the only foreign recruitment company in Japan to operate specialist business units composed of professionals with experience and expertise in the sectors they cover. Hays Japan's thirteen specialisms span Accountancy & Finance, Banking, Finance Technology, Human Resources, Hays Resource Management, Information Technology, Insurance, Legal, Life Sciences, Office Professionals, Property, Sales & Marketing and Supply Chain.
Hays are also the only foreign recruitment company in Japan to operate three local offices, serving the Kanto region from Akasaka and Shinjuku, and Kansai from central Osaka.
Hays Japan is the local representative office for Hays plc, which is a global company with more than 7,800 staff operating from 245 offices across 33 countries. Hays also operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, the UK and the USA.
Contact:
Keiko Asakura
Hays Japan
Marketing Manager
+81 3 3560 2813
Keiko.Asakura@hays.co.jp
Mar 26, 2012
Source: Hays
Hays
From the Japan Corporate News Network
http://www.japancorp.net
Topic: Press release summary
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