Beyond the Firm: Why NQs Are Moving In-House
What are your next steps as a Newly Qualified (NQ) lawyer? Have you ever considered an in-house legal position instead of taking the more traditional route? Read our latest insights article for some of the key reasons why lawyers are increasingly making the decision to move to in-house roles and why it could be the best move you can make.
November 21, 2025 - 1:00 PM
As a Newly Qualified (NQ) solicitor, your next career move is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. While private practice has traditionally been the default route, more solicitors are now considering in-house legal jobs, and for good reason. This shift reflects changing priorities in the legal market and offers compelling benefits for those seeking flexibility, career development, and work-life balance.
The introduction of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) replaced the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) with the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) creating more flexible pathways to qualification. With two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) now required, trainees can gain experience across a variety of legal environments, not just law firms. This has opened doors to in-house roles earlier in a solicitor's career.
The numbers speak volumes
According to the Law Society’s Annual Statistics Report 2023, the number of solicitors working in-house rose to 35,738, a 3% increase from 2022. Meanwhile, private practice representation dropped from 69% in 2014 to 59% in 2023. The BigHand Legal Talent & Resourcing Report 2025 also revealed that 16% of junior associates and 17% of senior associates left private practice last year, up from 9% in 2024.
Why are NQ solicitors making the move?
- Career development: In-house roles offer clearer progression and access to corporate training.
- Legal salary packages: Competitive pay without billable hour targets, with in-house legal departments, companies pay their solicitors’ annual salaries/bonuses/benefits and do not have billable hour requirements or quotas that their solicitors must meet to justify their cost.
- Flexible legal jobs: Hybrid working is more common in-house, a study by Association of Corporate Counsel in 2022 of more than 2,000 professionals, found that around 63% of in-house counsel had schedules that included both remote and on-site work.
- Work-life balance: Whilst not absolute, in-house positions have been shown to provide a more structured schedule and fewer after-hours demands.
If you’re considering an in-house legal career, now is the time to explore your options. To get more career guidance, download our NQ Candidate Career Guide. Or, to register with LHH and find your perfect in-house role, upload your CV today.