Sean Cully, Associate Director, discusses the Irish private practice market in 2024 and shares his predictions for the year ahead.
From Sean Cully
The Irish legal market in 2024 reflects a dynamic environment shaped by global economic shifts, regulatory changes, and evolving talent strategies. This article explores current trends in recruitment and offers predictions for 2025.
Recruitment trends in 2024: key practice areas
Corporate and M&A: Ireland’s position as a post-Brexit hub continues to drive demand for corporate law expertise, particularly in M&A, capital markets, and private equity transactions. Multinational corporations and start-ups alike fuel this growth. While there has been talk of a slowdown, this does not seem to have materialised, and demand for experienced corporate lawyers remained strong during 2024.
Tech and Data Protection: As a European base for global tech companies, Dublin remains a leader in technology and data protection law, particularly with the growing importance of compliance with GDPR and other data regulations. With the Big 6 continuing to dominate the market, a number of the new entrants have been recruiting heavily in this area.
Renewable Energy and Environmental Law: The government's push for green energy projects has expanded opportunities in this sector, drawing lawyers with expertise in environmental compliance and project financing. This has been the case for the past few years and showed no sign of abating in 2024.
Real Estate: Continued investment in commercial and residential property keeps real estate law a significant practice area at all levels.
Focus on flexibility and wellbeing
Many firms have adopted hybrid work models, offering lawyers a better work-life balance. This is a direct response to the growing awareness of burnout in the legal profession.
Wellness programmes, mental health support, and sabbaticals are now standard benefits in top-tier firms.
The demand for skilled lawyers is outpacing supply, and many junior solicitors have sought opportunities abroad, particularly in the UK, Australia, and Canada. London, in particular, remains a key destination due to its proximity and higher salaries.
Return of Irish Talent
Firms are actively recruiting Irish lawyers working abroad by offering competitive packages and emphasising Ireland's growing global legal reputation.
Over the past 12 months we have noted that some Irish lawyers who initially moved abroad have started returning.
This is due to a variety of reasons including quality of work on offer and countries such as Australia favouring local candidates, making it more difficult for Irish candidates to secure roles that are on a par with those they left in Ireland.
Diversity and inclusion
Diversity initiatives are now a core component of recruitment strategies, with firms aiming to reflect the diverse nature of Ireland’s society and legal landscape.
Predictions for 2025
Continued growth in tech and fintech law: Ireland’s fintech sector is likely to see exponential growth as regulatory frameworks evolve, requiring legal expertise in areas like blockchain, cryptocurrency and digital payments.
Increased specialisation: Firms will continue to prioritise niche areas such as ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) compliance, AI regulation, and cybersecurity law as clients face new challenges in these domains.
Legal Technology Adoption: Automation and AI tools will play a larger role in legal research and case management, making tech-savvy lawyers increasingly valuable. Firms may also integrate these tools into their recruitment processes.
Globalisation of legal services: Irish firms will deepen partnerships with international firms, leveraging Dublin’s reputation as a global legal hub. This could result in more cross-border roles for lawyers and an uptick in international recruitment.
Retention through innovative policies: Retention strategies will likely evolve further, with firms offering unique career development opportunities such as secondments to overseas offices, leadership training and advanced legal education sponsorships.
Consolidation: In late 2024, we saw LK Shields merge with ByrneWallace and Vincent Beatty merge with Flynn O’Driscoll. It was also reported that Eversheds’ Dublin office was in talks to merge with William Fry. It is likely that we will see more of this in 2025 as mid-tier firms focus on strategic growth to compete in a highly competitive marketplace.
The Irish legal market in 2024 is thriving, driven by its adaptability to global trends and its robust response to talent challenges.
With an eye on 2025, firms are poised to deepen their expertise in emerging fields while continuing to prioritise flexible, inclusive, and innovative work environments. These strategies ensure Ireland remains a key player on the global legal stage.
