Regional Legal Hiring Demand: Where Relocations Are Happening and Why

For years, London has been the centre of gravity for the UK legal market, drawing in ambitious lawyers eager to prove themselves on the City stage. But over the last 18 months, we’ve seen a noticeable shift: more legal professionals, particularly at senior levels, are actively relocating from London to regional hubs. The pull of major cities such as Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds is strengthening, reshaping the dynamics of talent availability across the country.

This trend isn’t simply about moving out of London, it’s about candidates rebalancing their priorities, and firms in the regions standing to benefit if they position themselves well.

Where candidate movement is happening

While relocation is happening nationwide, two cities stand out as key hotspots:

Bristol – a thriving hub with a strong concentration of top national and international firms, particularly attractive to lawyers seeking quality work without London living costs.

Birmingham – continuing to grow its reputation as one of the largest legal centres outside of the capital, with firms investing heavily in expanding their teams.

Manchester and Leeds are also in the mix, with strong demand across corporate, disputes, and real estate. Importantly, this is not a practice area-driven trend. Rather, it’s seniority led.

As David Holden, Director of Legal at Henderson Scott notes:

“We’re seeing more Partner-level candidates consider the regions. Some are looking for a route to partnership faster than they’d find in London; others already have seniority and want to work closer to home, while still handling high-quality matters”.

Why lawyers are leaving London

Relocating is rarely a spur-of-the-moment decision, especially in the legal sector. For most candidates, it’s driven by a combination of lifestyle and career motivations:

• Lifestyle and cost of living – The rising costs of London living remain a major factor. Moving to the regions offers a better quality of life, shorter commutes, and the ability to balance demanding roles with personal commitments.
• Hybrid and flexible working – The pandemic has permanently shifted expectations. Many lawyers now prioritise firms that offer hybrid models, and regional offices are leaning into this flexibility.
• Firm culture and progression – Relocating can often mean access to a clearer partnership track. For mid-senior lawyers in particular, this can be a game-changer.

One candidate recently put it simply:

“I didn’t want to sacrifice career for lifestyle, but I realised I could have both by moving to a firm’s Bristol office. The work is just as complex, but I also get home for dinner with my family”.

Which firms are benefitting most

National and large regional firms are currently experiencing the most success in this candidate migration. They are positioned to offer:

• Comparable quality of work – Large-scale corporate deals, high-value disputes, and complex advisory projects are no longer confined to the City.
• A more balanced culture – Regional offices often operate with a greater sense of community and collaboration.
• Clarity on progression – Lawyers moving from London are finding that partnership is a more realistic and structured goal in the regions.

This creates a virtuous cycle: as more senior lawyers relocate, they reinforce the calibre and reputation of those offices, making them even more attractive to future candidates.

What clients are (and aren’t) doing differently

Interestingly, firms in the regions aren’t reinventing the wheel when it comes to attracting relocating candidates. There’s little evidence of relocation packages, sign-on bonuses, or dramatically altered recruitment processes. The draw is intrinsic: quality work, a clear career path, and a lifestyle shift that lawyers increasingly value.

However, firms that succeed in securing talent often have one thing in common which is responsiveness. Moving quickly when strong candidates emerge is critical, particularly as many are balancing offers or weighing up whether relocation is the right step.

Common mistakes firms make

Despite the growing pool of candidates open to regional opportunities, some firms are missing out because of missteps such as:

• Rigid hiring needs – Focusing only on filling immediate vacancies rather than considering speculative hires can mean missing out on outstanding talent.
• Hybrid inflexibility – Candidates are vocal about their expectations on working patterns; firms that underplay this risk losing ground.
• Slow decision-making – Regional firms that drag their heels risk losing relocating talent to competitors who move faster.

How regional firms can attract more relocating candidates

For firms aiming to take advantage of this shift, the strategy isn’t about expensive perks. It’s more about sharpening the pitch. Candidates want to hear clear, authentic messages about the value of relocating.

Advice for firms looking to attract talent from London:

• Promote the quality of work available in your regional office.
• Showcase career progression stories while highlighting individuals who’ve made the move and benefited.
• Lead with your culture and hybrid approach, rather than leaving these as afterthoughts.
• Be proactive by consider engaging with strong talent even outside of an active vacancy.

As David explains:

“The firms doing best aren’t necessarily offering more money or flashy incentives. They’re the ones telling a strong story about their people and their work, and making the move feel like a natural next step”.

The UK legal market has always been competitive, and London remains a magnet for ambitious lawyers. But the growth of regional hubs, coupled with shifting candidate priorities, is creating new opportunities for firms outside the capital.

For legal leaders, the message is clear: if you want to attract relocating talent, you need to think beyond vacancy-filling. Showcase your work, highlight your people, and make your culture visible. The relocation trend isn’t a short-term spike but a rebalancing of the market that will continue well into 2026.

If your firm is looking to strengthen its regional presence or attract senior legal talent relocating from London, now is the time to act. Our specialist legal recruiters are working with candidates actively considering their next move. Get in touch with our team today to access this evolving talent pool.