How to Advertise a Legal Job in the UK That Attracts Top Talent

Hiring for a legal role in today’s UK job market takes more than listing duties and qualifications. Top legal professionals won’t apply for just any role—they want clarity, purpose, and a career opportunity that speaks their language.

At The Legists, we help law firms and in-house teams fill roles by writing ads that cut through the noise. If you want to advertise a legal job in the UK effectively, this guide walks you through every step—from writing the perfect job description to choosing the best platforms.

What Makes a Legal Job Advert Stand Out?

Clarity Beats Complexity

Legal professionals value precision. Use plain English when describing the job. Cut jargon unless it adds true value.

For example, instead of saying “You will manage diversified legal obligations across multi-jurisdictional landscapes,” simply write, “You’ll handle contract reviews and regulatory compliance across UK and EU operations.”

Include a Clear Role Summary

Start your job advert with a 3–4 sentence summary that tells candidates exactly what they need to know:

Job title
Area of law
Sector (e.g. private practice, public sector, in-house)
Location or remote options
Key attraction (e.g. work-life balance, high-profile clients, fast career growth)

Focus on What’s in It for Them

Rather than listing what your company wants, highlight how the role benefits the applicant. Examples:

“Gain hands-on experience with FTSE 100 clients”
“Work alongside a Legal 500-ranked team”
“Enjoy hybrid working and billable hour flexibility”

You must sell the opportunity, not just post a vacancy.

What to Include in the Perfect Legal Job Advert

1. A Job Title That Speaks to the Right Candidate

Keep your job title specific and searchable. “Family Solicitor – 3PQE – Manchester” works better than “Legal Professional.” Add PQE ranges if required, but make sure to allow flexibility.

2. Company or Team Snapshot

Describe your firm or team in a few lines. Include accolades (Legal 500, Chambers rankings), sectors served, and culture points (collaborative, inclusive, entrepreneurial, etc.).

3. Role Responsibilities

Keep this section focused and concise. List 5–7 bullet points that reflect actual tasks. Avoid listing every imaginable duty.

Instead of “Provide legal support across departments,” say:

Draft and negotiate commercial contracts
Handle data privacy and GDPR compliance
Advise on intellectual property licensing

Specific tasks attract serious applicants.

4. Required and Preferred Skills

Separate essential qualifications from desirable ones. Use phrases like “You must have…” or “Ideally, you’ll bring…” to maintain clarity.

Examples:

Must-have:

UK-qualified solicitor (2+ PQE)
Experience in commercial litigation

Nice to have:

Background in construction or property disputes
Familiarity with LexisNexis or Practical Law

5. Salary and Benefits

Always include at least a salary range. Candidates skip over adverts that hide compensation. Also mention:

Bonuses
Hybrid/flexible working
Training budget
Private healthcare
Pension scheme
Annual leave

Transparency builds trust and improves the quality of applicants.

Where to Advertise a Legal Job in the UK

Posting on the right platform is just as important as writing the ad itself.

1. Use Legal-Specific Job Boards

Sites like The Legists, Legal Week Jobs, Law Gazette Jobs, and TotallyLegal serve qualified legal professionals. These platforms allow filters by PQE, practice area, and location, so your job gets in front of the right people.

2. Use LinkedIn Effectively

LinkedIn remains one of the best ways to attract passive candidates—those who aren’t actively job hunting but would move for the right role.

Here’s what works:

Post the job from your company profile
Boost posts with budget targeting lawyers in specific regions or sectors
Encourage current employees to share or comment on the job post
Direct message lawyers with the right experience (only if it’s highly relevant)

3. Consider Legal Recruiters

Partnering with a recruitment agency like The Legists saves time and improves candidate quality. We write bespoke job ads, vet applicants, and shortlist the right people—so your team doesn’t waste time filtering CVs.

4. Leverage Your Website and Social Media

Add the role to your careers page and update it regularly. Also, promote the listing on your firm’s Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram if applicable—especially if your brand has strong engagement there.

SEO Tips to Help Legal Job Ads Rank Better

To boost visibility, optimise your job listings for search engines. Here's how:

Use keywords like “family solicitor job,” “legal counsel position,” or “commercial law vacancy UK” naturally within the job ad
Place the most important keyword within the first 150 words
Use H2 or H3 headings in long descriptions to improve structure
Include location-specific phrases (e.g. “based in Birmingham,” “remote UK,” etc.)
Avoid keyword stuffing—write naturally and with purpose

At The Legists, we optimise all job listings to perform well in organic search. That’s why our clients consistently reach better candidates, faster.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Advertising Legal Jobs

Avoiding these pitfalls improves candidate quality and saves time:

Vague titles like “Legal Assistant” (too broad—specify area of law)
Hiding salary—leads to mismatched expectations
Too much legalese—use plain English
Overly long job ads—focus on clarity and value
Forgetting diversity language—use inclusive phrasing and mention equal opportunity commitment

Sample Legal Job Advert Template

Here's a quick template you can follow:

Job Title: Employment Solicitor – 2–4 PQE – Leeds (Hybrid)

Overview:
Join a Tier 1-ranked employment law team supporting tech, retail, and healthcare clients. Enjoy flexible hours, clear progression paths, and work-life balance.

Responsibilities:

Draft, review, and advise on employment contracts and policies
Represent clients at Employment Tribunals
Provide day-to-day HR legal advice
Advise on TUPE, redundancies, and workplace investigations

Requirements:

Qualified solicitor (2–4 PQE)
Strong background in contentious and non-contentious employment matters
Excellent client communication skills

Benefits:

£65,000 – £80,000 + bonus
3 days remote working
Private healthcare
27 days holiday + bank holidays

Apply now or contact The Legists for a confidential discussion.

Conclusion – Trust The Legists to Advertise Your Legal Job Right

A well-crafted job advert does more than fill a vacancy—it strengthens your brand, attracts higher-quality candidates, and sets the tone for long-term success.

When you partner with The Legists, we: