Singapore continues to affirm its position as Asia's premier legal hub, drawing international firms and top talent. A dipstick survey on hiring sentiments in Singapore found that 49% of employers intend to hire new headcount in 2025.
Despite these opportunities, a skills mismatch persists, with two-thirds of employers citing a shortage of skilled candidates as their main challenge. As employees are encouraged to take on a lifelong learning approach towards career growth, employers will need to proactively assess skill needs and provide targeted upskilling support.
Gain valuable insights into Singapore's dynamic job market with Randstad Singapore’s in-depth legal hiring report offering in-depth analysis and salary benchmarks for both private practice and in-house industries.
Download the report to learn more about how industry trends are changing hiring expectations and recruitment efforts to make sure that your strategies work.
an overview on 2025’s talent hiring trends in the legal industry
Singapore’s legal job market enters 2025 with measured growth, despite increased hiring activities since late 2024 signalling a slight growth in hiring momentum. We have also observed that hiring has picked up in other Southeast Asia markets in 2025, driven by regional business optimisation, expansion, and increasing demand for local experts who are familiar with the nuances of each market.
hiring requirements and expectations in the legal industry
With these changes, we see more and more companies focusing on building skilled and agile workforces. Singapore-based legal teams are also transitioning to leaner operations with greater emphasis on strategic business partnership and collaborations.
In-house counsel must now demonstrate broader legal expertise and practical commercial application, particularly in cross-border matters. Employers seek candidates who combine strong technical and industry knowledge with regional project management capabilities, as well as cultural awareness to navigate Asia Pacific markets.
Mid-level lawyers with three to eight years of post-qualification experience (PQE) remain most in demand, valued for their combination of technical foundation and agility. Senior-level recruitment continues at a slower pace, with greater emphasis on leadership ability and industry-specific expertise.
legal talent expectations in 2025
Similar to other industries, many job seekers are looking for companies that can offer the total employee experience, which goes beyond salary and flexibility.
As technology advances rapidly and regulations evolve, top talent increasingly prioritises employers that offer clear career development paths. According to our 2025 Workmonitor survey, 43% of professionals in Singapore would not accept a job that does not offer opportunities to future-proof their skills.
Reflecting talent demand trends, salary increments vary market to market. In Singapore, annual increments are between 2% and 7%, while employer or job changes typically command increases of up to 20%. Southeast Asian countries offer much higher raises of 15% to 30% to attract skilled candidates as companies scale up their hiring efforts.
hiring trends and shifts in private practice
Private practices in Singapore will continue to develop industry-specific expertise in sectors like energy, shipping and technology, while merging traditionally separate practice areas. This strategic repositioning reflects broader market demands and is expected to continue through 2025.
Companies are increasingly creating hybrid practice areas by combining related specialties - for example, merging their M&A teams with capital markets experts, or having technology specialists work alongside intellectual property lawyers.
Employers are hiring junior-to-middle level professionals, narrowing to candidates with strong academic and technical credentials, and business development potential. Despite the desire to hire, companies are facing higher talent expectations.
The extension of the practice training programme to 12 months is particularly appealing to lawyers, and many favour firms that offer comprehensive training and clear progression paths with measurable indicators. Simultaneously, law firms are focusing on identifying candidates with long-term potential and practice area commitment.
essential skills for legal professionals in 2025
Alongside technical expertise, employers are increasingly prioritising cross-border project management capabilities and international experience.
Some key hiring expectations for 2025 include:
- Agility and ability to manage diverse practice areas and additional projects amid evolving market conditions
- Strong commercial acumen and practical advisory approach for junior to middle-level talent
- For senior in-house positions, proven leadership capabilities and stakeholder management experience
- For senior private practice roles, portable and complementary client relationships
- For private practice roles, particularly in international firms, strong academic credentials combined with business development potential
- Strong proficiency in English and Mandarin, with other Asian languages being a bonus
in-house pay benchmarks for legal professionals in 2025
Our Legal Hiring & Market Insights Report offers a comprehensive overview of market trends and salary benchmarks for in-house roles across key industries, including energy and infrastructure, media and telecommunications, real estate and hospitality, healthcare and life sciences, consumer and retail, manufacturing and industrial, commodities trading and shipping, as well as banking and financial services.
in-house pay benchmarks in 2025
private practice salaries for legal professionals in 2025
Within the private practice area, energy, infrastructure, finance, and disputes practices continue to drive demand, while M&A and funds practices are increasing recruitment to support anticipated market growth.
UK firms facing talent shortages are sourcing England and Wales-qualified candidates from Singapore's limited pool, adopting solutions like internal mobility and sponsoring lawyer training for accreditation.
Download our full report for insights into salary benchmarks for fee earners in law firms.
download singapore’s 2025 legal hiring & market insights report
Our 2025 Legal Hiring & Market Insights report examines talent trends, talent expectations and new salary data across each of the following sectors.
Private practices: mid-atlantic US, Cravath, mid-tier and silver circle, magic circle, local firms
Business support in private practices:
- Legal secretarial and paralegals
- Business development
- Conflicts analysis and compliance
- Human resources
- IT support
In-house legal teams:
- Banking and financial services
- Commodities trading & shipping
- Consumer and retail
- Energy and infrastructure
- Healthcare and life sciences
- Manufacturing and industrial
- Real estate and hospitality
- Technology, media, and telecommunications
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