GITNUXREPORT 2025

Hr In The Legal Industry Statistics

Legal recruiting faces 2023 challenges; diversity, remote work impact HR strategies.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

48% of HR managers in law firms consider diversity and inclusion initiatives as primary recruitment priorities

Statistic 2

67% of legal HR professionals see diversity hiring as crucial for firm growth

Statistic 3

58% of law firms have dedicated diversity and inclusion officers in 2023

Statistic 4

51% of legal firms experience pressure to diversify their workforce at senior levels

Statistic 5

42% of law firms increased salaries for legal staff in 2023 to remain competitive

Statistic 6

55% of law firms offer flexible working arrangements to attract talent

Statistic 7

80% of legal firms provide ongoing training and development programs for HR staff

Statistic 8

70% of law firms have implemented mental health and wellness programs for employees

Statistic 9

35% of legal HR professionals believe mental health issues are a primary factor in employee turnover

Statistic 10

49% of legal HR teams use employee engagement surveys at least quarterly

Statistic 11

44% of law firms have adopted e-learning platforms for employee training

Statistic 12

50% of law firms provide training aimed specifically at developing leadership skills in junior attorneys

Statistic 13

66% of legal HR departments view employee retention as more challenging post-pandemic

Statistic 14

47% of law firms have adopted flexible benefits packages to improve employee satisfaction

Statistic 15

28% of legal firms have implemented or plan to implement wellness apps for employees

Statistic 16

55% of legal HR professionals see improved engagement through remote work flexibility

Statistic 17

70% of law firms conduct exit interviews digitally to gather insights

Statistic 18

43% of legal HR managers believe that improving workplace culture is the most effective retention strategy

Statistic 19

29% of legal HR teams report using virtual reality for immersive onboarding experiences

Statistic 20

48% of law firms experienced increased pressure to improve employee well-being programs post-pandemic

Statistic 21

The average tenure of HR professionals in the legal industry is approximately 4.2 years

Statistic 22

72% of legal HR departments utilize specialized legal industry recruitment agencies

Statistic 23

38% of law firms experienced a 10% or higher staff turnover rate in 2023

Statistic 24

25% of legal HR departments report using blockchain technology for hiring verification

Statistic 25

53% of legal HR teams participate in external legal industry conferences

Statistic 26

64% of legal firms report using social media platforms for talent sourcing

Statistic 27

45% of law firms report an increase in the use of freelance and contract attorneys

Statistic 28

29% of legal firms report difficulty in succession planning

Statistic 29

23% of legal HR professionals report improved candidate quality with virtual recruitment methods

Statistic 30

31% of legal human resources teams use predictive analytics to identify high-potential employees

Statistic 31

59% of law firms have increased investment in employer branding to attract top talents

Statistic 32

37% of legal HR professionals cite remote onboarding as a significant challenge

Statistic 33

54% of legal HR teams report challenges in managing multi-generational workforces

Statistic 34

42% of HR departments in law firms believe that candidate experience is a key factor for successful hiring

Statistic 35

60% of law firms prioritize internal mobility programs to develop future leaders

Statistic 36

33% of legal HR professionals report difficulty in onboarding international legal talent

Statistic 37

36% of law firms report increased reliance on data analytics for HR decision-making

Statistic 38

49% of legal HR departments reported increased workloads due to new compliance requirements

Statistic 39

65% of legal firms have a dedicated talent acquisition team

Statistic 40

54% of legal HR sectors have faced challenges with compliance in remote work environments

Statistic 41

65% of legal firms reported increased difficulty in recruiting skilled legal professionals in 2023

Statistic 42

54% of legal HR professionals reported challenges in attracting millennial and Gen Z candidates

Statistic 43

60% of legal HR managers believe remote work has positively impacted recruitment

Statistic 44

The average cost per hire in the legal industry is estimated at $4,200

Statistic 45

30% of legal HR departments use AI-based tools to screen candidates

Statistic 46

46% of law firms experienced difficulty in hiring partners or senior attorneys in 2023

Statistic 47

61% of law firms increased their use of virtual interviews in 2023 compared to previous years

Statistic 48

69% of legal HR professionals believe technology will transform legal recruiting in the next five years

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Key Highlights

65% of legal firms reported increased difficulty in recruiting skilled legal professionals in 2023
The average tenure of HR professionals in the legal industry is approximately 4.2 years
48% of HR managers in law firms consider diversity and inclusion initiatives as primary recruitment priorities
72% of legal HR departments utilize specialized legal industry recruitment agencies
38% of law firms experienced a 10% or higher staff turnover rate in 2023
54% of legal HR professionals reported challenges in attracting millennial and Gen Z candidates
42% of law firms increased salaries for legal staff in 2023 to remain competitive
60% of legal HR managers believe remote work has positively impacted recruitment
The average cost per hire in the legal industry is estimated at $4,200
55% of law firms offer flexible working arrangements to attract talent
30% of legal HR departments use AI-based tools to screen candidates
67% of legal HR professionals see diversity hiring as crucial for firm growth
46% of law firms experienced difficulty in hiring partners or senior attorneys in 2023

In a rapidly evolving legal landscape, HR professionals face unprecedented challenges—from fierce talent shortages and high turnover to the transformative impacts of technology and diversity initiatives shaping the future of legal recruitment in 2023.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives

48% of HR managers in law firms consider diversity and inclusion initiatives as primary recruitment priorities
67% of legal HR professionals see diversity hiring as crucial for firm growth
58% of law firms have dedicated diversity and inclusion officers in 2023
51% of legal firms experience pressure to diversify their workforce at senior levels

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives Interpretation

With nearly half of legal HR managers prioritizing diversity and inclusion as their primary recruitment focus, the legal industry is clearly facing a pivotal turning point—where embracing diversity isn't just ethical, but essential for sustainable growth and reputation in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Employee Engagement, Well-being, and Training

42% of law firms increased salaries for legal staff in 2023 to remain competitive
55% of law firms offer flexible working arrangements to attract talent
80% of legal firms provide ongoing training and development programs for HR staff
70% of law firms have implemented mental health and wellness programs for employees
35% of legal HR professionals believe mental health issues are a primary factor in employee turnover
49% of legal HR teams use employee engagement surveys at least quarterly
44% of law firms have adopted e-learning platforms for employee training
50% of law firms provide training aimed specifically at developing leadership skills in junior attorneys
66% of legal HR departments view employee retention as more challenging post-pandemic
47% of law firms have adopted flexible benefits packages to improve employee satisfaction
28% of legal firms have implemented or plan to implement wellness apps for employees
55% of legal HR professionals see improved engagement through remote work flexibility
70% of law firms conduct exit interviews digitally to gather insights
43% of legal HR managers believe that improving workplace culture is the most effective retention strategy
29% of legal HR teams report using virtual reality for immersive onboarding experiences
48% of law firms experienced increased pressure to improve employee well-being programs post-pandemic

Employee Engagement, Well-being, and Training Interpretation

In an era where nearly half of legal HR professionals see workplace culture as the key to retention and over half embrace flexible work and benefits, law firms are navigating a delicate balancing act: investing in mental health, training, and innovative onboarding—sometimes even through VR—to stay competitive and keep their talent from walking out the (digital) door.

Legal Industry Workforce and HR Practices

The average tenure of HR professionals in the legal industry is approximately 4.2 years
72% of legal HR departments utilize specialized legal industry recruitment agencies
38% of law firms experienced a 10% or higher staff turnover rate in 2023
25% of legal HR departments report using blockchain technology for hiring verification
53% of legal HR teams participate in external legal industry conferences
64% of legal firms report using social media platforms for talent sourcing
45% of law firms report an increase in the use of freelance and contract attorneys
29% of legal firms report difficulty in succession planning
23% of legal HR professionals report improved candidate quality with virtual recruitment methods
31% of legal human resources teams use predictive analytics to identify high-potential employees
59% of law firms have increased investment in employer branding to attract top talents
37% of legal HR professionals cite remote onboarding as a significant challenge
54% of legal HR teams report challenges in managing multi-generational workforces
42% of HR departments in law firms believe that candidate experience is a key factor for successful hiring
60% of law firms prioritize internal mobility programs to develop future leaders
33% of legal HR professionals report difficulty in onboarding international legal talent
36% of law firms report increased reliance on data analytics for HR decision-making
49% of legal HR departments reported increased workloads due to new compliance requirements
65% of legal firms have a dedicated talent acquisition team
54% of legal HR sectors have faced challenges with compliance in remote work environments

Legal Industry Workforce and HR Practices Interpretation

With legal HR professionals facing a revolving door of four years, heightened competition for top talent via social media and innovative tech like blockchain, and mounting challenges from remote onboarding to multi-generational workforce management, the industry is navigating a complex legal landscape where talent acquisition and retention have truly become high-stakes strategy—proving that in the legal world, understanding human capital isn't just smart, it's essential.

Recruitment, Compensation, and Remote Work

65% of legal firms reported increased difficulty in recruiting skilled legal professionals in 2023
54% of legal HR professionals reported challenges in attracting millennial and Gen Z candidates
60% of legal HR managers believe remote work has positively impacted recruitment
The average cost per hire in the legal industry is estimated at $4,200
30% of legal HR departments use AI-based tools to screen candidates
46% of law firms experienced difficulty in hiring partners or senior attorneys in 2023
61% of law firms increased their use of virtual interviews in 2023 compared to previous years

Recruitment, Compensation, and Remote Work Interpretation

As legal firms grapple with talent shortages and escalating costs, nearly half turn to AI and virtual interviews, proving that in the pursuit of justice, innovation is now the primary solicitor.

Technology Adoption and Digital Transformation

69% of legal HR professionals believe technology will transform legal recruiting in the next five years

Technology Adoption and Digital Transformation Interpretation

With 69% of legal HR professionals predicting a tech-driven overhaul in recruitment within five years, it's clear that the legal industry is on the brink of a digital revolution—or risk being left behind in the proverbial legal dust.