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TORONTO, June 19, 2013 /CNW/ - The legal field should see more hiring activity in the months ahead, new research indicates. Nearly 4 out of 10 (39 per cent) lawyers interviewed by Robert Half Legal said their law firm or company plans to expand or add new positions while half (50 per cent) said their organisations will be maintaining staff levels by filling vacated posts. Five per cent of survey respondents said they will not be filling vacant positions or creating new ones while four per cent said they will be reducing or eliminating positions.

A surge in business and corporate law-related work is prompting the expansion of legal teams, the research suggests. Almost half (49 per cent) of lawyers expect this practice area to drive hiring at their law firms and companies followed by litigation, cited by 44 per cent of those polled. Although hiring is on the horizon for many, locating candidates with the specialized skills and abilities employers require may prove difficult: 69 per cent of survey respondents cited at least some challenge in finding skilled legal professionals.

The survey was developed by Robert Half Legal, a legal staffing firm specialising in lawyers, law clerks, paralegals and other highly skilled legal professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with 75 lawyers at law firms with 20 or more employees and 75 corporate lawyers at companies with 1,000 or more employees. All of the respondents have hiring authority within their organizations.

Lawyers were asked, "Which of the following areas of law, in your opinion, will drive hiring of legal professionals at your law firm/company in the second half of 2013?" Their responses:*

Lawyers also were asked, "How challenging is it for your law firm/company to find skilled legal professionals today?" Their responses:

(NOTE: An infographic illustrating the hiring activity survey results is available to download at http://legal.rhi.mediaroom.com/file.php/1494/RHL_0613_GRAPH_Hire_CAN.jpg.)

"Steady hiring is projected for the remainder of 2013 as law firms seek legal professionals with specialized expertise and the business development skills they need to grow high-demand practice groups and generate additional revenue," said John Ohnjec, division director of Robert Half Legal in Canada. "Legal departments also are expanding their internal teams to address increased workloads and contain outside counsel costs."

Ohnjec added that companies are offering professional development and training as well as promoting their work environments in an effort to attract and retain top employees.

About Robert Half Legal
Robert Half Legal is the legal staffing division of Robert Half International. The company provides law firms and corporate legal departments with highly skilled professionals, including lawyers, paralegals and legal support personnel, on a project and full-time basis. With North American and global locations, Robert Half Legal also offers managed review and e-discovery services. More information, including online job search services, can be found at www.roberthalflegal.com. 

SOURCE: Robert Half Legal