Australian Associates: a 2025 Market Snapshot

At Marsden we are well-known for helping to move associates to, from and within the Australian legal market. As 2025 gets underway, what is the current state of play and what are our predictions for this year?

International moves are still happening in key areas – for those with the right CVs.

Over the past couple of years, the bar to entry has been raised by most firms. Firm background, experience and academics—as well as someone’s reasons for making a prior move—are all being examined more closely.

For those with strong CVs there are, and always will be, opportunities to move overseas, but hiring is now based on strategic needs and employee attrition rather than a desire for growth. Key practice areas in the international market include Private Equity, Projects, Project Finance, Banking & Finance and Energy. Lawyers with four to eight years’ experience in transactional areas are highly sought after internationally.

This year we are expecting to see an increase in the number of New York and London firms seeking Australian lawyers in their search for talent; London firms will also be open to New Zealand lawyers.

The domestic hiring market will be impacted by the rise in international movers.

With more firms in Australia and New Zealand losing talent overseas, teams in certain practice areas will be depleted and existing lawyers will have to work harder to service clients. It’s possible it will also lead firms into making their own international hires and be even more open to lawyers from the UK, Ireland and South Africa.

The Australian market has seen a rise in demand for lawyers in Banking & Finance, Construction, Insurance, and Employment. An expected resurgence of M&A deals is also expected to prompt lateral hiring. Both the domestic and international markets will be influenced by the new Trump administration with many firms globally set to benefit from both the expected deregulation and increased dealmaking.

Interviews are getting harder – and more preparation is needed.

Whether for a local or international role, interviews will be harder, have a stronger technical focus, and more people will not make it through the process. It’s important to take the time to make sure your CV is the optimum account of your abilities and experience, and that you know it inside out. You also need to ensure that you are completely on top of developments in your practice area.

AI adoption by firms is affecting the skills that employers are looking for.

It is perhaps a sign of the times that a joint statement from the Law Society of New South Wales, the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia and the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner was issued at the end of 2024 with guidance that lawyers should only use artificial intelligence for low-end tasks – and not overcharge for its use. With AI tools automating routine legal tasks, there will be greater demand for lawyers to spend their time focused on higher-value client interactions, business development and providing additional insights to clients.

If you are looking to make a move in the Australian legal market this year, please reach out to one of our team.