21 April 2015
Bilbao Campus
Companies are demanding more legal experts. However, they are seeking different profiles and levels of specialism: there is no longer a market for attorneys with a general background but a tendency to hire specialists.
Compliance, property, finance and mergers and acquisitions departments are becoming more important.
According to Virginia Villena, Consultant at Hays Recruitment Legal, “the in-house lawyer has recovered a key role in companies”. “They are seeking experts with knowledge and experience in very specific fields”, she added.
The report stated that firms sometimes hire lawyers “to avoid the high fees charged by law firms." Villena remarked that “only specific operations or cases” are outsourced.
There is a lack of attorneys with compliance profiles. “This specialist field is relatively new in Spain and there are few attorneys with the knowledge and experience that companies are demanding", explained the Hays expert.
“Their job is to ensure compliance with existing regulations and the new laws on companies. Otherwise, their administrators may face criminal liabilities". For this reason, “the demand for experts in this area is rising”.
She advised UD Law students that "internships at firms are often the best way to develop talent and gain experience, which can help graduates to find employment”.
