Navigating Risk and Compliance Hiring: Year-End Insights

In today’s increasingly complex regulatory environment, risk and compliance professionals have become essential to the success and stability of law firms. Whether it’s managing client due diligence, ensuring adherence to anti-money laundering (AML) requirements, or maintaining internal ethical standards, the demand for compliance expertise has never been higher.

For law firms looking to strengthen their compliance teams, or for candidates hoping to enter this growing field, understanding the current hiring landscape is key.

Why Compliance Roles Are on the Rise in Law Firms

Legal practices face mounting scrutiny from regulators, clients, and the public. From data privacy laws (like GDPR) to ESG reporting and financial regulations, the stakes are significant. Law firms must ensure that every aspect of their operations such as billing, conflicts checks, and client onboarding meets legal and ethical standards.

This heightened accountability has led to the rapid expansion of in-house compliance departments.

Key areas of hiring in Risk and Compliance

Most firms are hiring across several core functions:

• Risk & Compliance Analysts: Support client onboarding, conduct due diligence, and monitor regulatory changes.

• AML/KYC Officers: Ensure compliance with anti-money laundering and “know your client” regulations.

• Conflicts Analysts: Review potential client and matter conflicts to protect the firm’s independence.

• Compliance Managers and Heads of Risk: Develop and oversee the firm’s compliance framework, training programs, and policies.

• Data Protection Officers: Manage privacy obligations and safeguard client data in accordance with global regulations.

What Law Firms Look For

When hiring for compliance roles, law firms value:

• Legal and regulatory knowledge: Understanding AML, SRA, and GDPR frameworks.
• Attention to detail: Compliance work demands precision, especially in conflict and due diligence reviews.
• Communication skills: The ability to explain complex rules clearly to lawyers and support teams.
• Integrity and discretion: Compliance professionals handle sensitive client and firm information daily.
• Experience with compliance systems: Familiarity with tools like Intapp, World-Check, or LexisNexis is a plus.

For senior roles, firms often seek candidates with both strategic oversight and hands-on operational experience. They look for someone who can design policy frameworks and ensure their day-to-day implementation.

Market Trends and Challenges

Competition for skilled compliance professionals is fierce. With law firms, financial institutions, and corporations all fishing from the same talent pool, salaries for experienced compliance staff have risen steadily.

However, this growth brings challenges. Firms must balance regulatory demands with operational efficiency, and compliance teams must stay ahead of evolving rules. Upskilling and continuous learning have become essential.

Tips for Law Firms Building Strong Compliance Teams

1. Define clear responsibilities: Align compliance roles with firm strategy and regulatory requirements.
2. Invest in technology: Automate repetitive tasks like client screening to free up analytical capacity.
3. Promote collaboration: Encourage open communication between compliance, partners, and business teams.
4. Offer professional development: Support staff with AML, data protection, and risk management training.
5. Prioritize culture: A firm’s compliance strength depends on its people and on fostering a culture of integrity.

Looking ahead

Risk and compliance are no longer back-office functions, they’re central to law firm success. With the right people, processes, and technology in place, firms can not only meet regulatory obligations but also build client trust and resilience for the future.

As regulatory demands grow and competition for talent intensifies, law firms that invest now in strong compliance teams will be best placed for the challenges of 2026 and beyond.

Whether you’re a firm looking to expand your compliance function or a professional considering a move into this space, please do get in touch.