Senior Consultant + – Hays Legal In‑House – Central London – Perm

We are seeking a commercially driven Senior Recruitment Consultant to join our London Cheapside office within our Legal specialism, focusing on the In-House Legal Permanent market. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of a high-value desk that partners with organisations to recruit core in‑house legal roles such as Solicitor, Lawyer, Associate, General Counsel, Head of Legal, and other senior legal positions.

As a Senior Consultant, you’ll lead and develop your market with the support of a global brand, highly experienced leadership team, and a network that empowers you to truly influence your career trajectory. Our Legal desk continues to demonstrate strong performance with an average permanent fee of £26k driven by trusted client relationships and extensive market reach, offering significant potential for growth.

Your New Team

You will be working alongside 3 other permanent legal recruiters, as well as a wider team of 10 consultants who collaborate closely and maintain a supportive, social culture. We place strong emphasis on development and provide a clear pathway for progression.

Our scale and growth mindset open pathways to varied, rewarding career opportunities. Within Hays Legal, you’ll partner with high‑calibre in-house teams across a diverse range of sectors, making a meaningful impact while thriving in an inclusive, supportive environment.

Your New Role

As a Senior Recruitment Consultant on our In-House Legal Perm desk, your key responsibilities will include:

• Developing, managing and deepening relationships within the in‑house legal market.
• Partnering with General Counsel, Heads of Legal, HR leaders, and hiring teams across multiple sectors.
• Sourcing, assessing and placing top-tier legal professionals into permanent roles.
• Leading business development initiatives, identifying new opportunities, and nurturing warm client relationships.
• Producing high‑quality candidate and client reports, ensuring compliance, and contributing to internal projects.
• Supporting the continued growth and strategic direction of the Hays Legal team.

Given the strength and opportunity within this market, success in this role requires:

Experience as a Senior Recruitment Consultant (or equivalent level), a proven track record in business development and permanent recruitment, a driven and ambitious approach and the resilience to navigate the pace and challenges of high‑performing recruitment.

What You’ll Get in Return

As a multi‑award‑winning employer of choice, we are committed to offering exciting career development opportunities aligned to your ambitions. Our culture is a major reason our people stay and progress their careers with Hays.

You will benefit from industry-leading training, cutting‑edge tools and technology, and the support of a global network of experts enabling you to deliver exceptional results and shape your career on your terms.

An energising, inclusive environment where success is celebrated and people are genuinely connected.

You’ll also enjoy:

• Uncapped individual commission paid upon invoice every 4 weeks
• Regular performance‑based incentive programmes, including international trips
• A culture built on trust, expertise, collaboration, inclusivity and doing the right thing
• Industry-leading learning and development programmes to elevate your performance
• A global brand with established PSLs, RPO/MSP partnerships and warm client relationships
• Hybrid working models and flexible working hours
• Global mobility opportunities should you wish to take your career abroad
• Access to employee support networks, wellbeing initiatives, volunteering opportunities and a wide range of additional benefits

We know talented people want to work with the best, the best brand, tools, technology and leadership and they want real career development. These values shape the culture we’re proud of at Hays.

We’re also committed to doing the right thing, together — across social purpose, sustainability, and equity, diversity & inclusion.