Discreet Legal Recruitment
Off market doesn't just describe the lawyers we find.
It describes everything about the way we work — including the way we charge.
About
Off Market Legal exists because legal recruitment has been done badly for too long. Bloated fees, short rebate windows, agencies that disappear the moment they're paid — and candidates treated as database entries rather than people.
We do it differently. One conversation. Complete discretion. A fee structure that shares the risk rather than dumping it on the client. And a genuine interest in whether the placement actually works — not just whether the invoice gets paid.
Discretion isn't just a feature we offer — it's the foundation of everything we do. One point of contact. No database. No noise. Just conversations that go somewhere.
And our fee structure is as unconventional as our approach. Monthly instalments over twelve months, with a twelve-month rebate built in. A model built on trust — for everyone involved.
The lawyers aren't on the market. Neither are the fees.
For Law Firms
The best lawyers are already employed, performing well, and not browsing job boards. Finding them requires a direct, discreet approach — not a database search or a public advertisement.
We identify and approach candidates who fit your specific requirement, confidentially and professionally. No signal to the market that you have a gap. No CVs fired around without permission. No loss of control.
And when the right person is placed, you pay monthly over twelve months — not in a lump sum the moment they walk through the door.
Direct approaches to lawyers who aren't looking — and wouldn't respond to an advert. The candidates nobody else can find.
Fees paid monthly. If the placement leaves at any point in year one, payments stop. The industry standard is six to ten weeks. Ours is twelve months.
We stay in contact with every placed candidate throughout year one. If something isn't working, we know early — and we act. No other agency offers this as standard.
Fee Structure
A percentage of first year salary, agreed at point of instruction. Fees are front-loaded across twelve months — higher monthly payments in months one to six reflecting the intensive placement and aftercare work during the critical period, reducing significantly in months seven to twelve once the hire is established. If the placement leaves at any point, payments stop. You never write a large cheque upfront. You pay as the placement proves itself.
For targeted, confidential approaches to specific individuals or senior search campaigns. A modest retainer agreed on instruction reflects research and approach work already undertaken — regardless of outcome. Balance paid on the same front-loaded monthly schedule on successful placement.
For firms requiring an ongoing sole-supplier arrangement for multiple hires. Structured individually — enquire for details.
Percentages are discussed and agreed at the point of instruction. We prefer a conversation to a price list — every search is different. From January 2027, unfair dismissal protection applies after just six months of employment, with uncapped tribunal compensation. Our front-loaded payment model means the critical first six months are fully covered — so if a placement isn't right and you need to act, you've already paid for the work done without any dispute.
One contact. Complete discretion. Risk shared fairly.
For Lawyers
If you're performing well, respected in your field, and quietly wondering whether there's something better — you're not going to find it by applying online.
We work differently. A direct, confidential conversation. No CV circulated without your permission. No loss of control over who knows you're considering a move.
We take time to understand what you actually want — not just your next role, but your next chapter. And we stay in contact throughout your first year to make sure it's working. If it isn't, we'll find something that does.
One conversation. Nothing moves without your agreement. Your current firm will never know you spoke to us.
You're not a record in a system. We approach you directly because we believe you're the right fit — not because your name came up in a search.
We stay in touch throughout your first year. If the move isn't right, we'll make it right. Our interest in you doesn't end on your start date.
Discreet. Direct. On your terms.
For Recruiters
You know how to find lawyers, build relationships, and close. You've been doing it for years — hitting targets, filling roles, generating fees. And at the end of the month, most of it goes upstairs.
Off Market Legal was built by someone who sat at exactly that desk. We built something different.
Your share of one senior placement. Paid monthly. Directly to you.
Upfront cost to join. No desk fee. No targets before you earn.
Where you work from. Home. Abroad. Wherever works for you.
The reality of agency life: bill £150,000 in fees, take home £35,000. Someone else buys the Porsche.
Under Off Market Legal, the same billings stay largely with you. Commission is discussed individually and rewards performance — the more you place, the more you keep.
No morning meetings. No open-plan office. No bonus that never quite materialises. Just your skills, your contacts, and a brand built for discreet senior legal recruitment — with terms of business already in place.
Associates work on a fully self-employed basis. No basic salary, no PAYE, no employment contract. For the right person, that's not a drawback. It's the whole point. Every placement you make is yours.
If the security of a £22,000 basic and a desk in someone else's office sounds appealing, we're probably not for you. But if you've ever wondered what you could earn if the fees actually landed in your account — let's talk.
Confidential enquiries welcomed. No obligation. No hard sell.
Contact
Whether you're a law firm with a position to fill, a lawyer considering your options, or a recruiter ready to work differently — we'd welcome a conversation.
All enquiries handled with complete discretion · offmarketlegal.co.uk