The State of Legal Talent and Careers 2026

Signals on how in-house legal professionals move, stay, and succeed

What makes legal talent change jobs, stay in a role, and succeed in a new one?  

This report brings together insights from a workshop facilitated by Openli Community (by Cerivo) with market perspectives from Korn Ferry to explore how in-house legal professionals think about career moves, retention, success in a new role, and the gap between market expectations and lived reality.  

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For employers, legal leaders, and recruiters, it offers a clearer picture of what legal talent values – and what organizations still risk getting wrong.  

Why this report matters

The legal role is changing.  

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The markets increasingly expect legal talent to be more strategic, business-oriented, and influential. But expectations alone don’t tell the full story.  

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This report explores what happens when those market ideals are help up against how in-house legal professionals actually experience in their roles, career choices, and working conditions in practice.

The result is a sharper view of:

• What drives legal talent to move

• What makes them stay

• What enables success in a new role

• Where the biggest gaps still remain

What you’ll uncover

Inside this report, you’ll find perspectives on:  

• the strongest drivers behind job change

• the conditions that support retention

• what legal professionals say matters most when stepping into a new role

• what companies still underestimate about legal talent

• how legal talent trends in 2026 compare with lived reality

Who should read it?

This report is relevant for:  

• in-house legal professionals

• General Counsel and Heads of Legal

• employers looking to attract and retain legal talent

• recruiters hiring for legal roles

• leaders interested in legal talent trends and legal leadership

FAQ

What are the biggest legal talent trends in 2026?

The report explores how the legal role is becoming more strategic, business-facing, and closely tied to judgment, influence, and enterprise leadership.

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What makes legal talent stay or leave?

The report looks at the strongest drivers behind both retention and job change, including meaningful work, growth, trust, culture, and leadership.

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What do companies still underestimate about legal talent?

A recurring theme in the report is that companies may still underestimate legal talent’s business understanding, strategic judgment, and broader organizational value.  

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What matters most for succeeding in a new legal role?

The report highlights factors such as clarity, stakeholder trust, internal relationships, and business understanding as key to succeeding in a new role.  

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How does the report compare market expectations with reality?

The report combines facilitated workshop findings with Korn Ferry’s market perspectives to examine where markets ideals align with lived reality – and where the biggest gaps still remain.

Get the report

Want a clearer picture of how legal talent moves, stays, and succeeds in 2026?

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Download the report to explore signals, tensions, and gaps shaping legal careers right now.  

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