Hiring in Legal: Guide and Trends in 2026

More opportunities for Legal talent with specialist expertise in 2026

Indonesia’s legal hiring market is becoming more selective as businesses navigate changing regulations, cost pressures and the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI). While companies continue to need legal support, they are placing greater emphasis on professionals who can manage complex matters and contribute to business decisions.

Albertus Pratama, Principal Consultant, Legal at Robert Walters Indonesia, expects these priorities to continue shaping recruitment in 2026. As routine work becomes easier to automate and regulatory requirements evolve, legal professionals with specialist knowledge and strong commercial judgement are likely to stand out.

Read on to find out more about Albertus’ expectations for Indonesia’s labour market and hiring trends for Legal professionals in 2026.

Specialist expertise takes centre stage

Businesses are facing increasingly complex legal and compliance requirements. Data protection, digital regulation and corporate governance are creating a need for professionals who can help organisations understand their obligations and manage potential risks.

At the same time, ESG considerations are becoming more relevant to corporate transactions and due diligence. Legal teams may need to assess environmental liabilities, labour practices and governance issues alongside more traditional commercial considerations. This creates opportunities for lawyers who combine corporate law expertise with knowledge of ESG and compliance.

Infrastructure, project finance and energy are also areas to watch, particularly for projects involving renewable energy, land acquisition and complex financing arrangements. These matters require legal professionals who can navigate intricate transactions while understanding the commercial interests of different stakeholders.

For employers, the challenge is finding talent with the right combination of technical knowledge and practical experience. Lawyers who can interpret regulations, identify risks early and provide clear, commercially relevant advice will be valuable additions to legal teams.

AI changes the nature of legal work

Technology is adding another dimension to hiring. AI tools can assist with routine document drafting, contract review and initial legal research, giving legal teams opportunities to improve efficiency. However, as these tasks become easier to automate, the skills required of legal professionals are also changing.

Albertus expects lawyers to become more adept at using AI while remaining responsible for verifying its output and applying sound judgement. Rather than focusing solely on producing documents, professionals will increasingly need to act as strategic advisers, helping clients assess risks, negotiate complex matters and make informed decisions.

This shift also raises questions about the development of junior talent, whose traditional responsibilities may include more routine research and document work. Employers will need to consider how they equip their teams with the skills required for more complex and advisory responsibilities.

Negotiation, communication, emotional intelligence and ethical judgement will remain important. Legal professionals must be able to explain complex issues clearly, build trust with clients and apply context that technology alone may not provide.

Attract and retain talent with clear career opportunities

Finding experienced legal professionals is only part of the challenge. Candidates are also becoming more selective about the opportunities they pursue, weighing compensation against job stability, career progression, employer reputation and working arrangements.

For employers, this means a competitive salary may not be enough to secure the right candidate.

Clear responsibilities, opportunities to develop specialist expertise and a supportive working environment can all influence a professional’s decision to move.

Investment in training is another way to attract and retain talent, particularly as legal work becomes more technology-enabled. Providing opportunities to develop data protection, compliance and legal technology expertise can help professionals build their careers while strengthening the capabilities of the wider team.

Employers should also ensure that recruitment processes are efficient and that candidates understand the scope of a role from the outset. For professionals with specialised skills, clarity around responsibilities and longer-term prospects can help distinguish one opportunity from another.

Salary growth to favour specialist skills

Salary prospects in 2026 are expected to vary across the legal market. While increases for general roles are likely to remain moderate, professionals with expertise in areas such as personal data protection, corporate liability and ESG may command premiums of 15–25% or more when changing roles, according to Albertus’ outlook.

These potential premiums reflect demand for specialised capabilities rather than salary increases across the legal profession as a whole. Employers will need to benchmark compensation carefully when hiring for roles where relevant expertise is difficult to find.

For legal professionals, developing specialist knowledge alongside commercial awareness and technological adaptability can strengthen their prospects. As businesses seek to manage regulatory risks while improving efficiency, the ability to combine legal expertise with practical business advice will remain a key differentiator.

Find out more

Request access to the Robert Walters Salary Survey 2026 to benchmark salaries and find out more about key hiring trends in Indonesia.