Most legal departments prefer to add more in-house lawyers as opposed to adding work for outside counsel, according to a new survey. But it looks like this year, many departments might not have the opportunity to bring on any extra lawyers.

Special Counsel's Parker + Lynch, an executive recruiting and consulting firm, surveyed more than 500 legal professionals in the second half of 2017 for its first-ever 2018 In-House Legal Trends Survey.

According to the report, 65 percent of respondents said they prefer to add in-house lawyers versus relying on outside counsel. Thirty-three percent felt the opposite.

However, only about one-third of departments said they plan to hire more lawyers this year, according to the survey. Twenty-six percent of departments are still considering making hires, though. Another 41 percent said they definitely won't add any new in-house attorneys.

Sarah Breen, national director of in-house search with Special Counsel's Parker + Lynch, said the main reason some departments won't add lawyers is due to budgetary constraints.

“I've had clients before who have wanted to hire someone but can't get budget approval,” Breen explained. “I've had multiple searches fall apart toward the end. They're about to make an offer and the budget was realigned or they didn't get approval from HR for budgeting purposes.”

One stat from the report that Breen found surprising was the desire from in-house attorneys for flexible work arrangements. Twenty-three percent of respondents said that was the most important “draw” of working for their company. This benefit and the opportunity for growth (also at 23 percent) were the top two perks listed in the survey.

Breen said opportunity for growth is something that is often discussed in initial interviews but apparently not as many are as open to sharing their views on flexible work arrangements.

“I think they don't want to come across as if they don't want to work,” Breen said. “It's something that employers need to be aware of.”

Aside from flexible work and growth, the respondents cited other incentives as well. For 16 percent, co-workers were the main draw, for 13 percent it was compensation, while 10 percent said their job makes a difference in the world. Another 5 percent listed traditional benefits such as medical and dental, while 3 percent cited nontraditional benefits such a gym or day care.