Salary Guide
Salary levels for newly qualified solicitors vary by firm and by location. While we would never suggest you decide your next move on money alone, it can often be a contributory factor in peoples’ decision-making.
In London
| Range (£) | |
|---|---|
| US law firms | 62,000 - 96,000 + bonus |
| Top UK firms | 57,000 - 65,000 + bonus |
| Medium sized UK firm | 48,000 - 60,000 |
| Smaller/niche firms | 35,000 - 53,000 |
In-house - corporates
Opportunities are rare at the newly qualified level but the corporates pay around £38,000 - £45,000 + benefits.
In-house - banks
The roles are principally in derivatives/capital markets. Salaries are in the range of £55,000 - £65,000 + bonus.
In the regions
Salary levels across the larger cities are very similar but vary according to size of firm:
| Range (£) | |
|---|---|
| Large national practices | 38,000 - 43,000 |
| Medium sized practices | 33,000 - 37,000 |
| Smaller practices | 28,000 - 32,000 |
There are a small number of firms who have headquarters in London with branch offices in Surrey, Berkshire and Oxfordshire that pay London rates of up to £56,000.