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The Legal Week Wiki pay round special sets out to produce the definitive list of which firm pays what in the City - and how. We'll keep track of all the pay-rises - but we still need your help to fill in the gaps.
If your firm isn't mentioned, we've got something wrong, you can fill in a gap - or you simply want to join the pay debate - click here to post your contribution.
New entries and updates:
- 28/8/08 - Regional firms unveil latest rates for NQs
- 30/7/08 - Eversheds freezes NQ pay in London and regions
- 30/6/08 - National firms unveil new NQ pay rates
- 30/6/08 - Macfarlanes boosts salaries for associate ranks
- 12/6/08 - BLP hikes NQ pay to £65,000
- 11/6/08 - U-turn as Olswang unveils surprise NQ pay hike
- 30/5/08 - Camerons boosts newly-qualified pay to £66k
- 19/5/08 - Four percent hike lifts Lovells NQs to £65k
- 16/5/08 - No raise for Norton Rose NQs but 25 climb scale
- 14/5/08 - White & Case nudges City salaries up 2%
- 12/5/08 - Olswang ups pay but NQ rate stays flat at £62k; BLP toes City line with 4% pay rise
- 9/05/08 - A&O avoids associate raises for 2008
- 8/05/08 - CC matches rivals with 4% associate pay-hike
- 6/05/08 - Freshfields follows Linklaters with £66k NQ rate
- 1/05/08 - Bird & Bird hikes NQ pay 9% to £60k
- 30/4/08 - Confident Linklaters lifts associate pay to £66k; Herbert Smith announces associate pay freeze
- 29/4/08 - Shearman hikes NQ pay by 7% to £80,000
- 24/4/08 - Firms to hold off on major pay hikes in wake of crunch
Firm | Hours target or expectation | Bonus | City NQs | 1PQE | 2PQE | 3PQE | Last updated |
1,450 | Performance-based; recorded hours and other measures | £64,000 | £71,000-£76,000 | £74,500-£81,500 | £79,000-£87,500 |
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| Performance-based; amount based on value of equity point | £65,000 | £71,500 | £84,000 | £92,500 | ||
1,500 plus | Performance-based: recorded hours and other measures | £64,000 | £68,000 | £78,000 | £86,000 |
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1,500 | Firm's financial performance with bonus for exceptional performers | £63,500 | £68,000 | £78,000 | £85,000 |
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1,100 plus | Performance-based; amount based on value of equity point | £61,000 |
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1,440 plus | Performance based with a strong focus on chargeable | £50,000-£60,000 |
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1,500 | Performance-based; amount based on value of equity point | £65,000 | £70,000 | £75,000 | £82,000 | ||
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| £60,000 |
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1,400 | Based on the financial performance of the firm | £41,000 | £44,000 | £50,000 | £55,000 |
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1,900 | Performance-based; recorded hours and other measures | £75,000 |
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| £92,000 | £92,000 | £97,000 | £106,000 |
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1,500 plus | Performance-based, with a strong focus away from | £48,000 | £52,000 | £57,000 | £63,000 |
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1,700 | Up to 40% of salary, performance-based inc. hours and other measures | £66,600 | £68,700 | £82,000 | £89,500 | ||
1,100 plus | Performance-based with a strong focus on | £64,000 |
|
|
| Six percent increases announced June '08 | |
1,500 plus | Firm's financial performance; performance-based with strong/exclusive focus on recorded hours | £66,000 | £66,000-£69,900 | £66,500- £84,000 | £72,800-£91,400 | ||
1,404 average | Based on the financial performance of the firm | £37,000-£41,000 |
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1,650-1,800 | Performance-based with a strong/exclusive focus on | £63,000- £72,500 | £66,000-£80,000 | £78,000-£90,000 | £83,000-£100,000 |
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1,500 plus | Performance-based: recorded hours and other measures | £62,000 | £65,000 | £72,000-£74,000 | £75,000-£79,000 |
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1,750 plus | Performance-based; chargeable hours and other measures | £75,000 | |||||
1,100 plus | Performance-based with a strong focus on |
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1,400-1,500 | Firm's financial performance; performance-based; recorded hours and other measures | £63,000 | £66,000 | £72,000 | £78,000 |
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1,100 plus |
| £60,000 | £64,000 | £68,000 | £72,000-£74,000 |
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1,500 plus | Performance-based; chargeable hours and other measures | £62,000 | £61k - £68k |
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1,500 | Performance-based; chargeable hours and other measures | £60,000 | £64,000 | £68,000 | £71,000 |
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| Performance-based (inc. hours and other measures); up to £20k at 1PQE and 2PQE, up to £35k at 3PQE | £66,000 | £73,000 | £86,000 | £92,000 | ||
1,500 plus | No bonus | £62,000 |
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1,400 | Performance-based; chargeable hours and other measures | £62,000 | £62-£65k | £62-£66k | £65-£73k |
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1,500 plus | Firm's financial performance | £64,000 | £69,000 | £81,000 | £90,000 | ||
1,500 plus | Performance-based; chargeable hours and other measures | £55,000 | £60,000 | £65,000 | £68,500 |
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| Performance-based; chargeable hours and other measures | £59,000 | £62,500 | £69,000 | £78,000 |
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1,100 plus | discretionary |
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1,500 plus | Performance-based; chargeable hours and other measures | £62,000 | £66,000 | £72,000 | £83,000 |
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2,000 plus | Performance-based with a strong focus on |
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1,900 | Firm's financial and individual performance; chargeable hours and other measures |
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1,500 plus | Performance-based; chargeable hours and other measures | £62,000 | £67,000 | £70,000 | £72,000 |
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1,700 | Performance-based; chargeable hours and other measures | £66,600 | £70,400 | £82,600 | £90,800 | ||
1,700 | Performance-based with a strong focus on | £65,000 | £68,000 | £80,000 | £88,000 | ||
1,500 plus | Firm's financial performance | £65,000 | £71,000 | £82,000 | £88,000 | ||
1,100 | Performance-based; chargeable hours and other measures. |
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| £70k - £75k | £82,500 |
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1,400 | Firm's financial and individual performance; chargeable hours and other measures |
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1,400 | Firm's financial performance |
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1,500 plus | Performance-based with strong focus on | £62,500 | £69,500 | £75,000 | £82,000 |
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| Performance-based; chargeable hours and other measures | £63,500 | c. £69,000 | c. £80,500 | c. £90,700 | Firm moved away from PQE-based model in early 2008; rates frozen in latest pay round | |
1,100 plus | Firm's financial and individual performance; chargeable hours and other measures | £63,500 | £66,000 | £75,000 | £81,000 | Rises awarded 12/5/08 but NQ rate frozen; NQ rates subsequently raised 11/6/08 | |
1,100 plus | Firm's financial and individual performance; chargeable hours and other measures | £65,000 |
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1,500 plus | Does not operate bonus | £64,000 |
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| £80,000 |
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Reed Smith | 1,500 plus | Performance-based with a strong focus on | £64,000 |
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| £80,000 |
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1,100 plus | Does not operate bonus | £37,621 | £39,170 | £41,033 | £42,741 |
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1,500 plus | Performance-based with strong focus on | £63,500 | £66,000 | £75,000 | £78,000 |
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Firm's financial performance | £65,000 | £67k - £74k | £86k |
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| ||
1,575 | Firm's financial and individual performance; based on utilisation and discretion | £64,000 | £68,000 | £80,000 | £87,000 |
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1,550 | Performance-based; chargeable hours and other measures | £62,000 | £65,000 | £72,000 | £80,000 |
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| Fixed bonus | £97,500 |
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|
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1,500 plus | Performance-based; chargeable hours and other measures | £62,500 | £66,000 | £75,000 | £80,000 |
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| Firm's financial performance | £64,000 | £69,000 | £78,000 | £86,000 |
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1,100 plus | Performance-based; chargeable hours and other measures |
|
|
|
|
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1,500 plus | Performance-based with a strong focus on | £62,500 | £67,000 | £75,000 | £83,000 |
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1,500 plus | Performance-based; chargeable hours and other measures | £90,000 | £90,000- £98,000 | £93,600 -£108,800 | £102,300-£126,300 |
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1,750 plus | Performance-based with a strong focus on | £78,000 | £86,000 | £97,000 | £126,000 | ||
1,100 plus | Performance-based; chargeable hours and other measures |
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1,100 plus | Firm's financial performance | £63,000 |
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COMMENTS (TOTAL 48 COMMENTS)
Firms like Sullivan & Cromwell LLP are currently paying NQs £97,500 plus a non-performance related bonus. I think the mid-market may be catching up, but the "white shoe" firms still appear to be ahead of the game.
Associate, NY Law Firm in London -16 Oct 2007 | 18:30
BM's billable targets are 1,600 hours.
Bakers -16 Oct 2007 | 19:26
Starting salary for NQ at BLP is £62,500
Berwin Leighton Paisner -21 Oct 2007 | 23:23
Can anyone give any color on senior counsel salaries in London (UK firms)?
Anonymous -23 Oct 2007 | 17:38
Generally rather grey.
DLR Soul -30 Oct 2007 | 15:02
Slaughter and May NQ now on £65k
Anonymous -31 Oct 2007 | 10:39
Does anyone know what the other Slaughter and May bands are now paying?
Anonymous -02 Nov 2007 | 09:23
Slaughters other bands:6 months PQE - £67k18months - £74k2years - £86K
Anonymous -02 Nov 2007 | 11:18
does anyone know what Mayer Brown are paying at junior level (i.e. 1 year PQ)
Anonymous -02 Nov 2007 | 12:26
Lots of bonus news in NY on Friday. Any clear sign that NY firms in London are willing to pay local lawyers in accordance with the US bonus structure?
NY Lawyer In London -06 Nov 2007 | 10:40
Where's Paul Weiss?
Anonymous -08 Nov 2007 | 16:08
Bonus scheme: (target hours of 1,500 chargeable hours), bonus of £2,000 at 1,600 hours and £5,000 at 1,700 hours.
Associate, Nabarro -19 Nov 2007 | 17:02
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT GIBSON DUBB & CRUTCHER PAY AT THE NQ - 1PQ LEVEL
ROBBO -05 Dec 2007 | 16:30
Can the Addleshaws figures be correct? They seem way higher than traditional competitors.
Anonymous -11 Dec 2007 | 15:24
Can anyone shed any light on the bonus scheme at A&O for NQs and 1PQEs?
Trainee, MC firm -18 Dec 2007 | 16:30
Hours target 1,800
Lovells -09 Jan 2008 | 22:53
NQ rate at DLA in Manchester now at £41k.
Anonymous -20 Jan 2008 | 11:16
Almost 6 years' PQE at BLG and am earning £64k. Nothing on the grapevine about bonuses being paid. If so, this will be the first year of it happening.
6 PQE, BLG -18 Feb 2008 | 10:24
Your pay figures are from 2006 not 2007 and the 2008 pay rises will be announced within the next three months
Charles Russell -18 Feb 2008 | 22:41
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher pay £96K at NQ level and about £115,00 at 2 years PQ plus bonus
Anonymous -26 Mar 2008 | 10:49
What's the news about salary rises this year? All seems very quiet...
Anonymous -08 Apr 2008 | 15:41
What about people in Business Services roles, nobody talks about them. The support staff- what do they get
cc -24 Apr 2008 | 19:49
3 year PQE - £74K
DLA Piper -25 Apr 2008 | 12:35
It would be great if this table was actually updated at the same time as stories are posted... e.g. I heard somewhere that CC's NQs are now getting paid £66K...
Anonymous -30 Apr 2008 | 12:38
As a 2.5PQE at Herbert Smith on £78k, the above table looks pretty inaccurate. The high headline figures do not reflect the salaries most associates actually get.
Anonymous -07 May 2008 | 17:09
Does anybody know Orrick London NQ rates?
Anon -12 May 2008 | 09:27
Any word on Addleshaws rates in the regions for this year? They set the ball rolling last year - keen to see what they do next.
Midlands Lawyer -14 May 2008 | 14:18
Can the rates for Beachcroft be correct? They seem remarkably low.
Asst -14 May 2008 | 16:38
Hours 1,450Bristol NQ c.£38,000Bristol 1PQE c. £40,000Bristol 2PQE c. £41-43,000no bonus
TLT LLP -15 May 2008 | 18:02
I'm making 150K and am PQE3. How do you feel?
Anonymous -20 May 2008 | 14:11
Ashurst 2PQE £82.5k, 3PQE £89k
Ashurst -27 May 2008 | 14:19
Really? Which departments?
To ashurst -27 May 2008 | 18:36
Starting 1 July 2008:Trainee year 1: £37,500 Trainee year 2: £41,500 NQ: £66,000
CMS Cameron McKenna -30 May 2008 | 16:33
what is CMS Cameron McKenna's NQ pay in Scotland?
anon -31 May 2008 | 21:34
taylor wessing salary significantly below what is stated here for NQ - 3 years qualified
taylor wessing -03 Jun 2008 | 15:33
BLP Salaries are significantly higher than quoted.
anonymous -05 Jun 2008 | 13:00
The target hours for Lovells are shown wrong here - they're 1700, not 1800.
Anonymous -13 Jun 2008 | 13:32
Where do the figures above come from? Salaries at SH are significantly below those stated above even after the 2008/09 "increase".
Associate, Stephenson Harwood -30 Jun 2008 | 23:25
Pinsent Masons: Three years PQE - £80,000 and four years PQE - £85,000. Poor.
Anonymous -02 Jul 2008 | 19:32
Can anyone confirm the Beachcroft rates?
Anonymous -09 Jul 2008 | 12:10
Update - Pinsent Masons NQ £64,000
Anonymous -22 Jul 2008 | 14:05
Eversheds NQ rates:London kept at £62kLeeds, Manchester and Birmingham (and others?) kept at £39k.
Anonymous -27 Jul 2008 | 18:16
CC's target hours are 1,700 and have been so for a number of years.
Anonymous -30 Jul 2008 | 14:24
Cobbetts have introduced salary banding for the first time for NQs. The banding will be £37,500 to £41,000 and will depend on the individual's performance.
Cobbetts LLP -30 Jul 2008 | 17:07
Eversheds NQ salary varies depending on region, for example pay in Leeds = £39K, pay in Newcastle = £36K
Anonymous -01 Sep 2008 | 02:38
The Parabis Group is a top 50 UK Law Firm when measured by turnover - why are they never featured in these tables or Wiki ?
Paraboss -19 Sep 2008 | 18:52
Because it doesn't make the top 50 on profit?
Anonymous -23 Oct 2008 | 20:09
Reed Smith salaries are higher than stated. NQ's start at £64k.
Associate -17 Nov 2008 | 16:04
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