Linklaters has revealed its salary bands for junior lawyers in London with newly-qualifieds (NQs) receiving a £3,500 pay bump to £68,500 while those with three year post-qualified experience (PQE) had a 5% increase to £98,500.
Seat 1 trainees also had a 5% jump to £42,000, up from the £40,000 received last year while the band to receive the greatest percentage increase was two year PQE which gained 7.3% on last year rates and will be paid £88,000. Rounding out the increases, those with one year PQE had a 5% boost to £74,000.
On Wednesday (20 May), Hogan Lovells revealed it was matching Slaughter and May’s pay for NQs of £70,000. But while Linklaters’ NQs lose out in their first year in comparison with Slaughters and Hogan Lovells lawyers, those with three year PQE are better off by £2,000 with Slaughters paying £96,500. The difference is also apparent in trainee rates with Slaughters and Hogan Lovells both offering £41,000.
Simon Branigan graduate recruitment partner at Linklaters, said: ‘Coupled with strong performance-related bonuses – which we pay across all levels – and which for a significant majority have, in percentage terms, been in double figures on a scale that can realistically reach 35% of salary, we believe that our compensation is extremely competitive and an important factor in attracting and retaining some of the brightest and best talent in the market.’
tom.moore@legalease.co.uk, michael.west@legalease.co.uk
