Mid-size money movers: Farrer & Co, Harbottle & Lewis and Collyer Bristow increase junior lawyer pay

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By Thomas Connelly on

Trainees also receive modest salary boosts

Farrer & Co’s office

A host of mid-sized London law firms have upped their young lawyers’ pay.

Farrer & Co, a prestigious outfit nestled among the barristers’ chambers of Lincoln’s Inn, has confirmed that year one trainees will now receive £37,000 — a rise of £2,000 or 6%. Meanwhile, those a year ahead will now pocket £40,000, again an increase of £2,000 (or 5%).

The firm, which specialises in private client work and has represented our country’s kings and queens, has also chucked extra cash at its newly qualified (NQ) lawyers. Newbie associates will now earn £60,000, a modest uplift of £1,000 (2%). Farrer & Co, a law firm with roots dating back as far as 1701, offers around ten training contacts per annum.

Next up, Mayfair-based Harbottle & Lewis. Young lawyers in the first year of their training contract at the communication and media outfit will now walk away with £34,000, up from £32,500, while those a year ahead will take home £36,000, up from £34,000. NQs have also had pay upped by a grand (2%) taking final salaries to £55,000. According to the firm’s website it offers “five or six training contracts per year”.

Finally, Collyer Bristow. The firm — which hands out around five training contacts each year — has increased pay for year one trainees by 3% to £32,000. Legal Cheek understands year two trainee pay will remain unchanged.

Newbie associates at the firm will now earn £53,000, up from £52,000, an improvement of £1,000 or 2%. Collyer Bristow specialises in a mixture of commercial and private client work and has just two offices, one in London and one in Geneva.

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