One fifth of London trainees paid less than Law Society’s recommended minimum
16% in regions

One fifth of rookie solicitors in London say they earn less than the Law Society’s suggested minimum salary, new research has found.
A survey undertaken by legal recruiter Douglas Scott found that 20% of trainees in the capital were being paid below the £22,794 set by Chancery Lane’s top brass. This is the same proportion of trainees as 2021, although the average shortfall increased last year from £2,816 to £2,914.
The salary situation in the regions has “improved significantly”, according to the recruiter, with 16% of trainees earning less than the recommended minimum of £20,217, compared to 25% in 2021.
Researchers found that the average trainee salary in London comes in at £34,930, slightly up on the previous year’s figure of £32,190, while those in the regions have seen their average earnings increase from £23,300 to £26,336.
The fresh findings come as salaries across the City continue to climb, with rates for newly qualified associates surpassing £160k for the first time. The Legal Cheek Firms Most List 2022 shows the highest year one trainee salary currently available is £60,000.
But while corporate pay hits record highs, many trainees working in less lucrative areas of the law find themselves struggling to make ends meet.
Jonathan Nolan, associate director at Douglas Scott, said:
“The last 18 months or so, the demand for talent has resulted in salary increases across all practice areas and job types. Legal is no different from other business sectors in that respect. The main driver for the increase in pay for trainees living outside London is likely to be trickle down as opposed to altruism.”
He added: “Unfortunately, some of London’s law firms are failing to read the room, leaving many of its trainee solicitors living close to the breadline and I fear the next Law Society recommended increase, with inflation so high, will see many more fall below the threshold.”
The minimum remuneration level a trainee receives had previously been enforceable by law. However, amid much criticism, this was scrapped by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in 2014.
For the latest news, commercial awareness insight, careers advice and events:
Sign up to the Legal Cheek Newsletter
8 Comments
Roger That
Never mind that, which US firm has raised its salary today?
A tired lpc graduate
At least they pay above minimum wage. I recently received an offer to work in a London firm. 9-5:30 full time job in a conveyancing department. And guess the salary? £20 per day. and turned out that almost all trainee solicitors there started with this arrangement. Some get promoted within a year, others left.
idk
£2.50 an hour? Not sure i buy that mate
anonymous
That is totally and obviously illegal. Name the firm!
Kirkland NQ
You can clean my lambo for more than that in tips.
M
Wait to see what the interest rates increase will have on your lambo’s leasing payments
Kirkland NQ
There’s no interest, I paid cash. Only peasants use finance.
Anon
Firms like this shouldn’t really be given airtime – students should aspire to more – particularly where their financial circumstances require it.
Comments are closed.