Exclusive: Six-figure first
Simmons & Simmons has pushed newly qualified (NQ) lawyer pay in Bristol to £104,000, up from £96,000, setting a new record for the city’s NQ market and extending its lead over local rivals. London juniors are getting a boost too, with salaries rising from £120,000 to £130,000.
The latest Bristol bump follows an eye-catching move last year, when Simmons propelled NQ pay in the city from £76,500 to £96,000, a hefty 25.5% increase that set a new regional record at the time.
As it stands, Simmons has opened up a sizeable lead in Bristol, with its £104,000 NQ rate well ahead of Osborne Clarke’s £72,000, Burges Salmon’s £76,000 and RPC’s £60,000.
Over in London, Simmons’ NQs have also been handed more cash, with salaries rising from £120,000 to £130,000. The uplift sees the firm draw level with Travers Smith and nudge ahead of BCLP and Winston Taylor on £125,000, leaving CMS, Eversheds Sutherland and K&L Gates on £120,000 a little further behind. Katten and Reed Smith remain a touch higher on £135,000.
Simmons’ trainees are also getting a pay boost, with first year salaries in Bristol rising from £50,000 to £52,000 and second year rates from £54,000 to £56,000. In London, first years will now receive £56,000, up from £54,000, while second years move from £59,000 to £61,000.
With firms spending the summer rolling out pay rises, there could be a few more movements in the salary tables in the coming weeks. You can view all the latest NQ rates over on our Firms Most List.
