Highest paying law firms: current New Qualified and Trainee salaries

Article written by Leanne Wylie

The UK’s most prestigious law firms are frequently sought after by eager individuals for training contracts – their pay for newly qualified (NQ) lawyers being an attractive incentive and invitation to apply.

These firms are generally London-based, multinational, an important and outstanding influence on the legal market, mostly based around international, commercial, and corporate law, and are notorious for offering astounding and highly motivating salaries for newly qualified solicitors.

2024 saw several changes to NQ salaries, an average increase of 7.5% in comparison to 2023; with some firms increasing their NQ salaries as high as 20%. The top 5 firms currently with the highest NQ salaries are listed below:

Salary of New Qualified

Firm                                                                                                  Current NQ salary

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher                                                                      £180 000
Paul Weiss                                                                                               £180 000
Sullivan & Cromwell                                                                              £174 418
Goodwin                                                                                                  £175 000
Sidley Austin                                                                                           £175 000

In 2023, only 5 firms offered NQ salaries that were above £170,000. These changes have been substantial, and there will be no doubt that these may rise again by 2026 to maintain the competition with US firms and the competition in retaining and attracting the best talent; the importance of competitive compensation being a persistent catalyst for consistently raising NQ salaries in the UK – US firms setting the market’s benchmark for what is considered high pay.

It is important to note that whilst these firms have the highest NQ pay, this list differs slightly for which firms have the highest pay for 1st and 2nd year trainees, listed below:

Salary of 1st year trainees

     Firm                                                                                                  Current NQ salary

David Polk & Wardwell                                                                         £65 000
Paul Weiss                                                                                               £65 000
Sullivan & Cromwell                                                                              £65 000
Akin                                                                                                           £60 000
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher                                                                      £60 000

Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Morrison Foerster, Paul Hastings, Ropes & Gray, Sidley Austin, Vinson & Elkins, and Weil Gotshal & Manges also have their 1st year trainee salaries at £60,000.

Salary of 2nd year trainees

  Firm                                                                                                         Current Trainee  Salary

David Polk & Wardwell                                                                         £70 000
Paul Hastings                                                                                         £68 000
Sullivan & Cromwell                                                                              £70 000
Akin                                                                                                           £65 000
White & Case                                                                                         £67 000

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Jones Day, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Morrison Foerster, Ropes & Gray, Sidley Austin, Vinson & Elkins, and Weil Gotshal & Manges also have their 2nd year trainee salaries at £65,000.