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PEP To Make Your Eyes POP!

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:42:44 GMT

Big Bucks For Heavy Hitters

It comes as no surprise to anyone, US firms take the top spots on the PEP figures with many London equity partners at US firms are on £5million plus.

But what about PEP at some of the best known UK law firms?

We know that not ALL partners at the firms listed below are earning these sums - hello fixed salary partners and those climbing up the equity ranks �� - but Legal Cheek has still compiled an insightful and interesting glimpse into average PEP figures, including:

DLA £2.5m

Hogan Lovells £2.2m

Linklaters £2.2m

Clifford Chance £2.1m

A&R Sheaman £2m

Freshfields £2m

Squire Patton Boggs £1.7m

Eversheds £1.3m

Addleshaw Goddard £1m

Fieldfisher £1m

Shoosmiths £1m

Osborne Clark £800k

Pinsent Masons £797k

Bevan Brittan £750k

DAC Beachcroft £750k

Dentons £670k

Burges Salmon £660k

TLT £600k

Mills & Reeve £470k

Gowling £420k

Trowers & Hamlins £400k

Weightmans £391k

Shakespeare Martineau £320k

F or more info, see: Law’s rich list: Which firms are creating multi-millionaire partners? - Legal Cheek

Travers Gives While Ropes Takes Away

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 15:47:31 GMT

Controversial Work-Life Balance Initiatives in Fight to Attract Top Associate Talent in London

While Travers Smith has apparently chosen to offer lawyers in its Funds team £4,000 to spend on a holiday, Ropes & Gray has taken away 5 days' annual leave from its UK Associates.

Ropes & Gray has reduced its annual leave for London Associates from 30 to 25 days. The firm initially launched 30 days annual leave (which we understand was not in line with other offices at the firm) in an effort to attract talent to its London office.

Meanwhile Travers Smith announced a scheme last year to give its Funds Associates £4,000 to spend on a holiday. This was also seemingly in a bid to retain talent within the team.

As reported on RollOnFriday, the move at Ropes & Gray might have caused uproar internally, but little sympathy externally: www.rollonfriday.com/news-content/exclusive-ropes-gray-cuts-weeks-holiday . See too: www.rollonfriday.com/news-content/exclusive-travers-smiths-ps4k-vacay-giveaway-lucky-lawyers

Beyond Billable Hours - Preventing Burnout

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:25:47 GMT

For many young and ambitious lawyers, securing a role at a prestigious American law firm in London is considered the ultimate achievement, offering unparalleled starting salaries of up to £172,000.

However, these high salaries come with a heavy price: gruelling 70-hour work weeks, immense pressure, and the sacrifice of personal time, holidays, and often their mental well-being.

According to research cited in The Times*, junior lawyers at these firms frequently work over 13 hours a day, with weekends often absorbed into their demanding schedules.

While British “magic circle” firms may not match the salaries of their American counterparts, their expectations are increasingly similar, with junior solicitors regularly logging 60-hour weeks. The result is a legal culture where young professionals face burnout, stress, and a dwindling social life, all in pursuit of financial rewards that leave little room for personal fulfilment.

However, it doesn’t have to be this way. There are other options for lawyers, law firms, and companies that offer a healthier balance between professional success and personal well-being. This demanding way of working isn’t confined solely to US or Magic Circle firms—many lawyers face similar challenges across the industry.

You have a choice, and we are here to help. Feel free to contact us for more information on opportunities that provide a different, more sustainable path for your legal career. There are also professional coaches who have supported numerous lawyers in navigating these challenges, and we’d be happy to recommend individuals to you.

Read the Times article for yourself here https://www.thetimes.com/article/d2940ae6-6344-40c9-be64-2fa397716017?shareToken=c547ae1bbdbeb09b08f99cdfc9d938ff

NQ Salaries 2024

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:19:01 GMT

What the top law firms are paying their NQs in 2024. Take a look at the rundown of salaries in the Top 100 firms.

Legal Cheek has compiled an official rundown of NQ salaries at the top law firms in the UK.

Unsurprisingly, US firms in London top the tables and the latest figures show salaries have risen by an average of 7.5% over the last year. There is real disparity in the rises, however, with some firms making hikes of up to 20% and others awarding minimal or below inflation increases.

Inside the Magic Circle, Freshfields kicked the salary wars off with the others following suit shortly thereafter. A&O Shearman increased NQ salaries by £25,000 to £150,000. The highest NQ salary (£180,000) is paid at both Gibson Dunn and Paul Weiss.

Meanwhile, the Midlands offices of the top national and international firms have increased NQ pay:

Mills & Reeve £60,000

Shoosmiths £63,000

Pinsent Masons £63,000

Gowling WLG £64,000

Eversheds £65,000

Squire Patton Boggs £70,000

DLA Piper £75,000

You can read the full Legal Cheek article here: Revealed: What 100+ top law firms pay newly qualified solicitors — with some earning £180k straight from their TCs - Legal Cheek

What time do UK lawyers clock off?

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 15:14:29 GMT

Exclusive Research by Legal Cheek on Working Patterns of Junior Lawyers

It will come as no surprise that, according to Legal Cheek, which recently surveyed over 2000 trainees and junior lawyers, those working for US firms top the table when it comes to the average working day.

Legal Cheek observed that whilst working hours remained broadly similar across most firms, some firms have seen significant fluctuations. These come amid changing market conditions in different practice areas and an emphasis of work-life balance, as well as salary hikes at others.

With some US firms paying £170k+ for NQs, it is no surprise to find their junior lawyers clocking up over 13 hours. Weil Gotshal & Manges, Kirkland & Ellis and Paul Hastings had average finish times for juniors after 10pm. Unsurprisingly, many other US and Magic and Silver Circle firms had lawyers who worked in excess of 10 hour days. The average clocking off time for national and mid market firms tended to be around a reasonable 6.30pm.

The full Legal Cheek article can be found here: Exclusive research: What time do lawyers finish work at the UK's top 100+ law firms? - Legal Cheek

Magic Circle NQ salaries on the rise again!

wow@shazamme.com (Default Author) — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 12:09:07 GMT

Freshfields ups NQ lawyer salaries by 20% to £150k

An increase from £125,000 to £150,000, amounting to a 20% uplift, has put Freshfields at a competitive edge compared to rival firms A&O Shearman, Clifford Chance, Linklaters, and Slaughter & May. The current NQ salaries at these firms stand at £125,000. The question arises: Can this be sustained? When discussing these figures with lawyers in Birmingham, these salary levels appear unimaginable.