Hogan Lovells & Linklaters Raise Trainee Wages

Trainees at Hogan Lovells will now be paid £41,000 in their first year and £46,000 in their second year. Newly qualified lawyers’ at the firm will be paid a tasty £70,000, which matches the salary on offer at Slaughter and May.

Meanwhile, Linklaters trainees will be paid £40,000 and £42,000 in their first and second year respectively, with a newly qualified salary of £68,500 awaiting them. Like their Magic Circle counterparts, Slaughter and May, Linklaters will pay their solicitors a very attractive salary. Those with one year’s PQE will receive a salary of £74,000, compared to £75,500 at Slaughters. However, Linklaters come up trumps with their salary offering to those with two years’ PQE, offering £88,000 compared to Slaughters £87,000. Additionally Linklaters will pay solicitors with three years’ PQE £98,500, whereas Slaughter and May ‘only’ pay £96,500.

Happy days in the City! Max Harris, chair of the Law Society’s Junior Lawyers Division, said: “It is great for the individuals involved, but more than this, the reality is that firms are only able to increase salaries when business is healthy. Therefore, this news suggests a positive picture for the City. Students who are attracted to a career in law due to the high salaries should be aware that the majority of junior lawyers do not earn anywhere near this much. For example, recent figures suggest that the average pay of a trainee solicitor outside London is £18,900.”