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London City ‘war’ for NQs sees pay go up 18%

Global firm DLA Piper has announced an 18% salary boost for its London-based newly qualified solicitors, according to the Law Society Gazette of England and Wales.

The new solicitors will earn Stg £130,000 a year from September, while those based in the firm’s offices outside London will enjoy a 9.3% pay rise, to £82,000 a year.

London-based trainees in their first year will earn £52,000, rising to £57,000 in their second year. Trainees outside London will earn £35,500 in their first year, which will rise to £39,000 in the second year.

'Importance’ of British market

The Gazette quoted Andrew Dyson (country managing partner) as saying that DLA Piper was making “a significant investment” in its British staff, recognising the importance of its legal market.

The Gazette notes that DLA Piper is the latest in a growing line of firms to boost pay in what it describes as “the City war” for newly qualified solicitors.

Last month, Hogan Lovells announced that salaries would rise by 2.7%, to £140,000, after a 12.5% increase last year.

Slaughter and May, however,  is holding its salaries at £150,000.