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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this salary is an insult?

345 replies

FlyingSolo16 · 26/10/2025 11:38

I’m a solicitor and recently interviewed for a position. Five rounds of interview, meetings with different people within the firm, etc etc.

Get to the offer stage and the “competitive salary” they’re offering was £27,500 a year. AIBU or is that an insult?

OP posts:
Original poster
FlyingSolo16 · 26/10/2025 12:23

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 26/10/2025 12:18

Blimey - it’s a criminal defence or very general law firm presumably?

I’d look at public sector in house roles tbh in your shoes!

Not criminal defence. It’s private client but they pay all solicitors the same and they have multiple departments

OP posts:
evilharpy · 26/10/2025 12:22

That is absolutely shocking. I saw a director of legal services role advertised the other day for £65k which I also thought was crazy for a director level salary.

I'm currently looking for a new job and the salaries I'm seeing are just mental. Meanwhile the cost of everything is going up and up and up.

HelloCheekyCat · 26/10/2025 12:22

Aintnosunshinenowitsgone · 26/10/2025 12:13

I pay all 3 of my admins more than that. Insulting indeed.

I work at a well.known retailer in the head office and entry level jobs pay pretty much that, they like a degree but it isn't a.deal.breaker.
I'd also.want.more than £33k.If I'd gone through all that training!!
Hope you find something better

Original poster
FlyingSolo16 · 26/10/2025 12:22

AuntieDolly · 26/10/2025 12:14

That’s mad! Trainee teachers start around £30k

i think full time teaching roles start at around £33k? I might be mistaken there. I considered a pivot to teaching but I like my annual leave too much 😂

OP posts:
OnlyOnAFriday · 26/10/2025 12:22

BIossomtoes · 26/10/2025 12:09

Aren’t most newly recruited lecturers on zero hour contracts now?

Show quote history

Not that I’ve come across at my place/department. There’s always been associate lecturers on zero hours contracts but also substantive staff as well.

Flopppsss · 26/10/2025 12:22

DS got paid the same for his starting salary for a grad role outside of London. Took it as it was the only offer they gave.

zipadeedodah · 26/10/2025 12:19

YANBU that is a disgusting salary I would have baulked at 5 interviews though and wouldn't have done more than 2. It really does only take 2.

I agree with your figure of £30-33k for a NQ solicitor.

Were they surprised when you refused?

TheOnlyAletheia · 26/10/2025 12:18

That’s madness. As a NQ I was in that in 1998!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 26/10/2025 12:18

Blimey - it’s a criminal defence or very general law firm presumably?

I’d look at public sector in house roles tbh in your shoes!

Irenesortof · 26/10/2025 12:18

Weirdly low salary. But maybe it was a warning sign that they put you through all that without even naming a ball park salary.

Loveduppenguin · 26/10/2025 12:16

The dept in the industry I’m in pays new graduates the equivalent of £35k and if you are on shift you get an extra 33% on top!

AuntieDolly · 26/10/2025 12:14

That’s mad! Trainee teachers start around £30k

Aintnosunshinenowitsgone · 26/10/2025 12:13

I pay all 3 of my admins more than that. Insulting indeed.

Original poster
FlyingSolo16 · 26/10/2025 12:12

Nonameagain31 · 26/10/2025 11:59

Just out of interest, what were you expecting the salary to be? And the salary range for my role is staggering, some are a little over minimum wage (and they want someone with 3 years experience etc, etc!)

For any solicitor I think the starting should be at least £30,000 to £33,000. It’s a hell of a lot of training and work to get to that point.

OP posts:
Original poster
FlyingSolo16 · 26/10/2025 12:11

TankFlyBossW4lk · 26/10/2025 12:00

Is that full time? 😮

37.5 hours a week! It’s disgusting. Sadly very typical of areas outside of London.

Rent here averages about £1,000 a month so you’d barely be able to afford to rent on it.

OP posts:
butimamonstersaidthemonster · 26/10/2025 12:10

What type of work? That makes a huge difference. I think it’s a myth that solicitors earn big bucks. all the ones I know work for the LA and this isn’t shocking low for an NQ.

Mt563 · 26/10/2025 12:10

BuffaloCauliflower · 26/10/2025 11:47

That’s crazy. How much experience do you have/how much experience does the job require? Might be ok for a first grad role but I think you’d have said if that was the case.

What do you do that you genuinely consider just above minimum wage excellent?

Edit: apologies, don't know why the wrong poster was quoted.

BIossomtoes · 26/10/2025 12:09

OnlyOnAFriday · 26/10/2025 12:05

I’m glad you said no.

dd was a junior architect and when minimum wage went up last year/year before she wasn’t even earning NMW. They made her redundant rather than increase her pay to minimum wage.

i work in academia now and we are struggling to recruit lecturers because the job description wants the moon on a stick with regards to experience and qualifications and I think starting wage is something like 32k.

Aren’t most newly recruited lecturers on zero hour contracts now?

Cheeseandquackers21 · 26/10/2025 12:09

It dependss on days or hours worked? One day...not unreasnable. 4 or 5 days very.

Crazycatladywithnocats · 26/10/2025 12:06

That does sound low for a solicitor’s salary. Are you sure you heard them right?

That is more then I’m getting though and I consider mine to be excellent. I’m due a pay progression in a few weeks time to a crazily high £30,000.

OnlyOnAFriday · 26/10/2025 12:05

I’m glad you said no.

dd was a junior architect and when minimum wage went up last year/year before she wasn’t even earning NMW. They made her redundant rather than increase her pay to minimum wage.

i work in academia now and we are struggling to recruit lecturers because the job description wants the moon on a stick with regards to experience and qualifications and I think starting wage is something like 32k.

TankFlyBossW4lk · 26/10/2025 12:00

Is that full time? 😮

ConstitutionHill · 26/10/2025 12:00

Absolute piss take! When you look at the fees you pay to complete your LLB and then the LPC. I did my LPC in 2004 and worked for a year as a "legal executive" for £14.6K a year! In Tottenham.

They dangled the possibility of a training contract but when I google the firm now, they still have the same solicitors there, no new ones. The profession is one now where you need family money and connections to break in.

I would advise getting qualified and then going in-house.

Nonameagain31 · 26/10/2025 11:59

Just out of interest, what were you expecting the salary to be? And the salary range for my role is staggering, some are a little over minimum wage (and they want someone with 3 years experience etc, etc!)