to ask if you think this salary is reasonable or am I being greedy?

[bkyegres]

I qualified as a solicitor in 2016, so I’m around 7 years pqe. I’m paid 62k in Bham, commercial rather than private client work. I’ve only just paid off my student loan last year and honestly I feel like the firm are taking the piss… all the studying and expense feels ridiculous to be seven years on and barely over 50k. Obviously I know what some other firms pay and I can look into it further with recruiters but I am starting to wonder if you have to join a new company for any decent pay these days?! I could have skipped uni and worked my way up to this salary by now so it all seems a bit pointless.

I am 4 years PQE and earn £28 k as a family lawyer in a rural area. I am also 50 and retrained thinking I would be paid better than I was in the public sector [hollow laugh]. Plus the glorious 5% pension.

Solicitors are not paid as much as people think.

I would say keep moving firms or demanding a pay increase as much as you can. I feel stuck because of my personal circs and the location i live in and have some family pressures which makes a move for me not the right thing at the moment. But I would definitely recommend pushing for something better.

In all walks of life, no one rewards loyalty. Move.

I actually don’t think you’re being greedy to ask if you are being properly remunerated. I don’t think anyone on here could say if you are or not without knowing the type of work you do, your firm, how good you are etc.

Have a chat with a recruiter to see what else is out there and what kind of salaries they offer. Usually the best way to get a payrise is by moving!

Damned rightl. Wish i had learned that earlier.

No such thing as greedy at work

I an unqualified accountant who didn’t go to uni and will be on £60k from September so yes, that feels low for that level of qualification. If I qualified I’d expect a job paying closer to £75k so given your experience I’d expect you to be on
more than you are.

It's really not hard to find out what the market rate for your practice area and PQE is. A recruiter is your best bet.

Sounds good to me. Many of my friends are lawyers and baristers in London, but I know not the salaries in Birmingham. When you job search what are the salaries for similar jobs to yours, or the next promotion.

I understand what you’re saying. I skipped uni and worked my way up no debt and am very comfortable and about to buy my potentially forever home.

there are now loads of different avenues to where you want to get to without racking up uni costs.

i Think your salary is good but I understand your point. A lot of people on here will just see the 62k and won’t understand the context

This.

Sorry I wasn't clear
The salaries in the 90’s were about £35k and are still around that now - 30 years later - so yes rubbish for A levels, Degree, year at Law school and 2 years training

£62k is not barley over £50k

£62k is a decent salary so I think YABU

What motivation do they have to pay you more at the moment? None, I suspect.

If you want to progress financially, you generally need to move jobs unless there are decent internal promotions.

I’m in a similar professional non law role in the North, and it sounds about right. Particularly ambitious or talented people (partner track) can be on a bit more (I’m 10 years post graduation and on just over £100k, but one of the youngest in my role and there are others with 20+ more experience that are around £60-65k).

To all the people going on about their salaries, surely the only comparison can be another solicitor in a similar field and level of experience.

Whilst teachers and nurses absolutely are underpaid, that's completely irrelevant to what a solicitor earns so why even bother commenting?

No you aren’t greedy, what’s your plan, move companies, ask for a raise, do more training?
Some people are happy to earn 30k or whatever all their carers but they obviously aren’t.

There is a misconception that lawyers earn huge salaries. This is true for very successful people working in elite firms who got a fantastic degree from a top university but a box standard lawyer working at a decent firm will not earn the mega bucks someone people think. £62k is a decent salary but it depends what area of the law you specialise in. A lot of qualified lawyers end up fee earning where £62k is a very good wage.

'Barely over £50k'? You earn almost 25% over £50k! At 7 years PQE £62k is on the high side of respectable, unless you're at a City firm. But if it isn't enough for you, and you think you're worth more, go and find another job at a different firm.

You're the top of Band 5 in London and earning 30k? You should ask payroll to check your pay.

OP - you're not being greedy, people are allowed to earn more and work to do that. You do generally need to move to get pay increases.

I’m in the Birmingham legal market too. If you are happy with the firm other than pay, I would speak to them (pay, whilst important, isn’t the only factor after all). If you are not happy, I’d move. I’d speak to a recruiter to get a feel for salaries in your practice area.

Train driver.

If you can get more elsewhere then do.

Whether what you are paid now is market will depend on the size of firms, quality of your background and your specialism.

Is it actually you questioning this or are you finding family expectations that you’d be earning more than now and you feel embarrassed?

How much do you bill a year OP? At my firm salaries are largely linked to what we bring in for the firm each year.

YABU to be posting here.
Whether the average person thinks you're 'greedy' doesn't matter. You'll get loads of posts from people saying 'teachers, nurses blah2 don't earn that much' but if others in your position earn 70K then you are underpaid.

Look for other jobs and see what they offer if you really want to know.