To ask if I’m underpaid as a solicitor?

[Ramshackl]

I’ve been off twice on maternity leave since 2019. I’m 8 years qualified and on 62k outside London but in large UK city. My pay has gone up 2% each year the last four years. Im told by my large ish company that for commercial work this is well within the right bracket. It’s awkward asking friends about salaries from other firms but I feel this is really poorly paid? Am I deluded? Should I just ask my colleagues what they’re on? Is it because I’ve been on maternity leave twice?

I have a friend who works in commercial law, the money she earns isn't dissimilar. She works in London and has had maternity leave once.

I would say it's because you've been on maternity. My partner is a commercial lawyer and earners considerable more, but he's older/partner level and obviously not had maternity.

Sorry...I'm presuming he's older then you. I don't know why, everyone seems young to me at the mo 😂

Are you in private practice or in house? Is probably within lower end of acceptable range for in house northern city based on me/friends at similar level. Seems low for private practice.

Why not ask a recruitment agency? Get on LinkedIn and they’ll contact you themselves.

I was on £62k at 2 years qualified in 2004. In London at a magic circle firm but still, that was 19 years ago!

there are salary surveys you can find on The Lawyer and similar that will indicate what the going rate is for outside London.

Is that full time salary? Does sound a bit low. What kind of clients do you work for? What’s your average hourly rate? As someone else said, a recruiter is probably the best person to ask. Or see if you can find any job adverts on LinkedIn that have a salary bracket.

I’m 6 years PQE and work at a regional office of a large commercial firm. I earn £75,000 per year basic.

At my last firm, when I was 5 years PQE, I was on £68,000.

I’d say your pay is in the ballpark, depending on your role and location (I’m in the North), although I expect you could get more if you shopped around.

My hourly rate has just gone up to 395 so I feel like they are taking the piss. I know that doesn’t go into their pocket to directly pay to me of course, but it’s not much less than the partner hourly rates!

Excuse me being nosey but can I ask how many hours people are working for this kind of pay? Genuinely interested as I know training is very hard and am also interested in how many hours was the norm when studying .

What is your job title @Ramshackl? Your PQE is kind of not relevant - we have associates at your PQE, but also our version of salaried partners at that PQE too, and their salaries will be vastly different. I assume by your hourly rate given you're a Senior Associate or higher?

We've done some hefty salary increases over the last couple of years but more focused around junior level which means that the spread of salaries has narrowed. Your salary is probably a little on the low side but not massively.

Best way of increasing your salary is, virtually always, to move firms.

If you work for a big ish company surely they publish their salary banding in an internal share point/intranet somewhere? Ask to see the banding, and you’ll be able to calculate your compa-ratio.

what sort of firm and what sort of large city ie Leeds.& Manchester probably pay more than Newcastle.

There was an article in The Lawyer a few days ago about regional pay differences though that was for firms which also have a London base.

I only know London law oah bjt that is startlingly low for 8 years PQE. Sounds to me like they’d like you to move, or maybe just a very stingy firm.

My firm paid assitants wildly different salaries depending on whether they were trying to keep them or lose them.

No you should be being paid around 30k more. You need to change jobs frequently in this type of employment market.

Have you made the grave error of being loyal OP?

Speak to a recruiter and get yourself out there!

I'm not an expert or a lawyer myself, but that seems rather low to me, especially with COL being what it is. I would think that more like 80 would be nearer the mark.

To be honest, I am amazed you are a solicitor and don't know how to find out this information other than on Mumsnet! From a quick google there is a lot of qualified information available.

All the solicitors I know are on at least £150k at 8 years PQE. Granted this is in London, so outside if I was you id expect to be on at least £80-£100k.

Depends on the firm and the City. Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester typically pay more than other big cities with Leeds not far off.

The type of firm or in-house makes a difference too. In house tends to depend upon the industry. Generally in private practice the bigger firms pay better, but it depends a bit on the type.

Your pay doesn't sound bad if you are an associate unless you are at one of the big firms in a competitive city. It is probably a bit poor if you have management responsibilities though.

It depends if you’re in-house or private practice and which city really. Also, at 8 years PQE, are you doing associate or senior associate level work, that’s makes a difference.

That's about what we pay our "not setting the world alight" associates, although their hourly rates are considerably lower.

What's your billing target? I assume it's 3x salary. Are you hitting your target? If not, you won't be getting good pay rises

50k in lowly criminal law over here

Does your firm not move people through the salary bands whilst on mat leave? That's been by experience, although admittedly in the Magic Circle.

I appreciate commercial law at a regional firm will pay significantly less than London, but that does seem very low.

What size firm is it and what level are you? If it's a national firm with multiple offices around the UK I'd say that low. Our NQs get paid 62k in all the regions. For 8years pqe I'd be expecting your pay to be 70+ but it will be dependent on your level and the size of firm as well.

Massive variations in solicitor pay depending on region, the work you’re doing and the type of firm (national firm e.g. Shoosmiths, DLA Piper etc or single office regional). It sounds on the low side for your PQE but depends on your job title as well - are you a senior associate or equivalent? Pay does stagnate once you get to that level unless you make it to partner. You should speak to a recruiter to get an idea of what other firms are paying people of your level. As a general rule law firms will pay people as little as they can get away with, so people who stay at the same firm for a long time end up on much less than lateral hires.