Is he lying about his salary

[Askabouttheweather]

I have been seeing a guy for a couple of months, very casual. He told me he is a public law and humans rights solicitor, I've checked SRA and he is on there. He claims he makes 130k a year, now tbh I don't care if he does or doesn't but I do care if he is lying.
It is a London based firm, he is 30, not magic/silver circle.
Does this sound likely?

He still lives with his parents, I didn't ask his salary he just told me it and he doesn't seem to have the lifestyle of someone making that much.

If he is lying what's the more likely figure (like has he added 20k or doubled/tripled it.

AIBU to suspect he is lying as his lifestyle doesn't seem to match the salary?

Legal aid stopped when Tories was in power. It will hopefully come back to help the poor.

How is being frugal related to his salary though?

He's not a big spender.

A bit naff to be telling your salary to someone you've only been dating a couple of months, but the size of the salary sounds about right for London.

But the question is whether hes lying about his salary not should he be a spendthrift.

Massive concern that he lives at home at 30?!?

Clearly you have no idea how expensive London is to live in for young people. Better he stay at home with his parents than pay £1,500 in rent and bills for a room in a houseshare.

It is most likely one of two things

1. he does commercial litigation with the odd bit of public law angle thrown in and is really earning c£130k
2. he really does public law and human rights full time and is likely lying about his salary

Outgoings are less of an indicator as he may just be frugal and saving hard.

@BarcardiWithGadaffia I thought it was relevant bc op implied his spending didn't seem in line with his high salary. Of course everyone has different priorities for their money and op shouldn't make judgements over a superficial glance at his spending.

All the big firms will have a public law practice with lawyers warning that much. Human rights not so much, except pro bono.

What does magic/silver circle mean?

Magic circle are the top 5 uk (London) city firms eg Clifford chance - they pay their lawyers and partners an absolute mint (millions for partners)

silver circle are the next slice down - so still very top firms who specialise in finance and corporate law etc (amongst other areas)

but there are many other firms - increasingly US law firms which have opened in the UK who pay their newly qualifieds £160k plus but expect blood, sweat and tears

and various other well known national and regional firms - who would pay less

130k for a 30 year old lawyer is definitely plausible.

If he’s living at home presume he’s saving up for a house. Easy to find out by asking why he’s living at home? He openly tells you his salary so this question shouldn’t be a problem.

He doesn’t show an extravagant lifestyle. Well I was at home for years saving up too. I wasn’t earning that much but I definitely had a fair bit of money which I could have spent on nice clothes, restaurants, holidays etc. Instead it all went on a deposit to my first home. I actually went to work with tinned soup. People thought I was on my knees broke.