If you are a solicitor 4yrs +qe how much do you get paid?

[Owlettecatboy]

Title says it all. I'm 6 years post qualifying at a largish national firm. I've been there for 10years. Great appraisals and no problems with targets etc. I have always known that my pay was a bit shit but I've had a bit of an epiphany and started just looking at what's out there. I've seen one paralegal position at a starting salary the same as mine and several NQ post starting about 8 grand more than I currently earn, which is 32,500. I'm being shafted aren't I?

This probably won't help but when I was 6 years PQE with a magic circle firm way back in 2000 I was on about £75,000.

A NQ at largish firm in Cambridge starts on £42K. After that raises are based on merit/performance/targets being met.

What area of law are you in?

What area of law do you practice? And where are you in the country?

Sorry I should have said, my area is clinical negligence. Obviously I'm aware that I can't expect the same sort of salary corporate law/city firm, but I'm at a large well respected firm in a large city. Childcare and travel costs leave me with very little. I'm starting to feel like a bit of a mug!

I'm in the South but not London

That's very little for someone with your experience but it really depends on a number of factors such as where you are (are you regional or in London?), how long you work (if you only work 9-5 you might as well be working part time), the field you practice (an average employment solicitor won't get paid anywhere near as much as someone doing commercial litigation), how much you bill, where you got your degree (little bit), where you did your training contract (way more) and where you have been working since. It just depends on what kind of solicitor you are, not all lawyers are equal.

Are you a woman? Get a penis, women earn 10.3% less than men in the legal professions.

I qualifed in 2010 but have had 2 years off with mat leave. In rural Scotland doing private client work and if full time I'd be on £32k. Given your circumstances I should think you should be on more. I'd look for another position if your current employer won't increase your salary. Good luck!

I think that's very low tbh, even for clinneg (I'm in the same field) and even in the regions. Have you had a pay review this year? I'd be asking for more if you haven't, you're being paid well below market rates if you're any good.

Have you asked for a pay rise?

I'm not in the same field but also felt like a mug, always told I was invaluable etc but was never told my salary increasing.

I asked, I got it. Some company's won't give unless you ask.

Your pay is pants! I've done CILEx, only an associate, not a fellow or anything and I'm on £41,000. Get job hunting!

Not meaning to sound like an arse but I earned £40k at 4yrs pqe in the GLS almost 15 years ago.

Time to job hunt.

Thank you all. I've actually just had my pay review, I was on even less before! You have all spurred me on. I'm going to ask for a pay raise. Anything less than 42k and I'm off! Wish me luck!

Good luck - don't forget to report back

I'm in PI. Almost 21 years pqe. I earn a under £55k, and haven't had a meaningful pay rise in years. Outer London.

Unfortunately given my area of law is dying on it's arse and many people I know have been made redundant, I should be grateful to have a job.

I do regularly think that it is a waste of my excellent degree and experience.

OP, I qualified in 2010 with a regional firm in the south east and I qualified on £32,500.

If you are in a largish firm, I can't see how they are getting away with such low pay for 6PQE!

Thanks everyone. My current employers aren't willing to consider a raise so I'm on the hunt for a new job. Thanks again for your comments!

I think pay rates obviously vary by area and by specialism. I also think pay rates were much better 10 or 15 years ago. I qualified 15+ years ago and salaries were equivalent to other professions (accountants etc) and rose by 10-15% year on year. However from maybe 2009 onwards, salaries have been poor. They've not increased (in the main) and given the thousands of law graduates trying to get into the profession, law firms don't have to offer high salaries to attract good trainees / NQs so the starting point is low (and generally stays low).

I'd definitely push for an increased salary but i'd say generally (in the regions) that solicitors are maybe £30-45k, associates are £40-60/70k and partners £70k+.

I was on £42k at 5pqe.

Now on Im £0.

Redundancy.

This:

"I also think pay rates were much better 10 or 15 years ago."

You need to compare what people earn now, not project from what they used to earn.

Niki what's your field?

That seems very low to me. I thought you were going to say more or less the same as me. I work in the South East in a corporate field for a large national firm with a reputation for crap salaries. I qualified in 2010 but have taken two maternity leaves. I earn 51k FTE (I'm part-time). My understanding is that I'm underpaid.

PI / CN

Trained at a top firm.

Now no jobs available.

I knew employment had been in crisis because of the tribunal fees. What happened in PI/cn?

My sympathies by the way -I was short of work for a year 2003-2004 and it's a horrible thing xx

Any thoughts on next steps?