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News

Non-magic circle law firms enter NQ salary war

updated on 10 August 2021

City law firm Macfarlanes was the first non-magic circle firm to increase its newly qualified (NQ) lawyer salary in line with the ongoing NQ pay war. NQ lawyers at the firm could expect to receive a pay package worth £100,000, as the firm bumps its base salary by £5,000 to £90,000, with “uncapped” bonuses worth nearly 10% of annual salaries also up for grabs.

Following suit, for the second time this year US law firm Goodwin Procter has increased NQ salaries in London. The firm’s NQ lawyers will see their pay jump by 7% to £147,000. Meanwhile, DLA Piper’s NQ lawyers in the firm’s London office will receive a salary of £88,000, plus NQ lawyers at the firm’s regional offices will see their pay rise to £48,000.

Among others, Travers Smith also revealed that it will up the base pay of its NQ lawyers by 6% to £90,000, with bonuses on offer that could take the total to £117,000.

Other firms, including Ashurst, and magic circle firms Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance, have also increased NQ lawyer salaries in response to the NQ pay war.