Increase in Junior Solicitors Vacancies

Tue, 17 Nov 2009

New figures from legal recruiters Hughes-Castell have revealed the first sustained rise in the employment of junior solicitors since 2007. The London Private Practice Salary Survey, which was completed by 67 commercial London law firms, revealed an increase in the number of vacancies for assistant solicitors during the second and third quarters of 2009.

Prospective solicitors should be wary of getting too excited by the news, however, as the level of vacancies during the first quarter was just 5 per cent of 2007 levels. Big increases are needed to restore the legal industry to full capacity. Furthermore, the salaries of London’s assistant solicitors fell by an average of 8 per cent this year, following two consecutive annual increases.

Top UK legal firms are now paying newly qualified solicitors £60,000 per year, rising to £97,000 after five year’s post-qualification experience (PQE). Hopeful clients will be disappointed if they are expecting the money saved to be passed onto reduced legal costs, and will instead restore law firms’ profit margins.

In comparison, junior lawyers in the US receive £95,500 upon qualifying, rising to £145,500 after five years experience.
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