Marvin OnumonuSalaries for newly qualified (NQ) solicitors at top 200 firms rose in 2025, with the average hitting £118,000, according to findings from Chambers.
London firms paid nearly 40% more than those outside the capital, with the London average at £124,000.
Manchester followed at £68,000 and Birmingham at £66,000.
Belfast had the lowest pay at £39,000.
Trainees worked less from home, with the average number of days in the office rising from three in 2024 to four in 2025.
Most trainees were satisfied with their hours, with only 9% saying they were too high.
Trainees from ethnic minorities were less likely to stay at their firm for more than five years, only 48% compared to 61% of white trainees.
Female trainees made up 64% of the total, but were underrepresented in banking & finance and corporate/M&A, both at 51% female.
Real estate and employment had more women, at 70% and 79% respectively. Of those interviewed, 11% were neurodivergent.
These trainees were more likely to choose technical areas such as intellectual property, technology, transport and competition, and less likely to be happy in generalist seats like corporate and litigation.
Partnership was seen as realistic at their current firm by 66% of trainees, but only 47% of neurodivergent trainees thought so.
Law graduates made up 65% of trainees, with most non-law graduates coming from history or politics backgrounds.
Cait Evans, global talent head of research at Chambers and Partners, said: “Trainees at the UK’s top firms show high levels of satisfaction across the board and while hours can be long, the vast majority appear to recognise that the increasingly high salaries on qualification, particularly for those based in London and at US and Magic Circle firms, come at a price.
“With significant variation across the country and by firm type, there are clearly choices to be made for aspiring lawyers who should carefully weigh up the lifestyle they want to lead and against the rewards on offer.
“Looking more closely at trainee preferences, we found that practice areas such as real estate and employment were much more likely to be attractive to women, while neurodivergent trainees felt more comfortable in more technical areas of the law.”
Evans added: “Trainees’ early decisions will likely have an impact on the make up of law firms in the years to come so are factors they will need to consider when planning long term.
“Those who are neurodiverse and from an ethnic minority background are, the results suggest, looking to their employers to accommodate difference and to provide a more inclusive and supportive culture.
“This data gives an insight into where firms should be directing their efforts to support trainees as well as providing aspiring lawyers with the information they need to choose the best firms for them.”
