Baker McKenzie raises NQ pay to £145,000s
updated on 22 July 2025
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Baker McKenzie has announced a pay rise for its newly qualified (NQ) solicitors in London, increasing base salaries to £145,000. The increase, which is effective from 1 July 2025, marks a reasonable jump of £5,000 and positions the global law firm among the highest-paying employers in the UK legal market.
This follows a substantial NQ salary hike from the firm last year, when NQ salaries jumped by 19% to £140,000. According to Legal Cheek’s Fims Most List, trainee solicitor salaries appear to be unchanged, with first and second-year trainees earning £56,000 and £61,000, respectively.
The pay boost comes as part of a broader trend across elite law firms vying for top talent in a competitive recruitment landscape. Other law firms that have recently announced NQ salary boosts include:
- Bird & Bird (£98,000 to £102,000);
- DLA Piper UK LLP (£110,000 to £130,000);
- Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (£135,000 to £145,000);
- HFW (£100,000 to £103,500); and
- Pinsent & Masons LLP (£97,000 to £105,000).
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