International firm increases NQ pay to nearly £150,000

updated on 08 November 2021

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The pay war between law firms continues this month, with newly qualified (NQ) lawyer salaries at Ropes & Gray increasing to £147,000, plus bonuses.

NQ lawyers working within the firm’s London office have received a 13% jump in pay, which came into force at the start of November. Ropes & Gray’s junior lawyers are now among some of the highest-paid NQs in the country.

The firm has also pumped money into increasing trainee salaries to £57,000 and second-year trainees salaries to £62,500. There are 24 trainees in the current cohort.

Despite the pandemic, the international practice has grown by more than 20% in the last year and now has 160 fee earners, including 29 partners and nine counsel.

The ongoing pay war between City firms comes after promising financial results in the face of covid-19. Firms are also battling to recruit and retain the best talent in the profession.

Other firms to recently bump NQ pay to a six-figure salary include Hogan Lovells, Linklaters LLP and Shearman & Sterling (London) LLP.

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