Macfarlanes and DLA Piper raise NQ salaries as junior lawyer pay war reignites
updated on 08 July 2026
Dimitar Dimitrov is a content and engagement coordinator at LawCareers.Net
Reading time: two minutes
Macfarlanes LLP and DLA Piper UK LLP have become the latest law firms to increase pay for newly qualified (NQ) solicitors, as competition for junior legal talent across the City and wider UK market shows little sign of slowing.
Macfarlanes has increased its London NQ salary from £140,000 to £150,000, matching magic circle firms and representing a 7% rise. The new rate takes effect from 1 July 2026. The firm has also boosted trainee salaries, with first-year trainees set to earn £60,000 and second-year trainees £65,000, up from £56,000 and £61,000 respectively. The trainee pay rise will come into force in September.
Commenting on the increase, managing partner at Macfarlanes, Luke Powell, said: “We want to recruit highly talented and committed people to our firm and have them become exceptional lawyers with us over the long term. Our salaries support that and reflect our strong position in the market.”
Meanwhile, DLA Piper has raised its London NQ salary from £130,000 to £140,000, an increase of £10,000 or around 8%. The firm has also increased regional NQ salaries from £82,000 to £84,000 across its offices in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield.
A spokesperson for DLA Piper said: “The regional increases ensure our offering remains market leading and underscores our continued commitment to attracting and retaining top talent across the UK.”
The latest salary announcements come amid a renewed pay war among leading law firms. Last month, US firm Milbank LLP increased NQ pay to $235,000 (around £176,000), while Quinn Emanuel continues to offer the highest reported NQ salary in London at £189,000.
