Macfarlanes and CMS release autumn 2018 rates alongside a boost to NQ salaries

Macfarlanes and CMS release autumn 2018 rates alongside a boost to NQ salaries

Macfarlanes and CMS have announced pay rises for their newly-qualified (NQ) solicitors as they reveal how many trainees will be staying on post qualification.

Soon-to-be associates at Macfarlanes will now receive an impressive £80,000 (up from £75,000), a figure sure to keep the 21 of its 23 qualifying trainees who are staying on at the firm more than happy.

Seán Lavin, head of graduate recruitment at Macfarlanes said:‘We are pleased to have maintained our consistently high retention rates for our trainees qualifying this September. It is our objective each year to offer a role to every trainee on qualification and to retain this talent. Our trainees are the future of this firm and we recruit and train all our trainees with a view to offering them long-term careers at Macfarlanes.’

Meanwhile, CMS, which is retaining 55 of its 72 qualifiers, has upped its London NQ pay to £70,000. Bristol NQs will receive £50,000 and NQs in the firm’s Scottish offices will take home £40,000. Their counterparts in Sheffield and Manchester will earn £41,000 and £42,000 respectively.

36 qualifiers have accepted positions at the combined firm’s London office, alongside six in Sheffield, three in Aberdeen, two in Glasgow, six in Edinburgh and two in Bristol.