Unsurprisingly it was a US firm which hit the top of the pay charts. Latham & Watkins triumphed with a sparkling 99%. Meanwhile Irwin Mitchell staff are clearly scraping by on gruel and stale bread, awarding their firm a woeful 35%.
Latham's victory certainly makes sense considering that its NQs take home the thick end £100,000. Respondents praised "top class pay" and the "ace" perks, whilst another exclaimed "we're all rolling in cash". Interestingly, the firm's lawyers - mollified no doubt by the enormous salary packages - appear willing to sacrifice their work-life balance (the hours are acknowledged to be "relentless") in return for the money. Yet although Latham scored only 64% for work-life balance, it still outscored every Magic Circle firm and was highly praised in the social life category, despite the dubious reputation of US firms.
Whilst not quite in Latham's league, White & Case also scored well for pay with 79%. Respondents praised the pay packet as well as the "exemplary" bonus system and a benefits plan which is "better than most firms". RPC (74%) and Ince & Co (73%) also put in a good performance. Neither firm is known for offering market-beating wages but it seems staff - buoyed by high quality work and top notch colleagues - are very happy with the state of their wages.
At the other end of the scale, Irwin Mitchell came rock bottom for pay - but then the firm was in the top five for work-life balance.
There's obviously a difficult balance to be struck here, trading off a decent salary against an acceptable standard of life. See also Dundas & Wilson, where lawyers appear happy to take a pay hit for an improved work-life balance (having said that, RollOnFriday were invited to judge the firm from the "lies on the website").
Check out the winners and losers in full here.
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Latham's victory certainly makes sense considering that its NQs take home the thick end £100,000. Respondents praised "top class pay" and the "ace" perks, whilst another exclaimed "we're all rolling in cash". Interestingly, the firm's lawyers - mollified no doubt by the enormous salary packages - appear willing to sacrifice their work-life balance (the hours are acknowledged to be "relentless") in return for the money. Yet although Latham scored only 64% for work-life balance, it still outscored every Magic Circle firm and was highly praised in the social life category, despite the dubious reputation of US firms.
Whilst not quite in Latham's league, White & Case also scored well for pay with 79%. Respondents praised the pay packet as well as the "exemplary" bonus system and a benefits plan which is "better than most firms". RPC (74%) and Ince & Co (73%) also put in a good performance. Neither firm is known for offering market-beating wages but it seems staff - buoyed by high quality work and top notch colleagues - are very happy with the state of their wages.
At the other end of the scale, Irwin Mitchell came rock bottom for pay - but then the firm was in the top five for work-life balance.
There's obviously a difficult balance to be struck here, trading off a decent salary against an acceptable standard of life. See also Dundas & Wilson, where lawyers appear happy to take a pay hit for an improved work-life balance (having said that, RollOnFriday were invited to judge the firm from the "lies on the website").
Check out the winners and losers in full here.