Thornton Legal is pleased to share our Leeds Legal Salary Survey 2025, providing a clear overview of solicitor salaries across commercial private practice in Leeds.
The report benchmarks pay across Corporate, Banking, Real Estate, Litigation, Employment, Insolvency & Restructuring, and Commercial Contracts. Salaries are broken down by PQE level from Newly Qualified (NQ) through to Senior Associate.
This guide is designed both for lawyers benchmarking their value and firms ensuring offers remain competitive.
Download the Full Report
Download the Full Leeds Salary Guide 2025
Key Findings
Here are some of the standout insights from this year’s survey:
- Top NQ solicitor salary in Leeds now stands at £82,000 (DLA Piper, 2025).
- Banking and Corporate remain the highest-paying practice areas.
- Regional firms are typically £8–15k behind Large Corporates at NQ to SA level.
- Leeds-only independents sit another £10k behind but compete strongly on culture, flexibility, and progression.
- Hybrid working of 2–3 days in the office has become the Leeds norm.
- Counter-offers remain common, with uplifts typically between 5–12%.
Salary Snapshot by Practice Area
Below is a quick look at headline NQ and Senior Associate salaries across Leeds firms.
For the full PQE breakdown, please download the report.
|
Practice Area |
Large Corporate (NQ → SA) |
Regional Commercial (NQ → SA) |
Leeds-Only (NQ → SA) |
|
Corporate / M&A |
£65–82k → £95–125k |
£55–67k → £78–100k |
£45–55k → £70–85k |
|
Banking & Finance |
£65–82k → £100–130k |
£58–67k → £80–100k |
£45–55k → £70–85k |
|
Commercial Litigation |
£65–82k → £92–120k |
£52–62k → £75–95k |
£43–52k → £65–85k |
|
Real Estate |
£65–82k → £90–115k |
£50–60k → £72–92k |
£42–50k → £65–80k |
|
Employment |
£65–82k → £88–110k |
£48–58k → £70–90k |
£42–50k → £65–80k |
|
Insolvency & Restructuring |
£65–82k → £92–120k |
£50–60k → £72–92k |
£42–50k → £65–80k |
|
Commercial Contracts |
£65–82k → £90–115k |
£52–62k → £75–95k |
£43–52k → £65–85k |
About Thornton Legal
Thornton Legal is a specialist legal recruitment consultancy with deep roots in the North of England. We work with international, national, regional and independent firms, placing lawyers from NQ through to Partner level.
What sets us apart:
- Trusted by leading firms – our clients include Large Corporates, Regionals, and Leeds-Only firms.
- Proven track record – salary data based on real offers and live mandates.
- Personal approach – lawyers and firms value our straightforward, confidential advice.
- Specialist knowledge – providing clarity on pay, hybrid working and retention.
Conclusion
The Leeds legal jobs market in 2025 remains highly competitive, particularly in Corporate and Banking. Salaries are rising at the top end, while regional and independent firms are differentiating with culture and flexibility.
For firms, this survey is a tool to ensure offers remain competitive.
For lawyers, it’s a benchmark to understand your current market value.
For a confidential discussion or tailored benchmarking advice, please contact Thornton Legal today.
info@thorntonlegal.co.uk
07903 222 898
www.thorntonlegal.co.uk
