Survey: Lawyers saw pay rise in 2017 as Irish economy grew

According to ASSIGN Legal Recruitment, the market in 2017 was defined by “Improved remuneration and conditions for in-house counsel and top-tier and mid-tier practice lawyers”.

There were also “moderate improvements” in salary and conditions at other firms, the recruitment firm’s annual Legal Salary Survey found.

Dublin salaries for in-house counsel were in the range of €45,000–€80,000 for newly qualified counsel with up to three years PQE; €80,000–€110,000 for 3-6 years PQE; €110,000–€150,000 for seven and more years PQE; and €120,000–€300,000 for a head of legal.

In private practice, a newly-qualified Dublin solicitor with up to three years PQE could expect between €40,000–€70,000; a solicitor with 3-6 years PQE can expect €70,000–€95,000; and a senior solicitor with seven and more years PQE could expect €95,000–€130,000.

The 2017 report, published yesterday, added: “The Irish economy in general has seen a marked level of growth, and this is now being reflected in the salary scale and benefits for lawyers who are now such a crucial part of the service industry. Some uncertainty remains, however, due in part to such well known factors as Brexit.”