New salary research has revealed the biggest disparity in pay begins four years after lawyers have qualified.
Realm’s 2026 Private Client Salary Guide explores salary benchmarks from a survey of 1,000 lawyers and experts across Private Client and Court of Protection.
Salaries in private family law show steady progression with Post Qualification Experience (PQE), typically starting in the £30,000–£40,000 range at Newly Qualified (NQ) level and rising to £60,000–£90,000+ at senior levels, the research suggests.
The difference between high street firms and national or boutique practices begins to become more noticeable post-NQ, with variation increasing as lawyers gain experience. Progression is generally consistent, but more significant increases tend to occur at mid to senior level, particularly where lawyers move into more complex or higher-value work.
The research reveals the variance in salaries between firms paying top-end salaries and those paying less comes at four years post-NQ, with the higher range reaching £53-£75,000 and the lower end remaining between £45-£55,000.
Kelly Reid (pictured) associate director and private client recruitment specialist at Realm, said: “One of the biggest shifts we’re seeing is that lawyers are becoming much more selective about the type of environment they want to work in.
“Salary still matters, but progression, flexibility and overall quality of life are all playing a much bigger role in movement decisions than they were a few years ago.”
The guide can be downloaded in full here.
