More in-house lawyers play board games, claims report RECRUITMENT: promotion twice as likely as three years agoIn-house lawyers are twice as likely to be promoted to the executive boards of their companies as they were three years ago, according to a...In-house lawyers are twice as likely to be promoted to the executive boards of their companies as they were three years ago, according to a report into City salaries.

The research, by recruitment agency Michael Page, also shows firms continuing to expand and increase salaries forcing City firms to look to Commonwealth lawyers to fill the gaps in a tight market.

In a survey of 160 in-house teams, roughly a third of in-house lawyers are now sitting on the executive boards of their companies.

Peter Thompson, head of legal business at Michael Page said: I think this represents about double the amount two to three years ago.Generally, in-house legal teams remain extremely buoyant despite suffering in the embattled technology market, according to the report.

In private practice, 92 City-based UK and US law firms who responded said they envisaged growth of between 10% and 20% over the next year.

Newly-qualified solicitors benefited most from salary rises over the past year, with average City increases of 20% to 25%.

The increase for five to eight-year qualified solicitors was roughly half that between 7% and 12%.The sectors in high demand are corporate, banking and property; IT and IP remain steady, while commercial and insurance litigation are on the decrease, said the report.

Mr Thompson said: The market is squeezed, corporate and banking have been busiest.

There are not enough lawyers to satisfy recruitment needs, firms must sacrifice quality or look outside the UK for alternative solicitors.

He said smaller City firms were also recruiting Commonwealth lawyers.However, the salaries at Manhattan law firms tower over the City.

The report found average newly-qualifieds in New York earned 84,100; in London, US firms pay an average of 61,000; top-tier UK City firms pay 47,000, while London west end firms pay 31,000.

The west end average salary after eight years post qualification experience 65,000 still falls well short of beginners rates in New York. Jeremy Fleming