The Law Society is calling on firms to pay trainees its recommended minimum following a dip in average earnings. It today announces a 2.6% increase in recommended minimum salaries, to £22,121 in London and £19,619 outside.

Research by the Solicitors Regulation Authority has shown that trainee wages have fallen by an average of £560 since the regulator dropped the mandatory minimum in 2014. A quarter of trainees are paid less than the recommended rate. 

‘Entry to the profession should be on merit and nobody should face unnecessary financial barriers,’ said Society president Christina Blacklaws. ‘I urge all law firms to adopt this recommendation for their trainees, which represents a fair salary, and to consider how else they can contribute to greater social mobility to the benefit of their business, society and the profession.’ The new rate applies from 1 May. 

Junior Lawyers Division chair Amy Clowrey said: ‘The JLD is concerned that firms are not paying their trainee solicitors a fair rate. We welcome the support of the Law Society on such an important issue.’