Community Discussions

Why the heck do UK lawyers get paid so little compared to US?

Main Post:

I'm a US attorney (a litigator - I suppose that's equivalent to a barrister?) trying to find a UK job to sponsor my visa and I'm absolutely floored by how low the salaries are. I currently make about $90k - which for my current position, is NOT considered anything extraordinary - and all the salaries I'm seeing posted are like, £25k. With the exchange rate, that's like $33k in USD!!!

I make a decent living right now, and I'm able to save some, but not a lot; I have friends making $120k, so I'm by no means living large. I keep to a budget, for sure. How the heck are UK lawyers surviving on such abysmally low salaries? I don't understand how you can pay rent with that. That's basically poverty level in most US cities, particularly if you have a family (I don't yet, but want to eventually).

Am I missing something here? I've browsed flats in the area and they aren't significantly cheaper than in my area, so I feel like I've got to be missing something... how much money do you make as a UK lawyer? Are you struggling? Are these normal salaries I'm seeing?

Top Comment:

You cannot blindly compare UK to US. Apples and oranges. You can compare London to New York - both major world financial centres - and they’re comparable.

That being said, I have no idea where you’re finding these jobs. Your newly qualified solicitor salary tends to double or thereabouts on qualification. I’m pretty sure the Law Society minimum trainee salary is like £18k. So double that is £36k - far higher than £25k and still comparably low for lawyers in the UK. I don’t think you’re looking at the right job adverts.

Forum: r/uklaw

US Attorney Moving to UK

Main Post:

Hey everyone! I have several questions regarding getting a job in UK as a US attorney and appreciate any and all advice!

My background: I received my law degree in the US and am currently practicing law in California. My plan is to move to Leeds area by the end of this year. I don’t like the area of law I’m practicing and would love to switch to a different field.

1. Is it possible to get a job as a law clerk (or something similar) when I’m preparing for the SQE?
2. How’s the job market for junior solicitors (0-3 years of experience) around Leeds? Will my experience in the US be considered as PQE?
3. What are the popular areas of law around Leeds? How’s the market for IP solicitors? Any field(s) I should avoid?
4. Should I try to get a training contract? Pros and cons? Please correct me if I’m wrong. I did some research (google, Reddit, lawyer forums, etc.) and seems to me training contracts are for people who don’t already have legal experience/qualification to practice law. Since I’m at the early stage of my career, it might not be a bad idea to restart my practice in a different area of law through a training contract.
5. Are Leeds firms open to hiring US attorneys? Are there firms that might be more interested in US job applicants? If it helps, I don’t need work visa sponsorship from the employer.
6. Just out of curiosity, how’s your work life balance as a solicitor? A friend working in Europe told me though Europeans have great wlb, solicitors still work more hours than the average. Do you work overtime? Lol I won’t complain because it’s still wayyyyy better than the US.

Thanks a lot for your help!

Top Comment: There is a lot to unpick here... A) current legal recruitment market in the UK is dire B) if you need sponsorship to live and work here then that will add a significant layer of complication particularly if you are wanting Leeds where salaries will be lower than London. You say you don't but haven't indicated whether it's citizenship or spousal visa etc. C) switching practice areas is never easy. Switching countries, legal systems and practice areas all together is at best tripling the complexity. To answer some of your questions: this will depend upon your immigration status (which we cannot advise on here) but you say you don't need sponsorship so if that's the case you might be able to, but it's competitive not sure of Leeds specific re market conditions, but almost certainly no, your US experience won't count at all. Particularly if you are changing areas too. if you could get a training contract, this would probably be the most sensible way in as you are starting afresh anyway. This will go back to the sponsorship question as requiring sponsorship might blow that prospect out of the water straight away, and even then, obtaining a TC is mo mean feat at all. check on LinkedIn to see if you can find anyone but I would be very surprised if there are (m)any US lawyers in Leeds. depends what practice are and firm, but law firms aren't charities, so they tend to try to make as much money out of their fee earners as they can.

Forum: r/uklaw