Newly-qualified lawyers in London will earn 28 per cent more by opting for White & Case over Slaughter and May or Clifford Chance - a salary gap that could hit the prestige and pulling power of the Magic Circle firms if it continues. White & Case has just announced that it will raise its starter pay for the newly-qualifieds from £75,000 to £90,000 for 2015/16. Its announcement follows the statements from Slaughter and CC - both of which will be offering £70,000 to that group. Linklaters is paying its newly-qualified even less - £68,500.

Frozen at Freshfields

Freshfields has a more complicated system - with salarlies starting at between £67,500 and £77,500 under a so-called 'Career Mileston' system. It decided to freeze its newly-qualifed rates at this level for 2015/16. A recent report from Deloitte highlighted some concern among the UK Top 100 about the needs to raise pay to lawyers. Jeremy Black, author of the report, said: ''Many [law firm leaders] are increasingly concerned that rising costs could make it difficult for firms to increase their profitability this year.' Source: Legal Business