Our Top 10 Tips For Successfully Negotiating Your Legal Salary in London

Practising law in London can feel akin to working on the moon. The responsibilities and requirements, particularly for lawyers in large multinational firms, are daunting, and it is easy to get swept away in the experience and forget about the financial compensation, but it is crucial that you are paid fairly for the work that you do.?

For this reason, whether you are seeking your first London-based role, or looking for the next step up within your current firm, negotiating your salary should be a normal part of your career development and learning to navigate salary negotiations effectively will stand you in good stead for the future.

1. Know your worth.

Compare your responsibilities and salary against those of your peers and against job adverts for equivalent positions elsewhere in the city. If your salary is below the average, you are in a strong bargaining position.

2. Prepare.

Put together a dossier of evidence to substantiate your salary request. This should include your accomplishments and expertise as well as the soft skills that you possess, the benefits that you can offer the firm and, if you are looking for a change of job, the quantity and type of clients that will accompany you in your move.?

3. Set yourself parameters.

Determine what your ideal salary would be based on the evidence that you have accumulated, then consider where you would be willing to trade off. You may consider accepting a lower salary but with greater flexibility or funded training. Prepare your parameters and know your limits.?

4. Practice.

Before you meet with your employer or prospective employer, practise your request with a trusted confidant. Ask them to challenge you so that you can practise responding, identifying the appropriate supporting evidence and bringing the discussion to a mutually acceptable outcome.

5. Present your case.

When you meet with your employer, project a confident attitude but listen carefully to the other party's perspective and queries. Always remain professional and maintain your focus. It is vital that you concisely articulate why you are worthy of the salary you are requesting and maintain a positive outlook.

6. Follow up.

It is unlikely that a decision will be made immediately, so make plans to follow up and check on the process and likely time scales. Make sure that it is planned into the calendar to ensure that it happens.

7. Be open to compromises.

Your employer may not be able to offer you the salary that you believe you deserve, so consider the parameters and trade offs that you thought about earlier and determine the extent to which the offer that they are making aligns with your expectations.

8. Be conscious of cultural differences.

Ensure that you understand the cultural background of the firm and manager or partner with whom you are negotiating to avoid unintentionally crossing cultural boundaries. At the same time, it is important not to stereotype, so seek opportunities to unify the discussion on grounds of common interest.

9. Know your rights.

If you think that you have been unfairly treated in these discussions or subjected to discrimination based on any protected characteristics, then you should seek support from your HR Department in the first instance.

10. Don't burn bridges.

If the offer that you receive is unsuitable and you decide to seek alternative employment, maintain your professionalism, and try not to let your frustrations affect your performance for the remainder of your time with the firm. By implementing these ten tips, you will be well placed to request a salary that reflects your true worth.

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