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Hours

• "One great aspect to the firm is that there are no billing targets. Work hours vary hugely. When it is busy, it is very busy and one is expected to stay and get the work done, at whatever hour that may be. Twelve hour days are not unusual, but are not generally the norm." -- Second year trainee
• "Varies enormously. My worst week I billed 92 hours and had 10 hours sleep in total from Monday morning until Friday evening. Some weeks I bill next to nothing and am bored out of my mind once I have finished doing all the training I can face for that day." -- Second year trainee
• "Trainees here generally seem to get a much better deal than at other Magic Circle/top City firms. This is possibly because we don't have BlackBerries (and the flip-side is less responsibility). There is a general culture that if work doesn't have to be done that night, you should go home and, in general, most trainees are out the building by 7or 8pm (and we don't start before 9.30am). Also, I've only worked one weekend. Some people get unlucky with the deal they're on and get killed but I think you would do anywhere. Hours are definitely less than I'd expected. It gets worse as an associate though!" -- Second year trainee
• "My hours have been irregular and unpredictable, sometimes work is very quiet and at other times it is manic. There have been periods where I worked between 70 and 90 hours a week and there have been periods where I left every day at 5.30pmIn departments which can get manic there seems to be a relaxed attitude towards time in the office when things are quiet, which is a nice recompense for the times you are rarely away from your desk. I knew that I was coming to a corporate firm and I expected to work hard but what has surprised me is how unpredictable it is. It is very hard to get into any sort of a routine, either one adapted to spending all your time in the office or one more suited to having the occasional weekday evening free. As a result, after busy periods I have felt at a bit of a loss in the evenings and at the beginning of a busy period I end up cancelling things all the time and consequently feeling a bit glum." -- First year trainee
• "It's fairly periodic. If you are busy you can work 6/7 days a week beyond midnight for several weeks trying to close something out. I would say that happens about three or four times a year on average, though it varies from department to department. Typically I bill over 40 hours a week though. Probably looking to average out to 8:30am – 7:30pm when it’s quieter, though there is a decent amount of logging in remotely in the evenings/at weekends, even when not that busy. Certainly no worse (or even as bad) as colleagues at other similar firms I don't think." -- Mid-level solicitor, Property
• "I would bill a minimum of 40 hours generally and would spend at least 50 hours in the office a week. There has been no problem having holiday leave when I have requested it." -- Newly qualified solicitor
• "It's what you would expect from a City law firm – can be long days, can be short days. Sometimes weekends, although this is discouraged by the partners, which is very good." -- Newly qualified solicitor

• "I am generally working between 35 and 40 hours a week, sometimes less and sometimes more. From conversations with colleagues this is fairly average for trainees, although workloads can vary widely due to the nature of the work – particularly in the corporate groups. This is less than I expected but the jump to associate hours is expected to be quite great (particularly when we are given BlackBerries!)." -- First year trainee
• "This varies wildly according to what is going on at the time in the department. In my first seat, it was a consistent 10pm/11pm finish for a while. In my second seat, it was quite quiet and I was leaving very regularly at 5.30pm. On the whole, it's probably around about what I expected." -- Second year trainee
• "Very variable – there are times when I'm out at 5.30 all week, and times when I have slept in the office or pulled an all-nighter. It all depends on the work." -- First year trainee
• "Working hours vary drastically from department to department. In a property seat, I worked an average 8 – 9 hour day for weeks on end, leaving the office at around 6pm. However, obviously on a corporate deal the hours can be longer in the run-up to deadlines and I have had nights where I've worked until 1 or 2am. However this is only done when absolutely necessary and in general I don't feel that my hours have been that bad. In my corporate seat my hours were definitely less than I expected, but other trainees and friends of mine have had very different experiences where they have worked incredibly long hours. It just depends on the deal, the team, the client's expectations and priorities and ultimately the timetable to which you have to work for whatever reason." -- Second year trainee
• "Monthly hours billed usually ranges between 150 and 200. I probably spend on average between 40 and 50 hours in the office per week, but at other times it has been significantly higher, depending on workload. The hours are dictated by the client's needs and so they can be flexible at times depending on the transaction." -- Junior solicitor, Banking
• "I bill on average 40 hours a week, which probably means I spend around 50 hours in the office (never sure where that extra two hours goes!). We have no billing targets, which means on quiet weeks you leave when you like. It goes someway to making up for the busy weeks! Slaughters treats you like a grown-up, so as long as you're getting the work done, no-one's going to be commenting on your hours." -- Mid-level solicitor
• "Long hours are the nature of our job. Sometimes I've had 13 billed hours a day for months. Other times, maybe 20 billed hours a week. We can’t buy extra holiday. By and large they’re flexible about leave. I’ve never been asked to shorten or cancel my holiday and I don’t know anyone who has had this experience. They don’t force you to work at a particular time (so long as you do the work and are available for when the client needs you)." -- Junior solicitor, Corporate

Salary

• "£61,500" -- Newly qualified solicitor
  "£62,500" -- Newly qualified solicitor
  "£68,000" -- Junior solicitor
  "£71,500" -- Junior solicitor
  "£84,000" -- Mid-level solicitor
  "£85,000" -- Mid-level solicitor
  "£92,000" -- Mid-level solicitor
  "£96,000" -- Mid-level solicitor
  "£100,000" -- Mid-level solicitor
• "Given the profitability of the firm, the remuneration could be a little more competitive. Many non-Magic Circle firms have better salary structures." -- Second year trainee
• "The amount of money we get paid for two years of education is pretty good, although they do take the proverbial pound of flesh!" -- First year trainee
• "Pay is excellent and an 8 per cent bonus was paid to all fee earners." -- First year trainee
• "Trainee pay is fair and pretty comparable to other firms. Bonuses haven't been great of late – unsurprisingly perhaps!" -- Second year trainee
• "We get paid less than other Magic Circle firms I think, but that's largely because of the bonus. And I would trade no billing targets for a bonus any day!" -- Mid-level solicitor
• "There is a sense that we are not quite competitive with the other Magic Circle law firms (and clearly a million miles from the American firms). Considering we charge premium rates, and the standard expected of us is so high, this is a bit disappointing." -- Newly qualified solicitor
• "I think we need a larger bonus. It seems possible to get 20% at other firms reasonably easily whereas here it is a set rate across the firm with no way to increase it, which is somewhat demotivating. Base salary looks a lot but once you are married/having children it doesn't go very far (particularly living in/near London). We also seem to get paid slightly less than contemporaries at other comparable firms, which is frustrating. Particularly frustrating when you see PEP on the rise but I guess that is the business model." -- Mid-level solicitor, Property

• "Salaries here are competitive for trainees. The associate salary bands are on the low side given the firm's revenues, the complexity of the work and the hours which associates frequently work. This is presumably seen as a trade-off for excellent brand name and a slightly reduced partnership track." -- First year trainee
• "The trainees' salaries are competitive. We also get a bonus which is a percentage of your salary, no matter how many hours of work you put in. This is very good as most firms do not give bonuses to trainees, and the ones that do base it on working time." -- Second year trainee
• "It's very good, especially considering the economic climate and the cuts experienced in other firms." -- Second year trainee
• "Trainee salaries are pretty much market rate but we get bonuses, which is better than other firms." -- Second year trainee
• "The pay is behind where it should be considering the hours worked and the remuneration offered by the firm's competitors." -- Junior solicitor, Banking
• "I am happy with my salary – it is a lot of money to earn at the beginning of my career. However, I am aware that a lot of other firms of a similar size/reputation do pay a lot more. On the whole, paying everyone the same % of their salary as a bonus is fair, but it can feel frustrating if you have recently been working particularly long hours." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Corporate
• "Bonuses are the same % of salary for all legal staff and salaries are banded but the basis upon which staff are differentiated between bands is not clear." -- Mid-level solicitor, Litigation
• "Doesn’t match the US firms so we've lost a number of people to them (work the same hours for double our pay!). We don’t have much visibility on how they calculate the bonus! It's given as a percentage of your salary which is the same % across the firm. The % varies according to the profits of the firm that year (presumably!)." -- Junior solicitor, Corporate

Perks

• "Lots of tickets to sports events, etc. get offered round by the partners and there are plenty of free meals and other things for those willing to help with recruitment events." -- First year trainee
• "Not many perks. Trainees don't get corporate hospitality so much here compared with friends at other firms. There are no moving days or perks like that. There are a fair few Arsenal tickets floating round though! If you go on an overseas secondment, you get quite a good per diem and all your bills paid and a flat provided. You don't get so many relocation days as elsewhere though." -- Second year trainee
• "There are excellent private views at the Royal Academy and art cards, which you can borrow to get into art galleries for free at the weekend. The firm supports the Barbican, which means a great discount for events and in their restaurants and bars." -- First year trainee
• "Bargain Virgin Active membership, the ‘elephant parade’ elephant, good food, and White Cross Street market outside the back door." -- First year trainee
• "My favourite is the extremely discounted gym membership at a great gym (Virgin Active)." -- Newly qualified solicitor
• "Free Royal Academy tickets, Barbican discounts." -- Mid-level solicitor, Litigation
• "The firm gets a lot of gallery and football tickets, and reduced prices on a lot of shows, the opera, the ballet, etc." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Corporate

• "Annual dinner dance. Very generous Christmas parties." -- Second year trainee
• "Slaughter and May don't really do perks. All we really get is subsidised gym membership and a loan when you start." -- Second year trainee
• "Best perks are the free dinners, closing lunches, and drinks events. Also, there is a good concierge service that offers discounts." -- First year trainee
• "Lots of free tickets to things are always knocking around, for example lots of partners hold season tickets for various football clubs and will offer tickets to the department/firm generally if they can't go, or will just give them to their trainee, or will take their trainee from time to time. There are lots of discounted corporate offers for the ballet and opera, etc. Very cheap membership to the Virgin Active gym across the road, taxis home after 9pm and a very good restaurant open until 10pm every night." -- Second year trainee
• "We have interesting (non-law!) speakers come into the firm to speak to us, and the arts opportunities are really good. And because we work for some good football teams, tickets to matches are often available." -- Mid-level solicitor
• "Nothing I can think of. Oh yes, free dinner if you are working after 7 and taxi home after 9." -- Mid-level solicitor, Property
• "I think the pension scheme is quite good – I believe it is slightly better than some other big firms' schemes." -- Newly qualified solicitor

Bonus

• "3% – 5%." -- Mid-level solicitor
  "Discretionary up to 15%." -- Junior solicitor
  "8% (last year; discretionary)." -- Junior solicitor
  "8%." -- Mid-level solicitor
  "£4,000" -- Newly qualified solicitor
  "£4,500" -- Newly qualified solicitor
  "£5,440" -- Junior solicitor
  "£6,760" -- Mid-level solicitor
  "£8,000" -- Mid-level solicitor

Fun Facts

• "Chris Saul, the senior partner, is a huge fan of the Black Eyed Peas." -- First year trainee
• "One of the most senior partners is a massive music fan and probably knows more about new bands than I do." -- First year trainee
• "The partners here all have silver napkin-rings with their names on them." -- First year trainee
• "It's all about the detail. You will worry about everything even if you thought you were not a worrier..." -- Mid-level solicitor, Property

• "At 3am, if you go and ask client reception really, really nicely, they will give you bags of jelly babies." -- Second year trainee
• "I've learnt proper lift etiquette." -- Second year trainee
• "They do accept people who didn't get 1sts – I'm a prime example!" -- Mid-level solicitor
• "One of our partners has the middle name ‘Peregrine’." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Corporate

Pluses

• "People, work culture, office facilities, benefits, and working on the top, most newsworthy commercial transactions. This firm really is at the cutting edge of English commercial law – we seem to have more FTSE 100 clients than any other firm in the City." -- First year trainee
• "The immediate contact with partners and the high profile work. The reputation of the firm helps open up opportunities later in your career. The high expectations mean you develop quickly." -- First year trainee
• "Quality of work and the dedication of everyone I work with." -- First year trainee
• "Work, training, access to partners and professionalism." -- Second year trainee
• "Open door policy. Good work. Clever colleagues." -- Mid-level solicitor
• "Prestige and, in terms of work quality, feel genuinely as though we are at the top of the market. Incredibly intelligent and disciplined people (partners, associates, trainees, secretaries and services staff)." -- Newly qualified solicitor
• "Great people and standards of excellence." -- Junior solicitor, Corporate
• "I like my job." -- Junior solicitor

• "Reputation and no billable hours targets." -- First year trainee
• "Great training, excellent informal training from supervisors and associates. The prestige of working for such a brilliant firm." -- First year trainee
• "Future prospects." -- First year trainee
• "The name, the CV points, the amazing brains, the facilities, the clients and the quality and size of the deals." -- Newly qualified solicitor
• "The people, high degree of responsibility from the beginning, and the big deals that get newspaper headlines." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Corporate
• "Partners are outstandingly good at what they do. Work is generally of a very high quality. Lots of responsibility early on. Everyone you work with is intelligent and motivated. 24 hour support (secretarial, food, taxis, etc.). The office." -- Mid-level solicitor, Property
• "Nice offices. Decent pay for a UK firm at junior levels. Good name on the CV." -- Mid-level solicitor, Litigation
• "The pay, the quality of work, the intelligence of my colleagues, and the name on the CV." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Banking

Minuses

• "The hours. The lack of direct input and feedback from supervisors and more senior colleagues." -- Second year trainee
• "Occasionally the hours, inconsistency of quality of work, high attrition rate of associates." -- First year trainee
• "They should lighten up a bit sometimes!" -- Second year trainee
• "The atmosphere here can sometimes be quite negative. Decision-making is rarely transparent and that combined with the hours lots of people work seems to have created a cynicism which can be a bit disheartening at times." -- First year trainee
• "The hierarchy, the occasional long hours, and the relatively low bonus." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Banking
• "Unpredictability of client demands." -- Junior solicitor, Corporate
• "Opaque structure, and rigidity of the ‘up or out’ policy." -- Mid-level solicitor
• "Long long hours." -- Mid-level solicitor
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• "The pressure to always get things perfect." -- First year trainee
• "The occasional grind which comes with large corporate and financial transactions." -- First year trainee
• "Expectations are sky high – every day is difficult." -- Second year trainee
• "Sometimes too much responsibility. Very small teams means you work more than counterparts at other firms on same deals (in some circumstances). Lack of a meaningful bonus means you always feel you have no money..!" -- Mid-level solicitor, Property
• "The lack of transparency. The lack of social skills." -- Mid-level solicitor, Litigation
• "Long hours and demanding expectations." -- Newly qualified solicitor
• "Frustrating management procedures mean one is often in the dark, and projects are subject to whims of partners (genuine partnership = lack of clarity as to decision making, right people to approach for projects, etc.)." -- Senior solicitor
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