London: Junior lawyers at City firms report 12-hour days

A survey of more than 2,000 trainees and junior lawyers by Legal Cheek found the longest hours at the London offices of top US firms, which are known for their demanding schedules. Fourteen firms reported average finishing times of 9pm or later.

Milbank topped the list, with juniors often working around 13 hours a day and leaving after 10pm. Among English firms, Magic Circle giants Linklaters and Clifford Chance featured near the top, with juniors averaging more than 11 hours and 40 minutes daily.

“We are constantly on call and we cannot leave our phones at home for more than 20 minutes,” one junior lawyer told researchers.

Despite the hours, most newly qualified solicitors (NQs) at these firms are paid upwards of £100,000, with top English firms offering as much as £150,000. The highest City salaries currently stand at £180,000, following pay rises last year by US firms Gibson Dunn and Quinn Emanuel.

The figures reflect a years-long pay war driven by US firms investing heavily in London. But last month Addleshaw Goddard broke ranks, freezing NQ salaries at £100,000 and diverting £1m to its bonus pool.

The pressures reflect wider inequalities in the profession: partners’ earnings have risen more than twice as fast as the rest of the UK workforce over the past five years.