Recommended pay for trainees rises as inflation pressures persist

The Law Society of Scotland has increased its recommended minimum pay rates for trainee solicitors, in recognition of persistent inflation and cost-of-living pressures.

From 1 June 2024 the recommended minimum pay for trainee solicitors in Scotland will be:

• £23,675 for first year trainees – an extra £1,125 per annum
• £27,480 for second year trainees – an extra £1,355 per annum

The recommended rates of pay remain discretionary, with employers permitted to pay trainees above or below the Law Society’s guidance provided wages are not less than the Living Wage as set by the Living Wage Foundation.

Traineeships that do not meet the minimum Living Wage requirement will not be accepted for registration by the Law Society of Scotland.

Law Society of Scotland President Sheila Webster said: “We carefully review our recommended trainee pay every year, in recognition of its importance both to trainee solicitors and their employers. They are the future of our profession and must be supported and appropriately rewarded.

“Our review considers how best to support the wider legal sector as well as trainees, balancing living costs and competitiveness in the wider employment market with the financial and wider pressures that employers must navigate.

“The increases we have approved reflect the ongoing challenges of inflation. Wages growth and cost-of-living pressures remain considerable, despite easing from last year, and we know that lower income workers are disproportionately impacted from this situation.

“Equally, we know that rates of pay must also be sustainable for the firms employing trainees, including those in areas such as legal aid that are continuing to face significant challenges. That’s why these pay rates also remain recommendations rather than mandatory.”