Salary guide · Legal
Legal: what the jobs pay
14 jobs, lowest paid first. Yearly ranges seen in real UK adverts in 2026, and the hourly rate on a 40 hour week.
| Job | A year | An hour, 40 hour week | Tickets or qualifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barristers' clerk | £24,800 to £40,000 | about £11.92 to £19.23 | None to start, IBC qualification useful |
| Legal secretary | £24,800 to £32,000 | about £11.92 to £15.38 | Audio typing, legal terminology |
| Paralegal | £24,800 to £32,000 | about £11.92 to £15.38 | Law degree or CILEx helps |
| Will writer | £24,800 to £35,000 | about £11.92 to £16.83 | None generally, SWW membership useful |
| Legal cashier | £25,000 to £32,000 | about £12.02 to £15.38 | ILFM certificate useful |
| Immigration adviser | £26,000 to £38,000 | about £12.50 to £18.27 | IAA registration or SRA regulated |
| Trainee solicitor | £26,000 to £35,000 | about £12.50 to £16.83 | Law degree or SQE route, SRA |
| Costs draftsman | £30,000 to £45,000 | about £14.42 to £21.63 | ACL or CLSB route for costs lawyer |
| Chartered legal executive | £32,000 to £45,000 | about £15.38 to £21.63 | CILEX qualification |
| Court legal adviser | £35,000 to £45,000 | about £16.83 to £21.63 | Qualified solicitor or barrister |
| Barrister | £40,000 to £150,000 | about £19.23 to £72.12 | Bar course and pupillage |
| Data protection officer | £40,000 to £60,000 | about £19.23 to £28.85 | None generally, data protection practitioner certificate useful |
| Solicitor | £40,000 to £80,000 | about £19.23 to £38.46 | Qualified through the SQE or LPC and registered with the SRA |
| Company secretary | £45,000 to £70,000 | about £21.63 to £33.65 | CGI qualification useful |
Advertised ranges, not a survey of take home pay, and the same job pays differently by region. The National Living Wage for anybody 21 and over is £12.71 an hour. Wrong for your area? Tell us.