<P> British firms typically practise lockstep compensation . In London, entry - level solicitor salaries (NQ - Newly Qualified) are typically: (i) £ 38,000 - 54,500 at niche and boutique firms (ii) £ 61,000 - 65,500 at national firms (iii) £ 65,000 - 105,000 at international firms . </P> <P> A senior associate with six years' experience may make £ 68,000 - 120,000 at a national firm or upwards of £ 160,000 at a global firm . Salary levels are lower in areas outside London . </P> <P> Australia has regional variation in lawyer salaries, with the highest salary levels in Sydney, followed by Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, then Adelaide . Salaries vary between top - tier, mid-size, and small firms . At top - tier firms in Sydney, salaries of lawyers who have been admitted to practice range from $75,000 to $92,000 and partners make on average $1,215,000 . In Sydney, mid-tier starting salaries for admitted lawyers range from between $65,000 and $82,000 Most Australian lawyers are not admitted until 10 months into their time at their law firm, since the initial period involves supervised legal training before admission is granted . </P> <P> Typically in Australian firms lawyers are in a lock - step system for the first two years of practice, following which pay increases are dependent on performance assessed, in large measure, by satisfaction of billable hour targets . </P>

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