In our Ask a Recruiter feature, our specialist recruitment team tackles key topics around attraction, recruitment and retention.
This month, Associate Consultant Michaela Baddeley answers a question from a law firm looking to ensure their pay and benefits remain competitive as they continue to grow.
“We want to make sure that the salaries and benefits we offer are competitive, especially as we continue to grow and hire across several practice areas. What’s the best way to benchmark our offering to make sure we’re attracting and retaining the right legal talent?”
Getting your pay and benefits package right is more important than ever. Not only does it affect your ability to attract the right lawyers, but it plays a huge role in keeping your current team engaged and loyal. That said, many firms still struggle to know where they stand in the market—and that’s where accurate benchmarking comes in.
Here’s how to get started:
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Look at What the Market’s Doing
It’s essential to have a clear view of what similar firms are offering, both in your region and within your specialism. Pay can vary significantly depending on PQE level, location, and practice area—so national averages rarely tell the full story.
That’s why each year we publish Realm’s Salary Guides, offering detailed, practice area-specific insights across private client, family, litigation, personal injury, and commercial disciplines. The guides include salary ranges segmented by PQE and region, as well as information on benefits and broader market trends.
Our 2025 Salary Guides will be released this May and will give you a clear and up-to-date view of what lawyers in your area of the market expect—and what your competitors are offering.
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Go Beyond Salary
It’s not just about pay. More lawyers—especially mid-career and senior professionals—are looking at the full package:
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Holiday allowance and bonus schemes
- Wellbeing and mental health support
- Clear paths to progression
- Learning and development opportunities
Benchmarking your benefits offering alongside salary is key to staying competitive. Many firms we speak to find that even small tweaks—like offering extra annual leave, a clearer route to promotion, or regular check-ins on career goals—can make a big difference to retention and appeal.
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Talk to Your Team
A quick, anonymous survey can help you understand how your existing team feels about their current package. What do they value most? What would they like to see improved? You might find that expectations around flexibility or professional development matter more than a pay rise—giving you cost-effective ways to stay competitive.
Want a clearer picture of where your firm stands?
Realm’s 2025 Salary Guides [LINK TO LANDING PAGE] are out now and packed with the latest data on salaries, benefits, and market expectations across key practice areas and regions.
Download your guide today or get in touch with your Realm consultant to talk through how your firm’s offering stacks up—and how you can stay competitive in today’s legal talent market.
