This year's trainee retention and salary increases

We can confirm that 74% of our trainees for the class of 2019 were offered a position to stay on at the firm, with 93% of those trainees formally accepting.

2021 Breakdown

19 in total for this qualifying cohort
15 went through this round's qualification process
15 offers were made
14 offers were accepted – staying on as NQs

Graduate recruitment partner, Lerika Joubert, said: "The trainee 'class of 2019' is one of our latest success stories. They have shown considerable commitment and resilience, through a very uncertain and challenging period, and have contributed significantly to the continued growth of our firm. We would like to extend our congratulations to everyone on their qualification. I'm pleased that so many have joined us as newly qualified solicitors and look forward to seeing their legal careers flourish at Taylor Wessing."

Graduate recruitment partner, Matthew Royle, continued: "Our trainees have the opportunity to start their careers working with some of the world's most exciting clients on high quality, award-winning matters with a clear sector focus. We are also delighted to have received positive recognition this year on our trainee development programme, wellbeing initiatives, and the support we provide in our workplace."

We are also pleased to announce an increase in trainee and NQ salaries. The new trainee salaries are £45,000 and £49,000 for first- and second-year trainees respectively. The NQ salary is now £81,000.  

Talent Director, Wendy Tomlinson, commented: "We have many talented individuals who have contributed to the firm's record growth this year. We are strongly committed to recognising our people and are pleased to invest in our salaries this year based on the progress against our strategy and profitability we've achieved."

Notes to editors

Taylor Wessing is a global law firm that serves the world’s most innovative people and businesses. We have over 400 partners and 1100 lawyers spanning 32 offices in 19 jurisdictions around the world. We work with clients in the most dynamic industries helping them succeed by thinking innovatively about their business issues. Our focus on the industries of tomorrow has enabled us to develop market-leading expertise in: Technology, Media and Communications, Life Sciences, Private Wealth, and Real Estate and Energy.

We are a UK top 20 law firm, based on revenue.

We have recently released our 2020/21 financial results which showed our best performance to date. We have seen a 12% increase in UK revenue to £175.5 million and a 23% increase in UK profit to £71 million. We've also recorded our highest ever global revenue, totalling £371.3 million. Read press statement.

• We announced a new hybrid way of working for our people in November 2020.
• In March 2021, we took steps to recognise the contribution of our people in light of encouraging levels of activity as the firm approached the end of its financial year.
• The firm also announced making additional investments in its discretionary bonus scheme, significantly increasing its annual bonus pot to make discretionary awards reflecting individual contribution during the year and particularly to recognise highest performers.
• In May 2021 a special 5% bonus was announced for our people to recognise an extraordinary collective effort during the past year. This bonus was in addition to firm's usual annual performance-related bonuses and paid to everyone employed by the firm, in the practices and in business services, on both permanent and fixed-term contracts. 
• As an additional measure, the firm announced a 'Taylor Wessing holiday' on 28 May, creating a four-day weekend for everyone in the firm.

Taylor Wessing is the trading name used by a number of law firms providing professional services to clients around the world and by other related entities. Each law firm is a separate and independent legal entity or partnership and a member of or affiliated to a member of Taylor Wessing Verein. Taylor Wessing Verein does not itself provide any legal or other services to clients. Further information can be found on our regulatory page.