Cleary lifts London NQ pay to £172k, sweetens vacation scheme cash

Cleary has raised pay for newly qualified lawyers in London and introduced extra cash for vacation scheme students.

The US firm has increased NQ salaries to £172,000, up from £164,500. The new rate puts Cleary close to rivals including Sidley Austin, Goodwin and King & Spalding, which pay £175,000.

Quinn Emanuel remains at the top end of the London market, offering NQs £189,000.

Cleary has also introduced a £500 allowance for all vacation scheme participants to help with living costs. The payment comes on top of the £750 a week students already receive during the two-week scheme.

The firm said the new allowance was part of its commitment to making the scheme accessible to candidates from different backgrounds.

Vacation scheme route

Cleary runs three vacation schemes each year and recruits its trainees exclusively through them.

Applications for its winter scheme are now open, while applications for spring and summer placements will remain open until the end of January 2027.

The firm takes around 16 trainees a year in London.