London In-house Lawyer Salaries 2026
This guide sets out typical gross annual base salaries for full-time in-house lawyers in London in 2026, from newly qualified to Head of Legal and General Counsel. It is aimed at employers setting a budget and lawyers benchmarking their pay.
| PQE Level | Year Qualified | Lowest | Most Common Range | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NQ | 2026 | 60,000 | 67,000 – 77,000 | 84,000 |
| 1 year | 2025 | 63,000 | 70,000 – 81,000 | 91,000 |
| 2 years | 2024 | 68,000 | 76,000 – 87,000 | 98,000 |
| 3 years | 2023 | 73,000 | 81,000 – 92,000 | 106,000 |
| 4 years | 2022 | 78,000 | 87,000 – 101,000 | 115,000 |
| 5 years | 2021 | 84,000 | 93,000 – 110,000 | 126,000 |
| 6 years | 2020 | 90,000 | 100,000 – 120,000 | 138,000 |
| 7 years | 2019 | 96,000 | 107,000 – 132,000 | 154,000 |
| 8 years | 2018 | 104,000 | 115,000 – 144,000 | 167,000 |
| 9 years | 2017 | 110,000 | 122,000 – 152,000 | 175,000 |
| 10+ years | 2016 | 116,000 | 129,000 – 161,000 | 196,000 |
| Head of Legal | 128,000 | 142,000 – 189,000 | 210,000 |
If you are looking for salary information elsewhere in the UK please refer to the UK Regional In-house Lawyer Salary information.
All salary rates are in GBP and refer to gross annual basic salaries for full-time positions. The figures in the ‘Highest’ column represent premium rates for outstanding candidates with proven track records in their current roles and/or specialist expertise in their chosen field, or where some exceptional circumstances apply.
General Counsel Salaries (London)
| Company Type | Base Range | Bonus Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start/Scale-up | 145,000 – 190,000 | 20-40% |
| Private Equity Backed | 160,000 – 240,000 | 20-50% |
| Overseas Listed | 180,000 – 230,000 | 25-50% |
| FTSE 350 | 200,000 – 400,000 | 30-60% |
| AIM | 190,000 – 250,000 | 25-50% |
View the corresponding General Counsel Salaries in the UK Regions.
Typical Benefits Package for In-House Legal Professionals in the UK
Core Benefits (Standard across most organisations)
- 25-30 days annual leave (with 25 days being most common starting point)
- Performance-related bonus (typically 10-50% of base salary depending on seniority/grade, company performance and merit)
- Company pension scheme (3-14% employer contribution, averaging 8%)
- Private medical insurance (extending to family in 40% of cases)
- Life assurance (typically 3-4 times annual salary)
Enhanced Benefits (commonly provided)
- Flexible/hybrid working arrangements (2-3 days per week most common)
- Car allowance or company vehicle (£4,000-£12,000 annually)
- Critical illness cover
- Enhanced parental leave policies
- Income protection/sick pay above statutory minimum
- Professional development and training support
Premium Benefits (Senior roles and larger organisations)
- Share incentive schemes
- Executive health screening programmes
- On-site or subsidised parking
- Subsidised gym membership or wellness programmes
- Childcare support
- Flexible benefits packages allowing personalisation
Working Arrangements
- Fully remote working: 10% of roles
- Hybrid working (2-3 days office): 70% of roles
- Office-based (4-5 days): 15% of roles
- Other or flexible: 5% of roles.
- Core hours flexibility increasingly standard
Our London in-house lawyer salaries guidance is based on our specialist UK market knowledge including the base salaries Florit Legal has seen in-house legal appointments in the capital during 2025–26, and the figures were last reviewed in October 2026. Typical market ranges reflect base salaries only and should be considered alongside specific role requirements, candidate experience and other organisational factors. Should you wish to have a private and confidential discussion on salaries, packages and market conditions in respect of a hiring project please arrange a discovery call. If you are looking for guidance as a candidate, start that process here.
