How To Talk About Salary Without Awkwardness
Talking about salary shouldn’t feel awkward, but in the legal profession, it often does.
The truth is: avoiding it doesn’t make you “professional”. It just leaves you under-informed, under-paid, or walking into the wrong role.
Here’s how to handle salary conversations with confidence (without sounding pushy):
1) Do your homework first
Before you speak to anyone, get a feel for the market for your level, location and practice area. Salary varies wildly depending on firm, location, caseload, supervision, and whether you’re expected to bring work in.
2) Lead with value, not entitlement
Try:
“I’m looking for roles in the region of £X–£Y, based on my experience handling [type of work/caseload], and what I’m seeing in the market.”
It’s calm, factual, and hard to argue with.
3) Use a range – and make it realistic
A range gives room to negotiate and stops you boxing yourself in. Make sure it’s one you’d genuinely accept.
4) Ask the right questions (so you compare properly)
Salary is only part of it. Also ask:
- Bonus (if any) and how it’s calculated
- Targets (billing and/or fees)
- Supervision/support and admin help
- Hybrid/flexibility
- Holidays, pension and other benefits
A “higher salary” can quickly become poor value if the workload is unrealistic.
5) Get comfortable with a pause
Once you’ve stated your range, stop talking. Silence isn’t rude – it’s confident.
If you’re a Solicitor and you’re unsure what you’re worth right now, I’m happy to have a confidential chat and give you a realistic benchmark based on the current market.
Claire Cox is a qualified, non-practising Solicitor, with a comprehensive understanding of the legal profession and a proven track record of delivering results with almost 25 years legal recruitment experience.
Visit Bailey Hunter or contact Claire Cox for a confidential chat:
Tel: 0113 3185293 Mob: 07786 224036