Criminal Law Solicitor Salary in Lancashire 2026
Salary benchmarks for criminal law solicitors in Lancashire, from newly qualified (NQ) through to 8+ PQE, broken down by firm size. Includes paralegal, legal secretary and fee earner ranges. Data is based on market benchmarking across 47 regulated firms in the area.
View Criminal Law firms and jobs in Lancashire→Qualified Solicitor Salaries
Annual salary ranges for criminal law solicitors in Lancashire by experience level and firm type. Mid-point figures shown; hover or expand for full range.
| Experience | High Street / Boutique | Regional / Mid-size | City / National | In-house |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newly qualified (0-1 PQE) | £35,000 £28,000–£42,000 | £37,500 £31,500–£45,500 | £54,000 £43,500–£68,000 | £44,500 £37,500–£54,500 |
| 2-3 PQE | £40,500 £32,000–£48,500 | £44,000 £36,000–£52,500 | £61,000 £49,000–£78,500 | £51,000 £42,500–£63,000 |
| 4-5 PQE | £47,000 £37,000–£56,500 | £51,000 £41,500–£61,000 | £71,500 £56,000–£94,000 | £59,500 £47,500–£75,000 |
| 6-8 PQE | £55,500 £42,000–£69,000 | £59,500 £47,000–£73,500 | £85,500 £65,500–£113,500 | £70,000 £54,500–£89,500 |
| 8+ PQE | £62,500 £48,500–£82,000 | £70,500 £54,500–£92,500 | £103,000 £76,500–£139,500 | £83,500 £64,000–£110,500 |
Figures are regional estimates for guidance only. Actual salaries vary by firm, candidate profile, and negotiation.
Salary by Firm Size
How criminal law solicitor pay varies across firm types in Lancashire. NQ salaries shown; the premium for larger firms widens with seniority.
High Street / Boutique
£35,000
NQ (typical)
Range: £28,000–£42,000
8+ PQE: up to £82,000
Regional / Mid-size
£37,500
NQ (typical)
Range: £31,500–£45,500
8+ PQE: up to £92,500
City / National
£54,000
NQ (typical)
Range: £43,500–£68,000
8+ PQE: up to £139,500
In-house
£44,500
NQ (typical)
Range: £37,500–£54,500
8+ PQE: up to £110,500
Non-qualified Roles
Salary benchmarks for support and fee-earning roles in Lancashire criminal law teams. Figures use a mid-size firm baseline.
Paralegal
| Experience | High Street / Boutique | Regional / Mid-size | City / National | In-house |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | £25,000 £23,500–£26,500 | £26,000 £24,500–£28,500 | £28,500 £26,000–£32,000 | £27,000 £25,000–£30,500 |
| 1-3 years | £26,000 £24,500–£28,500 | £28,000 £26,000–£31,500 | £31,500 £28,500–£36,500 | £29,500 £26,500–£33,000 |
| 3-5 years | £28,000 £26,000–£31,000 | £30,500 £27,500–£34,000 | £35,000 £31,000–£40,500 | £32,000 £28,500–£37,000 |
| 5+ years | £30,500 £27,500–£34,000 | £33,000 £29,500–£38,500 | £38,500 £33,500–£46,000 | £36,000 £31,500–£42,500 |
Legal Secretary / PA
| Experience | High Street / Boutique | Regional / Mid-size | City / National | In-house |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | £24,500 £23,500–£26,000 | £25,000 £23,500–£26,500 | £28,000 £26,000–£31,500 | £26,000 £24,500–£28,500 |
| 1-3 years | £25,000 £24,000–£26,500 | £26,000 £24,500–£28,500 | £30,500 £27,500–£34,500 | £28,000 £26,000–£31,500 |
| 3-5 years | £25,500 £24,500–£27,000 | £28,000 £26,000–£30,500 | £33,000 £29,500–£37,500 | £30,500 £27,500–£34,000 |
| 5+ years | £27,000 £25,000–£30,500 | £30,000 £27,000–£34,000 | £37,000 £32,000–£43,000 | £33,000 £29,500–£38,500 |
Fee Earner / Legal Executive
| Experience | High Street / Boutique | Regional / Mid-size | City / National | In-house |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | £24,500 £23,500–£26,000 | £26,000 £23,500–£29,000 | £32,500 £29,000–£37,500 | £30,000 £26,500–£34,000 |
| 1-3 years | £25,000 £24,000–£28,000 | £28,000 £25,000–£31,500 | £36,500 £32,000–£42,500 | £33,000 £29,000–£38,500 |
| 3-5 years | £28,000 £25,000–£31,500 | £31,500 £27,500–£36,000 | £41,500 £35,000–£49,500 | £36,500 £31,500–£43,500 |
| 5+ years | £31,500 £27,500–£37,000 | £35,000 £29,500–£43,000 | £47,000 £39,000–£57,500 | £41,500 £35,000–£51,000 |
Criminal Law Firms in Lancashire
Regulated criminal law firms in Lancashire on the SRA register. Salaries above reflect the market across these firms.
A & M Solicitors Limited
Preston
Adkirk Law Limited
Also known as Adkirk Law Part of Lawyers Inc
Preston
Ashworth Motoring Law Limited
Darwen
Backhouse Jones Limited
Clitheroe
Bank View Solicitors Limited
Also known as Bank View Advocacy
Blackburn
Barrett Nelligan Solicitors Limited
Blackpool
Blackhurst Budd Limited
Blackpool
Brighouse Wolff
Ormskirk
Burton Copeland (manchester) Limited
Preston
Cartwright King Solicitors Ltd
Blackburn
Clarkson Hirst Solicitors Limited
Blackpool
Cobains Solicitors Limited
Blackpool
Cooper Hall Solicitors Limited
Blackburn
Denning Law Limited
Nelson
Dn Law Limited
Also known as David Norman Solicitors (trading Name for Davd Norman Solicitors Limited)
Nelson
Showing 15 of 47 firms. See all firms in Lancashire
Check your own salary
Use LawBoard's free salary benchmark to get a personalised benchmark for your role, experience level, and location. Create a profile to save your result and track target firms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for a newly qualified criminal law solicitor in Lancashire?
Newly qualified criminal law solicitors in Lancashire typically earn between £28,000 and £68,000 depending on firm size, with boutique and high street firms around £35,000, mid-size firms around £37,500 and City or national firms around £54,000.
What does a criminal law solicitor earn at 4 to 5 PQE in Lancashire?
At 4 to 5 PQE, criminal law solicitors in Lancashire typically earn between £37,000 and £94,000 depending on firm size, with boutique firms around £47,000, mid-size around £51,000 and City or national firms around £71,500.
How does firm size affect criminal law solicitor salaries in Lancashire?
Firm size has a significant impact on salary. At NQ level in Lancashire, a high street or boutique firm typically pays around £35,000, while a City or national firm may pay £54,000 or more. The premium widens at senior levels, where large firms can pay substantially above regional norms.
What is the salary for a paralegal in Lancashire in 2026?
Entry-level paralegals in Lancashire typically earn between £23,500 and £28,500 depending on firm size, with boutique firms around £25,000 and mid-size firms around £26,000. With 5 or more years of experience, the range rises to £27,500 to £38,500, with boutique firms around £30,500 and mid-size around £33,000, based on 2026 benchmarking data.
Where does LawBoard salary data come from?
LawBoard salary benchmarks are derived from market data covering law firms registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Figures are adjusted for region and practice area using established market multipliers. They represent typical ranges for guidance only and are updated periodically.
Related Pages
Firm data sourced from the Solicitors Regulation Authority register. Salary benchmarks are regional estimates for guidance only and are not specific to any individual firm. Recruitment support available via RecQuest.