Criminal Law Solicitor Salary in Nottinghamshire 2026
Salary benchmarks for criminal law solicitors in Nottinghamshire, 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 37 regulated firms in the area.
View Criminal Law firms and jobs in Nottinghamshire→Qualified Solicitor Salaries
Annual salary ranges for criminal law solicitors in Nottinghamshire 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 | £37,000 £31,000–£45,000 | £53,500 £43,000–£67,500 | £44,000 £37,000–£54,000 |
| 2-3 PQE | £40,000 £31,500–£48,000 | £43,500 £35,500–£52,000 | £60,500 £48,500–£77,500 | £50,500 £42,000–£62,500 |
| 4-5 PQE | £46,500 £36,500–£56,000 | £50,500 £41,000–£60,500 | £70,500 £55,000–£93,000 | £59,000 £47,000–£74,000 |
| 6-8 PQE | £55,000 £42,000–£68,000 | £59,000 £46,500–£72,500 | £84,500 £64,500–£112,000 | £69,000 £54,000–£88,500 |
| 8+ PQE | £62,000 £48,000–£81,000 | £69,500 £54,000–£91,500 | £101,500 £76,000–£138,000 | £82,500 £63,000–£109,500 |
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 Nottinghamshire. 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 £81,000
Regional / Mid-size
£37,000
NQ (typical)
Range: £31,000–£45,000
8+ PQE: up to £91,500
City / National
£53,500
NQ (typical)
Range: £43,000–£67,500
8+ PQE: up to £138,000
In-house
£44,000
NQ (typical)
Range: £37,000–£54,000
8+ PQE: up to £109,500
Non-qualified Roles
Salary benchmarks for support and fee-earning roles in Nottinghamshire 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 | £24,500 £23,000–£26,500 | £26,000 £24,000–£28,000 | £28,000 £26,000–£32,000 | £27,000 £24,500–£30,000 |
| 1-3 years | £26,000 £24,000–£28,000 | £28,000 £25,500–£31,000 | £31,500 £28,000–£36,000 | £29,000 £26,500–£33,000 |
| 3-5 years | £28,000 £25,500–£30,500 | £30,000 £27,500–£33,500 | £34,500 £30,500–£40,000 | £32,000 £28,000–£36,500 |
| 5+ years | £30,000 £27,500–£33,500 | £33,000 £29,000–£38,000 | £38,000 £33,000–£45,500 | £35,500 £31,000–£42,000 |
Legal Secretary / PA
| Experience | High Street / Boutique | Regional / Mid-size | City / National | In-house |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | £23,500 £22,500–£25,000 | £24,500 £23,000–£26,500 | £28,000 £25,500–£31,000 | £26,000 £24,000–£28,000 |
| 1-3 years | £24,000 £23,000–£25,500 | £26,000 £24,000–£28,000 | £30,000 £27,500–£34,000 | £28,000 £25,500–£31,000 |
| 3-5 years | £25,000 £23,500–£27,000 | £28,000 £25,500–£30,000 | £33,000 £29,000–£37,500 | £30,000 £27,500–£33,500 |
| 5+ years | £27,000 £24,500–£30,000 | £29,500 £27,000–£33,500 | £36,500 £32,000–£43,000 | £33,000 £29,000–£38,000 |
Fee Earner / Legal Executive
| Experience | High Street / Boutique | Regional / Mid-size | City / National | In-house |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | £23,500 £22,500–£25,500 | £25,500 £23,000–£28,500 | £32,500 £28,500–£37,000 | £29,500 £26,000–£33,500 |
| 1-3 years | £25,000 £23,000–£27,500 | £28,000 £25,000–£31,000 | £36,000 £31,500–£42,000 | £33,000 £28,500–£38,000 |
| 3-5 years | £28,000 £25,000–£31,000 | £31,000 £27,000–£35,500 | £41,000 £34,500–£48,500 | £36,000 £31,000–£43,000 |
| 5+ years | £31,000 £27,000–£36,500 | £35,000 £29,500–£42,500 | £46,500 £39,000–£57,000 | £41,000 £34,500–£50,500 |
Criminal Law Firms in Nottinghamshire
Regulated criminal law firms in Nottinghamshire on the SRA register. Salaries above reflect the market across these firms.
A D Wesley Limited
Nottingham
A W Fyson Limited
Nottingham
Abr Solicitors Limited
Also known as Clarion Advocates
Nottingham
Asr Advantage Law Limited
Also known as Advantage Law Incorporating David Bendell & Co, Advantage Law Incorporating Brown & Corbishley
Nottingham
Bhandal Law Limited
Nottingham
Bhatia Best Limited
Nottingham
Bird & Co Solicitors LLP
Also known as Conspiracy Solicitor, Armed Forces Lawyers, A1 Road Traffic Lawyers
Newark
Bridgford Law Limited
Also known as Pragma Law, Moore Motoring Law
Nottingham
Carringtons Law Limited
Nottingham
Cartwright King Solicitors Ltd
Nottingham
Elliot Mather LLP
Mansfield
Forrest Williams Legal Ltd
Also known as Motoring Lawyers Online, Drug Driving Solicitors, Criminal Defence Solicitors, Drink Drive Solicitors
Mansfield
Foys Solicitors
Also known as Foys Solicitors Incorporating Dean Thomas
Worksop
Gregsons
Nottingham
Harrop White Vallance & Dawson
Mansfield
Showing 15 of 37 firms. See all firms in Nottinghamshire
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for a newly qualified criminal law solicitor in Nottinghamshire?
Newly qualified criminal law solicitors in Nottinghamshire typically earn between £28,000 and £45,000 depending on firm size, with boutique and high street firms around £35,000 and mid-size firms around £37,000.
What does a criminal law solicitor earn at 4 to 5 PQE in Nottinghamshire?
At 4 to 5 PQE, criminal law solicitors in Nottinghamshire typically earn between £36,500 and £60,500 depending on firm size, with boutique firms around £46,500 and mid-size around £50,500.
How does firm size affect criminal law solicitor salaries in Nottinghamshire?
Firm size has a significant impact on salary. At NQ level in Nottinghamshire, a high street or boutique firm typically pays around £35,000, while a City or national firm may pay £53,500 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 Nottinghamshire in 2026?
Entry-level paralegals in Nottinghamshire typically earn between £23,000 and £28,000 depending on firm size, with boutique firms around £24,500 and mid-size firms around £26,000. With 5 or more years of experience, the range rises to £27,500 to £38,000, with boutique firms around £30,000 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.