General Legal Services Solicitor Salary in Bedfordshire 2026
Salary benchmarks for general legal services solicitors in Bedfordshire, 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 19 regulated firms in the area.
View General Legal Services firms and jobs in Bedfordshire→Qualified Solicitor Salaries
Annual salary ranges for general legal services solicitors in Bedfordshire 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) | £45,000 £36,000–£54,000 | £48,000 £40,000–£58,000 | £62,000 £50,000–£78,000 | £52,000 £44,000–£64,000 |
| 2-3 PQE | £51,500 £41,000–£62,000 | £56,000 £46,000–£67,000 | £70,000 £56,000–£90,000 | £60,000 £50,000–£74,000 |
| 4-5 PQE | £60,000 £47,500–£72,500 | £65,000 £53,000–£78,000 | £82,000 £64,000–£108,000 | £70,000 £56,000–£88,000 |
| 6-8 PQE | £71,000 £54,000–£88,000 | £76,000 £60,000–£94,000 | £98,000 £75,000–£130,000 | £82,000 £64,000–£105,000 |
| 8+ PQE | £80,000 £62,000–£105,000 | £90,000 £70,000–£118,000 | £118,000 £88,000–£160,000 | £98,000 £75,000–£130,000 |
Figures are regional estimates for guidance only. Actual salaries vary by firm, candidate profile, and negotiation.
Salary by Firm Size
How general legal services solicitor pay varies across firm types in Bedfordshire. NQ salaries shown; the premium for larger firms widens with seniority.
High Street / Boutique
£45,000
NQ (typical)
Range: £36,000–£54,000
8+ PQE: up to £105,000
Regional / Mid-size
£48,000
NQ (typical)
Range: £40,000–£58,000
8+ PQE: up to £118,000
City / National
£62,000
NQ (typical)
Range: £50,000–£78,000
8+ PQE: up to £160,000
In-house
£52,000
NQ (typical)
Range: £44,000–£64,000
8+ PQE: up to £130,000
Non-qualified Roles
Salary benchmarks for support and fee-earning roles in Bedfordshire general legal services teams. Figures use a mid-size firm baseline.
Paralegal
| Experience | High Street / Boutique | Regional / Mid-size | City / National | In-house |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | £27,000 £25,500–£29,000 | £28,500 £26,500–£31,000 | £31,000 £28,500–£35,000 | £29,500 £27,000–£33,000 |
| 1-3 years | £28,500 £26,500–£31,000 | £30,500 £28,000–£34,000 | £34,500 £31,000–£39,500 | £32,000 £29,000–£36,000 |
| 3-5 years | £30,500 £28,000–£33,500 | £33,000 £30,000–£37,000 | £38,000 £33,500–£44,000 | £35,000 £31,000–£40,000 |
| 5+ years | £33,000 £30,000–£37,000 | £36,000 £32,000–£42,000 | £42,000 £36,500–£50,000 | £39,000 £34,000–£46,000 |
Legal Secretary / PA
| Experience | High Street / Boutique | Regional / Mid-size | City / National | In-house |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | £25,500 £24,500–£27,000 | £27,000 £25,500–£29,000 | £30,500 £28,000–£34,000 | £28,500 £26,500–£31,000 |
| 1-3 years | £26,500 £25,000–£28,000 | £28,500 £26,500–£31,000 | £33,000 £30,000–£37,500 | £30,500 £28,000–£34,000 |
| 3-5 years | £27,500 £25,500–£29,500 | £30,500 £28,000–£33,000 | £36,000 £32,000–£41,000 | £33,000 £30,000–£37,000 |
| 5+ years | £29,500 £27,000–£33,000 | £32,500 £29,500–£37,000 | £38,000 £33,500–£44,500 | £36,000 £32,000–£42,000 |
Fee Earner / Legal Executive
| Experience | High Street / Boutique | Regional / Mid-size | City / National | In-house |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | £30,000 £28,000–£33,000 | £33,000 £30,000–£37,000 | £37,500 £33,000–£43,000 | £35,000 £31,000–£40,000 |
| 1-3 years | £32,000 £29,500–£35,500 | £36,000 £32,000–£40,000 | £42,000 £36,500–£49,000 | £39,000 £34,000–£45,000 |
| 3-5 years | £36,000 £32,000–£40,000 | £40,000 £35,000–£46,000 | £47,500 £40,000–£56,500 | £43,000 £37,000–£51,000 |
| 5+ years | £40,000 £35,000–£47,000 | £45,000 £38,000–£55,000 | £54,000 £45,000–£66,000 | £49,000 £41,000–£60,000 |
General Legal Services Firms in Bedfordshire
Regulated general legal services firms in Bedfordshire on the SRA register. Salaries above reflect the market across these firms.
Andrew Isaacs Law Limited
Leighton Buzzard
A1 Solicitors Ltd
Luton
Abn Solicitors Ltd
Luton
Abs Solicitors LLP
Luton
Altion Law Limited
Cranfield
Daffodils Solicitors Limited
Luton
Dominic Mills Ltd
Bedford
Exodus Law Solicitors Limited
Luton
Hannah Solicitors LLP
Luton
J T Solicitors Limited
Jamieson Alexander Limited
Also known as Jamieson Alexander Legal (practising Style for Jamieson Alexander Limited)
Milton Keynes
Liberty Law Solicitors Ltd
Luton
Millgate Woodbridge Ltd
Bedford
Pathfinder Legal Services Limited
Also known as Lgss Law
Shefford
Paul Norton & Co
Luton
Showing 15 of 19 firms. See all firms in Bedfordshire
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for a newly qualified general legal services solicitor in Bedfordshire?
Newly qualified general legal services solicitors in Bedfordshire typically earn between £36,000 and £78,000 depending on firm size, with boutique and high street firms around £45,000, mid-size firms around £48,000 and City or national firms around £62,000.
What does a general legal services solicitor earn at 4 to 5 PQE in Bedfordshire?
At 4 to 5 PQE, general legal services solicitors in Bedfordshire typically earn between £47,500 and £108,000 depending on firm size, with boutique firms around £60,000, mid-size around £65,000 and City or national firms around £82,000.
How does firm size affect general legal services solicitor salaries in Bedfordshire?
Firm size has a significant impact on salary. At NQ level in Bedfordshire, a high street or boutique firm typically pays around £45,000, while a City or national firm may pay £62,000 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 Bedfordshire in 2026?
Entry-level paralegals in Bedfordshire typically earn between £25,500 and £31,000 depending on firm size, with boutique firms around £27,000 and mid-size firms around £28,500. With 5 or more years of experience, the range rises to £30,000 to £42,000, with boutique firms around £33,000 and mid-size around £36,000, 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.