The regional Salary Survey Report from Abacus Professional Recruitment, published this week, is based on survey data from 100 partners, senior associate solicitors, recently qualified solicitors (0-3 PQE), legal secretaries, paralegals and law graduates.

The survey found recently-qualified solicitors in high-demand areas have experienced high year-on-year pay increases with an average salary of £27,267 in 2016, and the overwhelming majority (78 per cent) expect a salary increase in 2017.

Meanwhile, 40 per cent of respondents working in legal support reported a pay rise in 2016. Salaries averaged between £17,514 for a law graduate and £19,244 for a legal secretary.

Partners in NI earned 176 per cent more than newly qualified solicitors and 103 per cent more than senior associate solicitors, with basic salaries of £75,272 on average.

Flexible working was increasingly prevalent, particularly within legal support roles, with the survey indicating 50 per cent had flexible working arrangements.

Justin Rush, a director at Abacus, said: “This is one of the broadest ever surveys we have undertaken of the professional services sector in Northern Ireland. It highlights that these markets remain resilient in NI.

“Total compensation packages including salary increases and benefits continue to perform strongly. This is on the back of continued foreign direct investment from some of the world’s leading companies in areas of law, finance and technology.”