Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has completed its overhaul of associate remuneration, with the firm set to align junior lawyer salaries with its new four-stage 'milestone' framework as of next year.

From May 2012, the magic circle firm's associates will no longer be paid based on post-qualification experience, but will instead see their pay based on the firm's new merit-based associate development system which was formally launched earlier this year.

Freshfields has today (26 September) informed associates of the salary ranges for each of the four milestones, which comprise a foundation level entered into upon qualification followed by three further levels of progression.

The firm declined to comment on the specific details of the new salary ranges, but said that no associates will be paid less than they are currently.

Bonuses will also be more closely tied to to the milestones framework, with the firm stating that "bonuses will be realigned to pay a higher proportion of total compensation as base salary".

London people partner Nigel Rawding said: "To deliver consistently excellent client service we need to continue to attract, retain and engage the very best people. To do that, we believe we need to invest in a salary structure that incentivises and rewards individual development – linked to 'career milestones' – and not just years of service.

"Engagement with our people is about much more than remuneration, but the changes we are introducing are an important piece of the jigsaw."

Under the milestones system junior lawyers are assessed on seven core areas – technical skills, personal skills, client relationships, business advisory skills, business development, people and team skills, and project management.

Freshfields formally launched the new framework in the City in April this year, when associates were assigned to one of the four groups.

For more, see Freshfields City associates set to begin working to 'milestones'.