Linklaters has increased its salary bands for associates with between one and three years' post-qualification experience (PQE), after freezing pay bands across the board last year.

The firm confirmed its new pay bands today (4 May), becoming the third magic circle firm to announce 2012 associate salaries.

The increase sees lawyers with one year's PQE earning £69,000 from 1 May, up from £68,000 last year, meanwhile those moving from one year PQE to two years' will earn £76,000, up from to £73,000, with the firm also raising the rate for lawyers with three years' PQE by £3k to £88,000.

Pay for newly-qualified lawyers remains at £61,500, while first seat trainees will receive £39,000 per annum, up from £37,400.

The firm will also pay out a performance-related bonus to its top achievers as normal.

A Linklaters spokesperson commented: "In deciding our approach this year, we have looked at the market and what our competitors are doing, and we believe our package of rewards and benefits remains at the top end of the market."

Slaughter and May and Allen & Overy (A&O) have also announced associate salary rates, with Slaughters opting to freeze rates for a second consecutive years for all those other than lawyers with two years' PQE who receive a slight increase.

A&O opted for slight increases of between £500 and £1,000.

Linklaters
Trainees (Seat 1) – £39,000
Newly-qualified – £61,500
1 year's PQE – £69,000
2 years' PQE – £76,000
3 years' PQE – £88,000

Slaughter and May
Trainees (Seat 1) – £38,000
Newly-qualified – £61,500
1 year's PQE – £69,000
2 years' PQE – £76,500
3 years' PQE – £86,000

Allen & Overy
Trainees (Seat 1) – £38,000
Newly-qualified – £61,500
1 year's PQE – £68,500
2 years' PQE – £74,500
3 years' PQE – £86,000