Herbert Smith announced its associate salaries for the year ahead, with increases at a number of levels after the firm froze pay bands in 2011.

The firm has made £500 increases at the newly-qualified (NQ), one-year and four-year post-qualification-experience (PQE) levels. NQs will now receive £61,500, with one-year and four-year PQE lawyers now set to take home £68,500 and £94,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, two-year PQE salaries will increase by £2,000 to reach £75,000 after remaining static for the last three consecutive years. Three-year PQE lawyers will see a salary rise of £1,000 taking pay to £86,000.

First and second-year trainee pay has remained at the same level as last year with each group receiving £38,000 and £43,000 respectively.

The news comes after Herbert Smith froze associate salaries last year. All associates will continue to progress through the bands as normal, which will come into effect from 1 June 2012.

The salaries are broadly in line with magic circle rates announced for 2012-13, with Allen & Overy increasing its associate pay bands by between £500 and £1,000, while Slaughter and May has held pay at last year's levels, with the exception of two-year PQE associates who have received a £500 increase.

Herbert Smith pays associates according to their PQE level up until four-and-a-half-years PQE. Bonuses will be paid out as normal at the firm in July this year.

Herbert Smith associate pay levels in full

First-year trainee: £38,000
Second-year trainee: £43,000
NQ: £61,500
0.5 PQE: £61,500
1 PQE: £68,500
1.5 PQE: £71,500
2 PQE: £75,000
2.5 PQE: £78,000
3 PQE: £86,000
3.5 PQE: £89,000
4 PQE: £94,000
4.5 PQE: £96,000