Linklaters has announced another round of trainee and newly qualified (NQ) pay boosts, with base pay for NQ lawyers increased by another £2,000 on the rates set in May this year.

Pay for the magic circle firm's NQ lawyers has now risen to £83,000, up from £81,000, while first-year trainees will now take home £47,000, an increase of £3,000, with second-years now paid £52,500, an increase of £3,500.

The decision from Linklaters comes after moves by its magic circle rivals to update trainee and NQ salaries.

In August, Allen & Overy (A&O) confirmed £1,000 increases for first- and second-year trainees, to £45,000 and £50,000 respectively, while NQ rates were bumped up from £81,000 to £83,000.

Clifford Chance also announced new rates in August, with a 4% increase in maximum pay for NQs to £91,000, a figure that includes potential performance-related bonuses. Trainee rates also improved, rising to from £44,800 to £46,600 for first-years and from £50,500 to £52,500 for second-years.

Late last year, Slaughter and May boosted NQ pay by £2,000 to £80,000, rising to £84,000 after six months. The firm operates a flat lockstep structure for associate pay, differentiating it from the performance-based systems operated by its rivals.

Linklaters graduate recruitment partner Alison Wilson said: "Year on year we have consistently retained a very high number of new lawyers, who will have the opportunity to develop their careers within a best-in-class and globally minded firm. The increase in pay in 2018 is a reflection of our commitment to providing a very competitive offering to new candidates."

Earlier this year, the firm announced that it was keeping on 73% of its autumn NQs, with 43 of a 59-strong intake remaining at the firm on qualification.