US law firms in London demand 70-hour weeks — for £170,000 salaries

Trainee and junior solicitors at the City offices of US law firms routinely work more than 70 hours a week to justify starting salaries of more than £170,000.
An annual survey of working hours among younger lawyers in the Square Mile has confirmed that American law firms are the most demanding.
Leading the pack is the New York firm Weil, Gotshal and Manges, where trainee and junior lawyers reported that they worked on average 67.5 hours over the normal five-day working week. Young lawyers are often required to work for at least part of the weekend, taking Weil’s six-day average to more than 70 hours.
The research, conducted by the website Legal Cheek, found that American firms dominated the top of the hours table, taking the first 11 places.
The highest ranking English firm for average working hours was Linklaters, where junior lawyers reported that they logged more than 60 hours on average, with about 57 hours in the five-day week.
Large US firms are renowned for demanding significantly higher billing targets from their junior lawyers compared with their UK counterparts. In general, lawyers at American firms are expected to record at least 2,000 billable hours a year, while those at the top English firms are normally required to do about 1,800.
Concern has been growing over pay inflation at the junior end of the City solicitor profession, which is being driven by the US firms.
The London offices of Gibson Dunn and Paul Weiss — based in Los Angeles and New York, respectively — are paying their junior lawyers £180,000 salaries from the day they qualify. That is £30,000 more than newly qualified solicitors are paid at the magic circle, the elite group of five domestic City law firms, which includes Linklaters.
Junior lawyers at Linklaters’ arch rival, Freshfields, are reported to be turning in 56.5 hours a week over five days, also taking their six-day average to more than 60 hours.
Ironically, the researchers reported that of the five “magic circle” firms, junior lawyers at what is widely perceived to be the highest earning of the group, Slaughter and May, worked the shortest weeks: slightly more than 51 hours on average over five days.
The researchers noted that many junior lawyers at the most demanding firms routinely finished their days after 10.30pm but not all had such long hours. For example, those at the highly respected City firm Trowers and Hamlins reported a five-day working week of only 46 hours, although that is still much more than the 36.6 hours average across the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Legal Cheek’s survey also collected comments from junior solicitors. One said that perhaps the toughest part of the job was: “The always available culture — you’re expected to answer calls at ungodly hours or on days off — but hey, that’s what they pay you for.”
Another said: “I haven’t seen sunlight in three months.”
The AmericansWeil, Gotshal and Manges — 13 hours, 23 minutes on average per weekday; £170,000
Kirkland and Ellis — 13 hours, 3 minutes; £172,000
Paul Hastings — 12 hours, 38 minutes; £172,000
Ropes and Gray — 12 hours, 25 minutes; £165,000
Fried Frank — 12 hours, 19 minutes; £173,000
The magic circleLinklaters — 11 hours, 39 minutes; £150,000
Freshfields — 11 hours, 31 minutes; £150,000
Clifford Chance — 11 hours, 25 minutes; £150,000
A&O Shearman — 11 hours, 3 minutes; £150,000
Slaughter and May — 10 hours, 26 minutes; £150,000