2026 UK Legal, Risk and Compliance Salary Guide and Survey

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Hiring in the legal sector remains steady across the UK, driven by commercial, corporate and regulatory requirements. In-house teams are seeking professionals with expertise in contract management, corporate (M&A), compliance, data privacy, litigation and legal tech, especially those who can help navigate shifting regulations, reduce risk, and enhance legal frameworks.

As legal teams evolve, attracting and retaining skilled professionals is becoming more challenging. Candidates with highly specialised commercial, corporate, digital and regulatory skill sets are well positioned to command premium salaries. To stay competitive, employers must assess where they can offer flexibility – whether on salary, or hybrid working – and consider enhancing total reward packages to secure top-tier legal talent. Hiring in compliance remains robust with most hiring seen within financial services, particularly asset management and wealth management.

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Enter your city to see salaries tailored to your local market. Starting salaries can vary significantly depending on your skills and experience, the size and sector of the organisation, and the demand for the role in your area. The city you choose reflects not only the urban centre but also the surrounding region.

Commerce and industry (In-house)

Financial services (In-house)

Governance

Compliance

AML/Financial crime

Risk

Internal audit

Position title

25th percentile

50th percentile

75th percentile

General Counsel

127000

145500

173250

Head of Legal

111750

119000

127500

Senior Legal Counsel

87500

97250

110000

Legal Counsel (3 - 6 years PQE)

72000

81250

87000

Legal Counsel (NQ - 2 years PQE)

56750

64250

70500

Paralegal

27000

34500

42500

25th percentile

The candidate has little or no prior experience in the position and is still developing relevant skills.

50th percentile

The candidate has an average level of experience and has most of the necessary skills.

75th percentile

The candidate has above-average experience, has most or all the necessary skills, and may have specialised qualifications.

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AI, data and risk: skills that define the next legal hires

25% of businesses plan to expand legal, risk and compliance teams, with hiring focused on roles that blend commercial acumen, regulatory expertise, AI, and data skills to strengthen future readiness.

Commercial

Corporate (Mergers & Acquisitions)

Compliance / Regulatory

IP / Data Protection Law

Commercial contract management

Mergers and acquisitions

Generative AI

Analysis and research skills/data sourcing

Specialised skills command premium pay in legal hiring

66% of legal, risk and compliance hiring managers are willing to offer higher salaries when a candidate possesses highly specialised expertise.

Building startup in-house legal functions

Mergers and acquisitions

Compliance & regulatory

Generative AI

Data privacy and protection

AI-powered legal research and drafting

Legal research platforms

Hybrid working leading the way

Hybrid working has become the accepted norm in legal teams, with most in-house legal counsel spending between 1 and 3 days in the office per week. When businesses are stipulating 4 to 5 days in the office per week it generally causes issues when it comes to attracting and retaining in-house legal professionals. Getting the balance right between flexibility and pay is key to attracting and retaining top legal talent. Many in-house lawyers are also condensing their hours and working a 4-day week.

Top certifications, industries, in-demand roles

Holding an in-demand certification can lead to better starting pay, especially in industries hiring actively and seeking specialist talent. These are several of the top qualifications employers value.

Legal

England and Wales Qualified Solicitor

CILEX

LPC

Bachelor/Master of Laws Degrees

Compliance

ACAMS

CISI

ICA

Sectors highlighted here are expected to be hiring for legal, risk and compliance talent the most, boosting pay for exceptional talent. And at the same time, they are paving the way for meaningful career advancement.

Business services

Financial services

Insurance

Manufacturing / Industrial Facilities

High-demand roles are reshaping talent strategies. Anticipating which skills and positions will dominate in 2026 is essential for companies aiming to future-proof their workforce and respond to industry change with confidence.

Paralegal / Contracts Manager

Senior Legal Counsel

Head of Legal

Director / Head of Compliance

Compliance Manager

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Guiding the future: hiring insights for legal, compliance and risk leaders

The salary benchmarks listed in the Salary Guide From Robert Half are the result of a rigorous, multistep process to ensure our projections accurately reflect the marketplace. They are based on actual compensation for professionals Robert Half has matched with employers across the country and over 350k third-party job posting data from Textkernel that we use to independently validate the salary levels.

Non-salary data referenced in this Salary Guide is based on an online survey developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm. During June and July 2025 Robert Half commissioned research amongst 1,500 respondents using an online data collection methodology. The respondents represent 500 hiring managers and 1,000 workers in finance and accounting, IT and technology, administrative and office support, marketing and creative, and legal, risk and compliance. Respondents are drawn from a sample of SMEs to large private, publicly listed and public sector organisations across the UK.