After completing LLM, which country offers higher salary packages in UK/Ireland?
Ireland generally offers higher average base salaries for LLM graduates, around EUR 75,000 to EUR 80,000 per year, while UK averages sit near GBP 45,000 to GBP 55,000. However, elite London firms can pay newly qualified solicitors over GBP 100,000, surpassing Irish averages at the top end.
If you are comparing the UK and Ireland after your LLM, Ireland generally gives you a higher average base salary, while the UK offers a wider spread with exceptional pay at elite global firms. Your actual outcome depends heavily on which tier of firm you break into.
Salary Comparison By Country
| Country | Average Lawyer Salary | Role-Specific Range |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | EUR 75,000 to EUR 80,000 per year | Solicitors EUR 50,000 to EUR 80,000; In-house counsel EUR 60,000 to EUR 90,000 |
| United Kingdom | GBP 45,000 to GBP 55,000 per year | Trainee solicitors GBP 30,000 to GBP 50,000 outside London; Magic Circle firms often exceed GBP 100,000 |
Factors That Will Affect Your Actual Pay
- An LLM alone does not qualify you to practice as a solicitor or barrister. You still need to clear the SQE in England and Wales, or the King's Inns or Law Society route in Ireland.
- Dublin has a very high cost of living, particularly rent, which correlates with its higher starting salaries.
- London is similarly expensive, but regional UK cities offer lower costs alongside lower salaries.
- If your goal is a top tier corporate firm in a global financial capital, London offers some of the highest ceiling potentials in Europe.
My Advice
Decide early whether you want the safer, higher national average in Ireland or you are willing to compete for a small number of top paying London seats, and plan your qualifying exam route around that choice.
Will you actually get a job after your master's?
Talk to a counsellor about real outcomes, salaries and which courses employers hire from.
More Post-study work questions
- Is Germany the best first priority country for my course and career scope for a Master's?
- What are the career prospects in Singapore after completing an MPH at NUS as an Indian student?
- After completing my studies, can I stay back in Ireland and apply for permanent residency for a Master's/Bachelor's?
- Can an Indian student get a job in Germany after a master's without prior work experience, especially with good German skills?
- How good is the post masters job market in the UK and Europe for Indian students, especially after an MSc in Finance?
- Is the negativity about Germany's job market for Indian students accurate, or does effort make the real difference?
- What are the differences in career opportunities and PR options between Germany and Canada?
- Is my daughter planning to settle down abroad with permanent residency or just study in Singapore/USA for a Master's?