Embarking on a career in law offers a wide range of opportunities, from championing justice and following in the footsteps of other respected professionals to acquiring invaluable skills that will help you transition into a career in almost any industry. However, not all cities provide equal prospects for legal professionals.

Thankfully, a new study* has uncovered the best and worst cities to work as a lawyer based on the reported salaries of legal professionals across the UK’s 50 most populated cities, alongside the number of job opportunities currently available. The study also assessed the cost of living in each city, excluding rent. Each city was then ranked based on an index score out of 10, with the highest-scoring city being crowned the most prosperous city for legal careers.

Cities with Favourable Prospects

Topping the list, despite its steep living costs, is London, boasting an impressive index score of 8.6 out of 10. Legal practitioners in the capital can anticipate an average annual income of £71,737, with approximately 17% allocated to daily expenses, excluding rent.

Surprisingly, Wigan emerges as the second most favourable city, surpassing larger counterparts like Birmingham and Manchester, with an index rating of 7.9. Lawyers in Wigan enjoy an average yearly income of £63,079, with only 8.5% going towards day-to-day expenses.

Securing the third position is Birmingham, scoring 6.3 on the index. Here, legal professionals earn an average of £58,444 annually. The top five is completed by Plymouth (5.9) and Manchester (5.8).

Cities with Less Favorable Prospects

On the flip side, Preston claims the undesirable title of the worst city for legal careers, garnering a dismal score of 3.5. With average yearly earnings amounting to £50,209, lawyers in Preston grapple with allocating nearly a third (29%) of their income to daily expenses, excluding rent.

Following closely behind is Swindon, ranking second lowest with a score of 3.71. While lawyers in Swindon earn slightly more (£39,893) than their counterparts in Sheffield (£34,701), Sheffield offers a more promising job market coupled with lower living costs.

Stoke-on-Trent secures the fourth spot with a score of 3.95, trailed by Derby (4.04).

*Study conducted by Witan Solicitors