12-02-2026

Image-1 Salaries at law firms are set to continue growing in 2025, according to a report prepared by Signium in collaboration with UFV | UFV Study at the Universidad Privada Madrid

Introduction

According to the findings of the 21st edition of the Comparative Analysis of Salaries at Law Firms in Spain, prepared by SIGNIUM, an international executive search and leadership advisory services firm, in collaboration with Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV): 2025 shows a new widespread increase in total compensation across all types of firms analyzed, consolidating the upward trend that began in previous years.

The presentation of the comparative analysis was led by María Goenechea Domínguez, director of the UFV Dual Master’s Degree in Access to the Legal Profession and Legal Representation and Master’s Degree in Legal and Tax Consulting, and Ignacio Bao, Emeritus Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner for Spain and Portugal at Signium. Next, Carlos Alberola, Partner at Signium, will present the study’s findings.

María Goenechea Domínguez, director of the UFV Dual Master’s Program in Access to the Legal Profession and Legal Representation and the Master’s Program in Legal and Tax Consulting; Alberto Quintana Daimiel, Chief State Attorney at the Secretariat of Stat

The university as a forum for analyzing the legal market

María Goenechea Domínguez, director of the UFV Dual Master’s Degree in Access to the Legal Profession and Legal Representation and the Master’s Degree in Legal and Tax Consulting at Francisco de Vitoria University, emphasized the importance of the university serving as a space where the real dynamics of the legal sector are analyzed and understood: “Hosting the presentation of this report at UFV allows us to provide our students and the academic community with an up-to-date snapshot of the legal market. This type of analysis is essential for understanding how the profession is evolving and for ensuring that the education we offer is fully aligned with the reality of law firms and the demands of professional practice,” states the director of the dual master’s program.

In this regard, Francisco de Vitoria University reinforced its commitment to academic excellence and the training of highly qualified lawyers and tax specialists through the UFV Dual Master’s Degree in Admission to the Practice of Law and Legal Representation and the Master’s Degree in Legal or Tax Consulting. This programme by a faculty of practicing attorneys with close ties to the industry, allowing students to gain firsthand insight into the realities of the legal market: from salary ranges and the internal dynamics of law firms to the actual progression of a professional career in the legal field. This knowledge enables them to make informed decisions from the start of their careers and negotiate their professional terms with greater discernment.

Image-4 Salaries at law firms are set to continue growing in 2025, according to a report prepared by Signium in collaboration with UFV | UFV Study at the Universidad Privada Madrid

Alberto Quintana Daimiel, Chief State Attorney at the State Secretariat for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, and Ignacio Bao, Emeritus Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner for Spain and Portugal at Signium

Artificial Intelligence and the Transformation of the Legal Profession

Following the presentation of the report, a panel discussion was held featuring Alberto Quintana Daimiel, Chief State Attorney at the Secretariat of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, who offered an in-depth analysis of the impact of artificial intelligence on the legal profession. During his remarks, Quintana emphasized that “artificial intelligence is a tool that is already present in professional practice and that will enhance lawyers’ capabilities, provided there is human oversight and accountability in the use of the results.” He also emphasized the need to preserve essential principles of the practice of law, stating that “there cannot be a disconnect between the legal function and the person providing advice; the client has the right to interact with a professional who assumes ultimate responsibility for their work.”

During the subsequent roundtable discussion, participants agreed that the implementation of artificial intelligence will not replace lawyers, but rather transform working models and career paths. It was emphasized that these tools will automate repetitive tasks and free up time for higher-value-added functions, while also requiring more robust training, professional judgment, and critical thinking skills, particularly among younger professionals.

Compensation Trends and Retaining Senior Talent

From a compensation perspective, the report confirmed that the most significant increases were once again concentrated in international law firms, followed by domestic firms and, to a lesser extent, the Big Four, while Spanish boutique law firms saw more moderate growth, albeit positive in most categories. The analysis of the salary structure showed that both fixed and variable compensation increased at virtually all levels of experience, with particularly sharp growth in the categories with the highest seniority, specifically Senior Associate and Director.

Compared to 2024, salary increases in 2025 were more consistent across categories, although they remained more modest at the entry levels of the career path. Interns and junior-level employees saw moderate increases, while mid-level and senior categories saw the largest adjustments, in line with strategies to retain more experienced talent. International firms remained the leaders in compensation, both in terms of base salary and total compensation.

Salaries for paralegals remained stable in 2025, with slight adjustments that reflected the consolidation of this role within law firm structures. This is an increasingly recognized and strategic position, whose growth leveled off following the increases seen in previous years.

As for interns in the Master’s in Law program, the trend from previous years continued: international law firms continued to offer the most competitive compensation packages, followed by domestic firms and the Big Four. Smaller law firms also made improvements aimed at attracting young talent, although their compensation levels remained lower than those of other types of firms.

Image-2-1 Salaries at law firms are set to continue growing in 2025, according to a report prepared by Signium in collaboration with UFV | UFV Study at the Universidad Privada Madrid

Carlos Alberola, a partner at Signium, who presented the study's findings

Employee benefits and more flexible work arrangements

With regard to non-monetary compensation, the landscape remained stable and well-established. The most common benefits continued to be health and life insurance, along with training and professional development programs. Work-life balance policies remained a key priority, with remote work becoming the norm and hybrid models and flexible schedules playing an increasingly prominent role.

Overall, the 2025 results reflected a mature compensation market, with sustained salary increases, clear differentiation by firm type, and a growing focus on retaining senior talent, while maintaining specific strategies for recruiting young professionals. “The sector’s positive performance continued in 2025, albeit with more moderate increases than in previous years. The legal sector in Spain remained in good health, with positive salary trends and a healthy competitive structure in which talent is as sought-after as in major transactions,” concluded Carlos Alberola.

About the study

The document provides an overview of the current market situation regarding the compensation of lawyers at leading law firms in Spain, analyzing the salary ranges for different professional categories and comparing them with those of previous years. The study took into account national and international firms, the Tax & Legal divisions of the Big Four, and legal boutiques with between 20 and 50 professionals, resulting in a survey of more than 7,000 professionals. The study analyzes the categories of Intern, Junior, Associate, Senior Associate, and Director, and includes both monetary compensation and non-monetary compensation elements.

Against this backdrop of transformation in the legal sector, events such as this one reinforce the role of Francisco de Vitoria University as a forum for reflection, analysis, and dialogue between the academic and professional worlds. Collaboration with leading firms such as Signium provides students with a realistic and up-to-date view of the market they will be entering, combining technical knowledge with a critical perspective on the changes affecting the profession.

Through initiatives like this, UFV remains committed to providing an education that is grounded in reality, focused on employability, and dedicated to supporting students in their professional development, preparing future lawyers who are capable of adapting to a constantly changing environment without losing sight of sound judgment, responsibility, and the human dimension of the legal profession.

View the full study 21st Edition of the Comparative Analysis of Salaries at Law Firms in Spain

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Salaries at law firms are set to continue growing in 2025, according to a report prepared by Signium in collaboration with the UFV

Introduction

The university as a forum for analyzing the legal market

Artificial Intelligence and the Transformation of the Legal Profession

Compensation Trends and Retaining Senior Talent

Employee benefits and more flexible work arrangements

About the study

You may be interested

Introduction

The university as a forum for analyzing the legal market

Artificial Intelligence and the Transformation of the Legal Profession

Compensation Trends and Retaining Senior Talent

Employee benefits and more flexible work arrangements

About the study

You may be interested