Freshfields has broken ranks with the Magic Circle by freezing associate pay.

As revealed by RollOnFriday earlier this week, despite Linklaters, Slaughter and May and Clifford Chance beefing up associate pay, Freshfields will be sticking at 2014 levels. Trainee salaries have been marginally tweaked, with first years now on £41,000 (from £40,500) and second years on £46,000.

The stay is not a complete surprise. When Freshfields broke a five year freeze last May it introduced salary bands (called 'Career Milestones') that are so wide that any associates at the top end will still be paid more than those at the other Magic Circle firms, even after the raises at Links, Slaughters and CC. Though whether anyone is actually on those top rates is anyone's guess: the firm refused to disclose even the median pay for each PQE year.

A spokesperson for Freshfields told RollOnFriday that the amount it actually pays its associates "is commercially sensitive information". So let's just assume there are probably more near the bottom than the top of each band. However, as NQs and 1PQEs fall within one CM band and 2PQEs and 3PQEs a second, RollOnFriday has generously taken the mid points to produce the following pay table:

£k	State of pay	NQ	1PQE	2PQE	3PQE	Total post-qualification earning over four years**
A&O	Yet to announce	66.5	72.5	82.5	93.5	315
Clifford Chance	Raised	70	75.5	88	98.5	332
Freshfields*	Frozen	70	75	90.6	96.8	332
Linklaters	Raised	68.5	74	85.6	95.5	324
Slaughters	Raised	70	75.5	87	96.5	329

*NQs and 1PQEs fall within the CM Foundation band which pays £67,500 to £77,500. 2PQEs and 3PQEs fall within CM1 which pays £87,500 to £100,000   **excluding bonuses

While Freshfields has the most flexible pay system for juniors, and its superstars are potentially paid more than the others, Allen & Overy's salaries are the worst, with all its NQs taking home less than even the very lowest-paid at Freshfields.

"At least I'm not on A&O money"

That could change if A&O announces pay rises, but it's going to have to do something extraordinary to leapfrog Freshfields' highest potential salaries.